Flushing Town Hall Hosts 10 Hours of Jazz Fun on Saturday

Sometimes nine hours of great music in one day is just not enough. This Saturday, Flushing Town Hall will present a free, 10-hour celebration of jazz with performances and workshops.

Organized by the Queens Jazz OverGround, this annual event will highlight the talents of the many borough-based jazz musicians. Attendees will be able to watch student jazz combos and middle and high school bands during the day and seven Queens-based professional ensembles in the evening.

They will also be able to attend master classes and an educational workshop for children. Another photo and the schedule are on the jump page.

Spring Jazz Fest 2015 will start at noon and go until 10 pm at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Boulevard. The schedule follows.

Daytime sessions (noon – 6 pm):

• Louis Armstrong Collage Workshop. Children will create artwork in the style of legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong (who was also a visual artist and Queens resident) while listening to his music and learning about his life.
• Master Classes. Queens Jazz OverGround members will lead rhythm section, brass, and saxophone master classes. Open to all.
• Youth Performers. Student bands from JHS 185 (Alex Jung, director), JHS 194 (Scott Martin, director), and Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School (William Stevens, director) will play selections and work with guest clinicians Javier Arau and Tom Zlabinger. Combos from the Queens College Center for Preparatory Studies in Music and the York College-based Blue Notes High School big band will also perform.

Evening sessions (roughly 50-minute sets in the gallery and theater):

• 5:30 pm, Martin Kelley’s Affinity Trio – Martin Kelley, tenor; Diallo House, bass; and Christian Coleman, drums.
• 6 pm, George Gee Quintet.
• 6:30 pm, Amanda Monaco’s Mo-Fi-Ba – Amanda Monaco, guitar; Joe Fiedler, trombone; and Michael 
• Bates, bass.
• 7 pm, Brian Woodruff Sextet +1 – Elisabeth Lohninger, guest vocalist; Lisa Parrott, alto and soprano saxophone; Jacob Varmus, trumpet; Alan Ferber, trombone; Pete McCann, guitar; Matt Clohesy, bass; and Brian Woodruff, drums.
• 7:30 pm, Josh Deutsch’s Pannonia – Josh Deutsch, trumpet; Zach Brock, violin; Ryan Keberle, trombone; Gary Wang, bass; and Ronen Itzik, percussion.
• 8 pm, Thana Alexa Quintet – Thana Alexa, vocals; Ben Flocks, tenor saxophone; TBA, piano; Noam Weisenberg, bass; and Peter Kronreif, drums.
• 9 pm, Headliner and Guest of Honor Rufus Reid – Rufus Reed, bass; Josh Deutsch, trumpet; Amanda Monaco, guitar; and Brian Woodruff, drums.

Photos: Flushing Town Hall