JAZZforum - Aidan Levy in Conversation with Reuben Jackson - Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 • 7:00 p.m.
Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins is Aidan Levy's long-awaited first full biography of the legendary saxophonist and composer. The JAZZforum is available on YouTube's UDC JAZZ Channel.
Aidan Levy is the author of Dirty Blvd: The Life and Music of Lou Reed and editor of Patti Smith on Patti Smith: Interviews and Encounters. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Village Voice, JazzTimes, and The Nation. He will discuss this extraordinary biography with poet, radio broadcaster, and archivist at the Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives, Reuben Jackson.
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts—Bldg. 46-West) • FREE & Open to the Public
JAZZAlive Celebrates Black History Month
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 • 12:30 p.m.
Join us in celebrating Black History Month and a stellar organ trio featuring Allyn Johnson (organ), Paul Carr (saxophone), and Quincy Phillips (drums).
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts—Bldg. 46-West) • FREE & Open to the Public
JAZZforum - Willard Jenkins - Ain't But a Few of Us: Black Music Writers Tell their Story
Monday, February 27, 2023 • 7:00 p.m.
Editor Willard Jenkins leads a panel discussion on the recent Duke University Press publication - Ain't But a Few of Us: Black Music Writers Tell Their Story. The book presents over two dozen candid dialogues with black jazz critics and journalists and includes an anthology section, which reprints classic essays and articles from black writers and musicians. The JAZZforum is available on YouTube's UDC JAZZ Channel.
Willard Jenkins is the Artistic Director of the DC Jazz Festival as well as an arts consultant, producer, educator, and print and broadcast journalist. His writing has been featured in JazzTimes, Downbeat, Jazz Forum, Jazzwise, and many other publications. He is the coauthor of African Rhythms: The Autobiography of Randy Weston, also published by Duke University Press. The panel will include contributors to this major publication.
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts—Bldg. 46-West) • FREE & Open to the Public
Allyn Johnson and Meet the Artist on the Bandstand – Davey Yarborough
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 • 7:00 p.m.
Allyn Johnson invites woodwind specialist, composer-arranger, bandleader, and dedicated educator Davey Yarborough for a lively session of conversation and performance. The program is available on YouTube's UDC JAZZ Channel.
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts—Bldg. 46-West) • FREE & Open to the Public
Jazz Concert: UDC Small Jazz Ensembles
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 • 12:30 p.m.
Join the Jazz Ensembles under the direction of Allyn Johnson for our Jazz Appreciation Month celebration.
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts—Bldg. 46-West) • FREE & Open to the Public
Master Class - Celebrating the Life of Charles Mingus
Thursday, April 13, 2023 • 2:00 p.m.
Join veteran jazz broadcaster, historian, and UDC Jazz History professor Rusty Hassan & DC Jazz Festival Artist in Residence Orrin Evans for a presentation about Charles Mingus and his place in jazz history as a composer, bassist, and singular figure in American music. The Master Class is available on YouTube's UDC JAZZ Channel.
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts-Bldg. 46-West) • FREE & Open to the Public
Allyn Johnson & Orrin Evans- Meet the Artists on the Bandstand
Thursday, April 13, 2023 • 7:30 p.m.
JAZZAlive & DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) present Allyn Johnson & Orrin Evans* in an evening of duo-piano performance together with Michael Bowie on bass and Quincy Phillips on drums. The concert is available to stream on YouTube's UDC JAZZ Channel.
*Performance by DC Jazz Festival Artist in Residence Orrin Evans is made possible by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
UNIVERSITY THEATER (Bldg. 46-East) • FREE & Open to the Public
Jazz Concert: Senior Recital - Jade Jacobs
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 • 7:00 p.m.
Vocalist and jazz studies major Jade Jacobs presents her Senior Recital. The recital is available on YouTube's UDC JAZZ Channel.
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts—Bldg. 46-West) • FREE & Open to the Public
Calvin Jones BIG BAND Jazz Festival
Monday, April 24, 2023 • 8:00 p.m.
The BIG BAND sound makes a long-awaited return as the powerhouse jazz ensembles from the University of the District of Columbia (directed by Allyn Johnson), Howard University (directed by Fred Irby III), and the University of Maryland (directed by Tim Powell) celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month and honor the late musician and educator, Dr. Leroy Barton, Jr. Produced by the Jazz Studies Program and the Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives, the festival began in 1987 as part of a city-wide tribute to Duke Ellington, and it remains one of the most anticipated events on Washington, DC's jazz calendar. The concert is streaming on YouTube's UDC Jazz Channel.
Tickets are $20 (general admission), $15 (seniors), and $10 (students) and can be purchased in advance at the UDC Music Program, Performing Arts-Bldg. 46-West or online at InstantSeats.com. Info: (202) 274-5803 * jazzalive@udc.edu * www.bigbandjazzfest.org
UNIVERSITY THEATER (Bldg. 46-East)
Allyn Johnson with the UDC JAZZAlive Trio
Friday, September 23, 2022 • 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Art All Night returns to Van Ness Main Street on Friday, September 23, 2022. Join us for an evening filled with great local music, dance, performance, art, and community.
Celebrate Art All Night with the UDC JAZZAlive Trio featuring Allyn Johnson (piano) and DC favorites DeAndre Shaifer (trumpet), and Steve Novosel (bass). Flavor Garden Restaurant.Outside at 4400 Connecticut Ave., NW
Allyn Johnson and Meet the Artist on the Bandstand – Tom Williams
Tuesday, September 27, 2022 • 12:30 p.m.
Allyn Johnson invites trumpeter, drummer, bandleader, and educator Tom Williams for a lively session of conversation and performance. Join us in-person at UDC. The program is available on YouTube’s UDC JAZZ Channel after the event date.
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts—Bldg. 46-West)
Celebrating the Jazz Organ Trio
Tuesday, October 18, 2022 • 12:30 p.m.
Join us for a change of pace as Allyn Johnson plays the Hammond B3 and is joined by guest saxophonist Paul Carr, and drummer Ynomrah Hicks.
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts—Bldg. 46-West)
Jazz Concert: Junior Recital
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 • 5:30 p.m.
Vocalist and jazz studies major Jade Jacobs presents her Junior Recital.
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts—Bldg. 46-West)
Tom Teasley: World Percussionist
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 • 12:30 p.m.
World percussionist Tom Teasley shares his experience as a performer and composer.
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts—Bldg. 46-West)
Jazz Concert: UDC Small Jazz Ensembles
Tuesday, November 22, 2022 • 12:30 p.m.
Join the Jazz Ensembles under the direction of Allyn Johnson for our Thanksgiving celebration.
RECITAL HALL (Performing Arts—Bldg. 46-West)
Annual Holiday Concert
Monday, December 5, 2022 • 7:30 p.m.
The University of the District of Columbia presents its holiday gift to the Washington, D.C. community, The UDC Chorale directed by Johnny Butler III, The Voices, directed by Gerry Gillespie and the UDC Jazz Ensemble, directed by Allyn Johnson return in person to spread the holiday spirit.
UNIVERSITY THEATER (Bldg. 46-East)
