About
The Roy Hargrove Big Band Photo by Hank O’Neal
WHERE THE FUTURE IS PRESENT
Mission
The Jazz Gallery is America’s premier performance venue for emerging artists who challenge convention, take creative risks and lead their field as performers, composers and thinkers. Through residencies, commissions, performances, and exhibitions, we provide a platform for artists to discover their unique voice and a home for established musicians to continue to experiment and grow. At The Jazz Gallery, artists and audiences come together from around the world to explore new creative ideas, collaborate and celebrate jazz as a dynamic art form that reflects our ever-changing world.
Who We Are
The Jazz Gallery serves as an international cultural center where the youngest generation of emerging professional jazz musicians are nurtured with opportunities to collaborate with their peers, discover and refine their creativity, and perform in front of eager audiences. We take pride in our world-renowned reputation as a key player in the NYC jazz community by sustaining a tradition of artistic excellence in jazz and fostering artistic growth, presenting both major and established figures in jazz alongside a younger generation of artists. Since 2002, The Gallery has also been actively engaged in commissioning new work by emerging composers, many of whom have gone on to be recognized with MacArthur Foundation “genius” grants, Doris Duke Performing Artist Awards, Grammy Awards and more. Twelve Thelonious Monk Competition winners got their start on our stage.
Winner of the 2016, 2014 & 2010 CMA/ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming, The Jazz Gallery has garnered a reputation as “the most imaginatively booked jazz club in New York” (NY Times).
History
The Jazz Gallery was founded in 1995 by Dale Fitzgerald, vocalist Lezlie Harrison, and renowned jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove who envisioned a hub and home for the jazz musicians and composers from around the world who come to New York to take part and enhance the city’s vibrant cultural scene. The original space that The Jazz Gallery occupied at 290 Hudson Street was the place where Roy could rehearse with his big band, and where exhibitions curated by Dale with music in mind, were hung.
Today
Besides over 400 shows each year, 4+ nights a week over 48 weeks of the year, The Jazz Gallery reaches an annual audience of over 17,000 people. That, plus our streaming capabilities help the music to reach 40 countries throughout the world.
We offer programs such as our Debut Series, featuring artists who are performing at TJG, and often NYC, for the first time; 21st Century Jazz, which showcases both emerging and established artists; Residency & Fellowship Commissions, which support the creation of new works by exciting young composers & mid-career artists respectively; our Mentoring Program, which pairs young musicians with seasoned veterans to gain valuable creative and professional experience; and The Woodshed, which provides free rehearsal space to our city’s jazz artists.
Board of Directors
Board Emeritus
Christopher D. Kirsten
John Lenoir
Paul Weinstein
Founders
Dale Fitzgerald
Roy Hargrove
Lezlie Harrison
Hank O’Neal, Chairman
James Errol Browne
Jonathan Chimene
Matthew Coeny
Miranda Danusugondo
Samuel Hagler
Lezlie Harrison
Ken Kimerling
Dan Levy
John McCormick
Ron Scott
Donald Shire
Noel Silverman
Pavani Thagirisa
Janet Luhrs, Executive Director
Rio Sakairi, Artistic Director
TJG Artistic Council
Ambrose Akinmusire
Kenny Barron
Chris Brubeck
Steve Coleman
Ravi Coltrane
Tom Harrell
Vijay Iyer
Oliver Lake
Pat Metheny
Jason Moran
Dafnis Prieto
Esperanza Spalding
Henry Threadgill
Miguel Zenón