PHILADELPHIA– Mayor Jim Kenney and the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) will kick off Philly Celebrates Jazz, a citywide celebration of jazz during the month of April, Jazz Appreciation Month, by honoring jazz pianist, educator, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader Jon Batiste as the recipient of the City’s first Benny Golson Award.
WHAT:
Mayor Jim Kenney and OAACE will kick off Philly Celebrate Jazz for the month of April with a launch event honoring bandleader Jon Batiste, from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. This year marks the City’s 7th annual celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, Philly Celebrates Jazz (PCJ)led by the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, and raises public awareness of the jazz heritage of the city, along with the vibrant jazz scene that thrives to this day through a month-long celebration of jazz. This year PCJ features over 200 events including the Philly Celebrates Jazz Community Jazz Series of free performances, film screenings, and dance classes produced by OACCE that will take place across the city in libraries, recreation centers, older adult centers, and schools.
For the schedule of events and latest news about Philly Celebrates Jazz, visit: http://www.CreativePHL.org/jazz, Facebook.com/CreativePHL and on Twitter and Instagram @CreativePHL, and follow #PhillyCelebratesJazz.
WHO:
Mayor Jim Kenney
Kelly Lee, Chief Cultural Officer
Jon Batiste, jazz pianist and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader
WHERE:
Mayor’s Reception Room, City Hall, Room 202
WHEN:
Monday, March 27, 2017, 9:30AM
DETAILS:
The Benny Golson Award, dedicated to jazz legend and Philadelphian Benny Golson, honors a living jazz musician with an international reputation that has demonstrated significant efforts in promoting arts education through jazz in their respective communities and across the country and world. Along with his artistic accomplishments including topping both Billboard jazz and iTunes jazz charts, Jon Batiste was selected honoree for his significant work in arts education including creating the Social Music Residency and Mentoring Program, as well as his work in schools and universities across the country including Philadelphia’s own Curtis Institute of Music and Play On Philly! He also serves as the Artistic Director at Large for the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
This year, the Philly Celebrates Jazz Award will showcase women in jazz. This year’s honorees include jazz guitarist Monnette Sudler, and posthumously to organists Trudy Pitts and Shirley Scott for their contributions to jazz in Philadelphia. The Philly Celebrates Jazz Award is given to local Philadelphia jazz musicians for their contributions to jazz and to the Philadelphia community through arts education.
Mr. Batiste will be available for in-person interviews at Art Gallery in City Hall after the event, please contact Pamela Yau, pamela.yau@phila.gov, or call (267) 679-4913 to arrange an interview.
Television crews and photographers are invited to cover the event.