Full Schedule will be announced in December 2025. Please see below for confirmed panels.
Wednesday, January 7 2026, 9:30am-6:00pm
9:30am
Registration (Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Atrium)
10:30-11:45am Jukebox Jury (Varis Leichtman Recording Studio) The longstanding and popular session returns with jazz music hosts and radio programmers weighing in, needle drop style, on the probability of airplay for upcoming releases.
Moderator: Brad Stone (soulandjazz.com)
Panelists: Cheryl K. Symister-Masterson (Jazz/Fluxus); Sebastien Vidal (TSFJAZZ); Leo Sidran (The Third Story); Rachel Smith (WKCR); Jesse Chuy Varela (KCSM)
1:15-1:45pm
The 2025 Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award (The Appel Room) will be given to magazine publisher/editor, longtime jazz journalist, and founder and producer of the Jazz Connect Conference, Lee Mergner. The award will be presented to Mr. Mergner by the Grammy Award-winning bassist, composer, arranger and educator, Christian McBride.
2:45-4:00pm Bass Lines: Ron Carter and Todd Barkan in Conversation (The Appel Room) Join us for an intimate conversation as curator and producer Todd Barkan sits down with iconic bassist and composer Ron Carter. Together, they’ll explore Carter’s extraordinary career—from his groundbreaking recordings to the artistic values that have shaped his unmistakable sound. This rare dialogue offers audiences a personal window into the life, legacy, and enduring influence of one of jazz’s most recorded and revered musicians. Participants: Ron Carter and Todd Barkan (Keystone Korner Baltimore)
2:45-4:00pm Jazz Now: Evolving the Tradition? (Varis Leichtman Recording Studio) As we move deeper into the 2020s, jazz is undergoing a dynamic transformation—one that challenges traditional boundaries and redefines what the art form can be. From the emergence of hybrid sounds influenced by hip-hop, gospel, R&B, and indie rock to the growing presence of electronic and experimental approaches, today’s musicians are expanding the vocabulary of jazz while reaching new audiences. This roundtable conversation will explore how jazz can remain a vital part of contemporary cultural conversations by embracing innovation, inclusivity, and cross-genre collaboration. This conversation asks a central question: What is jazz in 2026—and how can we ensure it continues to inspire new audiences and the next generation? Panelists: Angelika Beener (Milestones podcast); Terri Lyne Carrington; Caroline Davis; Keyon Harrold; Logan Richardson
2:45-4:00pm Ask Us Anything! (Dizzy’s Club) A panel of jazz industry professionals share their knowledge and experience in a free-wheeling Q&A session, in which the audience asks questions about everything from publicity and promotion to booking and record production.
Moderator: Sunny Sumter (DC Jazz Festival) Panelists: John Bishop (Origin Records); Gail Boyd (Gail Boyd Management); Sydney Hill (Red Light Management); April Thibeault (AMT Public Relations)
2:45-4:00pm It's Complicated: Presenting Jazz and Education in Cuba (E.J. Noble Studio) A lively panel discussion covering the challenges and opportunities, as well as rewards, around presenting jazz, education and cultural activities in Cuba Moderator: Anna Sala (XPORTA) Panelists: Marta Deus (Jazz Emprende); Shabnam Samoohi (Cultural Island Travel); Eric Wright (Horns To Havana/Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater)
4:15-5:30pm Jazz Legacies Fellowship: A Conversation (The Appel Room) In conversation with five fellows from the inaugural class of Jazz Legacies Fellowship, launched by the Mellon Foundation in partnership with the Jazz Foundation of America in 2025. Moderator: Willard Jenkins (DC Jazz Festival) Panelists: Bertha Hope; Carmen Lundy; Amina Claudine Meyers; Herlin Riley; Reggie Workman
4:15-5:30pm Bringing Jazz to Your Community: Midwest Jazz Collective (Varis Leichtman Recording Studio) Nearly 20 clubs and presenters across the Midwest are reshaping the touring landscape with a shared commitment to collaboration. By optimizing routing, advancing educational outreach, and cultivating regional awareness, this new model expands appreciation for jazz in both metro and sometimes overlooked markets. Midwest Jazz Collective seeks to bring joy and value to artists, audiences, and communities alike — sharing testament to what’s possible when cooperation leads the way. Moderator: TBA Panelists: David Allee (The Jazz Kitchen); Benny Benack III; Kyle Knoke (Jazz Coterie); Brent Turney (UW-Stevens Point)
4:15-5:30pm Funding your Future: Grant Writing Cheat Codes for Artists (E.J. Noble Studio) Whether you’re an artist looking to fund your next tour or an educator preparing students for sustainable careers, this is your cheat code to creative funding. This fast-paced guide breaks down city, state, federal, and foundation grants, giving artists and educators practical strategies to align with funder priorities and avoid common mistakes. Whether you're building a program, mentoring future professionals, or funding your own creative vision, this is your cheat code to finding and winning the right grant. Presenter: Drew Tucker (Jazz Road/South Arts)
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 9:30am-6:00pm
9:30am
Registration (Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Atrium)
10:30-11:45am Stronger Together: Increasing Understanding and Collaboration between Europe and the United States (Varis Leichtman Recording Studio) Building on the important conversation that began at last year’s Jazz Congress, this panel examines the powerful impact of trans-Atlantic collaboration in a moment when global polarization threatens cultural exchange. Jazz presenters, organizers, and promoters in both the U.S. and Europe play a critical role in sustaining these artistic bridges, ensuring that musicians on both sides of the ocean can develop and thrive internationally. Bringing together seasoned professionals from across the Atlantic, the discussion will explore shared responsibilities, identify the challenges facing cross-border artistic mobility, and offer concrete strategies for strengthening and expanding these essential connections moving forward. Moderator: Ludovico Granvassu (Mondo Jazz) Panelists: Piotr Turkiewicz (Europe Jazz Network); Amélie Salembier (Molpe Music); Ashley Capps (Big Ears); Katherine McVicker (Music Works International)
1:00-2:15pm Jazz and Spotify: How Streaming is Reshaping Jazz for Listeners and Artists Alike (The Appel Room) How are streaming services like Spotify altering the shape of jazz to come? Liz Pelly is the author of the national bestseller Mood Machine, a critical investigation into Spotify that examines both sides of what the company calls its two-sided marketplace: the listeners who pay with their dollars and data, and the musicians who provide the material powering it all. This panel unpacks Pelly's findings to explore how artists and audiences can build a sustainable future. Joining Pelly is Joey La Neve DeFrancesco, co-founder of United Musicians and Allied Workers, which reintroduced the Living Wage for Musicians Act to Congress in Fall 2025; and bassist, improviser-composer, organizer, and writer-researcher Luke Stewart. Moderator: Katie Simon (NPR) Panelists: Liz Pelly (Author of Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist); Joey La Neve DeFrancesco (Co-founder of United Musicians and Allied Workers); Luke Stewart
1:00-2:15pm Mentoring for Succession (Varis Leichtman Recording Studio) In recent years, many jazz organizations have had to transition from longtime founders or leaders to a successive generation. The passing of the torch in the jazz community can be a difficult process fraught with conflict and disruption. A new generation of leaders talk about the importance of mentoring for an effective transfer of power and responsibility. Moderator: John Gilbreath (Earshot Jazz) Panelists: Chanel Enriquez (Kuumbwa Jazz Center); Alberto Ibarrondo (Vitoria Jazz Festival); Alycia Mack (International Music Network)
1:00-2:15pm The Future of Public Radio (E.J. Noble Studio) NPR, as well as both member and non-member public radio stations, have traditionally been significant supporters of jazz, locally and nationally. With so many drastic cuts in Federal funding, those stations are facing unprecedented fiscal challenges. Leaders in public radio discuss their strategies for staying strong in the face of economic uncertainty. Moderator: Scott Hanley (WZUM/Pittsburgh Public Media) Panelists: Bill Johnson (WRTI); Marta McLellan Ross (NPR); Ken Poston (KSDS); Steve Williams (WBGO)
1:00-2:15pm Navigating the Jazz Scene as Blind and Visually Impaired Musicians (Dizzy’s Club) Presented with support from Next Jazz Legacy of New Music USA This vital and timely discussion brings together a distinguished group of blind and visually impaired jazz musicians to share their lived experiences navigating the jazz industry. As artists who have thrived both as side people and bandleaders, their insights will highlight the unique challenges, creative solutions, and powerful contributions of musicians with visual impairments. Moderator: Ciara Moser Panelists: Ivan Dalia; Justin Kauflin; Matthew Whitaker
2:30-4:00pm The Changing Media Landscape (Varis Leichtman Recording Studio) With so many media outlets either shrinking or shutting down, jazz artists and organizations must adapt to getting coverage for their recordings and shows. Media professionals and digital creators from various segments of the jazz community discuss strategies for navigating a world with limited opportunities for publicity and promotion. Moderator: Larry Blumenfeld (Wall Street Journal) Panelists: Mike Flynn (Jazzwise); Lydia Liebman (Lydia Liebman PR); Marcus J. Moore (New York Times); Suraya Mohamed (NPR Music)