The Blog

Jazz Appreciation Month

3/20/23 | By Crystal Gloistein

When my youngest daughter was in middle school, I discovered that Black History Month was a tricky proposition. Her sixth-grade teacher’s announcement of the February events was met by a chorus of mostly-white classmates who collectively groaned, “Do we have to talk about slavery again?”

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Celebrations of the Life and Music of Joey DeFrancesco

3/20/23 | By Crystal Gloistein

When my youngest daughter was in middle school, I discovered that Black History Month was a tricky proposition. Her sixth-grade teacher’s announcement of the February events was met by a chorus of mostly-white classmates who collectively groaned, “Do we have to talk about slavery again?”

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3/20/23

Jazz Appreciation Month

Help us kick off Jazz Appreciation Month by setting a world record of 500 people doing jazz hands at once!

2/15/23

Ars Nova Workshop

Ars Nova Workshop presents the genre-defying improvising quartet PAKT at Solar Myth on February 19. 

1/27/23

Key of She Jazz Jam 2023

Register NOW to reserve your spot for the next Key of She Jazz Event happening on February 18, 2023 at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Livestreaming available for those who aren't near!

1/27/23

Berks Arts Announces Second, Expanded “getJazzed Jams on the Road”

As part of a collaborative effort between Berks Arts, Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, getJazzed, and community music schools in the region, students are invited to attend an afternoon of clinics and jam sessions with professional musicians and educators from across the region at THREE locations in 2023!

1/14/23

Jazz Road Tours & Creative Residencies Webinar

Join the Jazz Road team on February 2 from 3 - 4:30 p.m. ET for a webinar about Jazz Road Tours and Creative Residencies, our vision for these grantmaking programs, and best practices on assembling an application. Register today!

1/14/23

The Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra

The Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra (PYJO), a new program division of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute under the direction of Justin Faulkner, creates a unique opportunity for students to explore the origins of the American contribution to the sonic history of the world.

1/13/23

Mid Atlantic Arts welcomes new Program Director, Jazz, Ernest Stuart

Mid Atlantic Arts is pleased to introduce you to their new Program Director, Jazz, Ernest Stuart. Ernest will be responsible for leading and managing the Jazz Touring Network and grant support program, the Living Legacy Jazz Award selection process, and serving as Mid Atlantic’s liaison to the national Jazz Road program. Ernest has worked in the arts as a performer and event producer since graduating from Temple University.

11/10/22

A Farewell to Jazz Philadelphia, but Not to Jazz

A Farewell from Our Executive Director: This week will be my last at Jazz Philadelphia, and it’s bittersweet to step down as our first Executive Director; I’ll tell you more about where I’m going in a minute. First, I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to help build this new organization from the ground up...

11/9/22

Arts Funding Opportunities Round-up: November 2022

New: The NAMM President’s Innovation Award. Last Week to Apply for This Round: The Ben & Jerry's National Grassroots Organizing Program. Ending this Month: PECO's new Powering the Arts Grant.

11/3/22

President’s Letter: November 2022

Read about all the unique moments that made this such a memorable Summit -- from inspiring keynote presentations and informative sessions to receptions, CORE cooperative performances and awards!

9/29/22

Thank you to our 2022 Summit Giant Steps Sponsor: Mid Atlantic Arts

The Living Legacy Jazz Award was created in 1994 as a way to honor living jazz masters in Mid Atlantic Arts’ nine state region.  The Award has always focused on contributing to the perpetuation of the jazz legacy and education with an emphasis on passing skills and knowledge to the next generation of musicians. The first awardee was trumpeter Clark Terry and 28 stellar artists have joined him since – including our 2022 awardee, Roger Humphries.

9/8/22

Official statement from Christian McBride regarding the passing of Joey DeFrancesco

Joey DeFrancesco was my oldest friend in music. We first met at the Settlement Music School as part of their jazz program that Mr. Lovett Hines ran, and we instantly became best friends. I was 12, he was 13. It stayed that way through our next four years together at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts [CAPA]. We were inseparable...

9/7/22

Episodic Memories of Joey DeFrancesco

Words seem to be shallow, and even the act of writing falls short of expressing the heartbreak I have experienced over losing a young musical genius who has been in my life since he was 11 years old. On further consideration and from a therapeutic perspective, I would like to share a few episodic memories of my association with Joey DeFrancesco...