SUPER BAND

October 26, 2007

Six of NYC's top women jazz artists form a multi-generational band, featuring Cindy Blackman, drummer for Lenny Kravitz; vocalist/lyricist, and composer Vanessa Rubin; pianist Bertha Hope, wife of legendary pianist Elmo Hope; Kim Clarke who All About Jazz calls "the funkiest bassist in N.Y." saxophonist Carol Sudhalter, tenor saxophone and flute; and alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin.

NEA JAZZ MASTERS

November 30, 2007

Jimmy Heath, Barry Harris, and Clark Terry (recipients of America's most prestigious jazz award - the NEA Jazz Masters), are joined by Tootie Heath, Earl May, Benny Powell, and vocalist Denise Thimes. Hear the music the legends created - their gift to America!

JUNIOR MANCE TRIO

April 18, 2008

New York Times critic John Wilson calls Mance "a complete pianist..his performances are recalled in wonder as the years go by." The prolific recording artist, composer and teacher, who played in the Dizzy Gillespie Band and with Clark Terry, Cannonball Adderly, Charlie Parker and Clifford Brown, is joined by Hide Tanaka on bass, and Jackie Williams, drums.

QUEENS JAZZ ORCHESTRA INAUGURAL CONCERT

May 16, 2008

Flushing Town Hall is proud to launch the inaugural concert of the 17-piece Queens Jazz Orchestra (QJO). Led by Music Director and Conductor, Jimmy Heath, QJO celebrates JAZZ, honoring classics and future generations. The orchestra performs the music of Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley, Clark Terry, Count Basie, Milt Jackson, Illinois Jacquet, and Billie Holiday, plus a Flushing Council commission by Jimmy Heath. QJO includes band members Jeb Patton, piano; Michael Mossman, trumpet; and Antonio Hart, saxophone, with vocalist Antoinette Montague.

Intimate Jazz Series

BENNY POWELL

October 5, 2007

Jazz Improv calls Powell "one of the most versatile trombonists in the contemporary music scene". The veteran of the Count Basie Orchestra is joined by Sayuri Goto, piano, Essiet o Essiet, bass; Billy Hart, drums; Kevin Jones, percussion, and T.K. Blue, sax, to perform his original composisions and jazz classics.

GABRIELE TRANCHINA

November 9, 2007

Tranchina's three octave voice is referred to by critisc as "just breathtaking" and "technically perfect". She's making waves throughout NYC with appearances at Birdland and The Blue Note, and appears at Flushing Town Hall sining Brazilian, Jazz and French songs accompanied by Joe Vincent Tranchina, piano; Bobby Sanabria, drums; Santi Debriano, bass, and Roberto Quintero , percussion.

THE RANDY SANDKE QUARTET

December 7, 2007

All About Jazz calls Sandke "one of the best trumpeters around". He performs music from his CD "Inside Out" and jazz standards with Ted Rosenthal, piano; Jay Leonhart, bass, and Joe Ascione, drums.

THE ALEX BLAKE QUARTET

January 4, 2008

One of the top upright bass players in teh country, Blake has played with Celia Cruz, Mongo Santamaria, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, and Manhattan Transfer, and most recently with Randy Weston. His quartet, including Victor Jones, drums; Cliff Hunter, sax; and Ted Cruz, piano, performs songs from his CD "Now Is The Time".

THE SUSAN RUEL STRING BAND

February 1, 2008

Blues and Jazz Fiddle player Susan Ruel and her String Band have performed since 2000 at St. Peter's Church and New Orleans style clubs throughout the N.Y. metropolitan area. She performs authentic Bluegrass, Country and Cajun Music at Town Hall together with Bob Malenky, guitar; Sean Grissom, cello; and Eli Smith, washboard, banjo.

MICHAEL PHILLIP MOSSMAN

March 7, 2008

Lead trumpeter with the Jazz at Lincoln Center's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, and Queens College professor and composer, Michael Mossman will perform songs from his CD "Spring Dance" and his show, Timba Dance, that combines jazz, Latin, and classical music. He is joined by Antonio Hart, sax; Cliff Korman, piano; Pable Aslan, bass; and Cliff Almond, drums.

THE KENDRA SHANK QUARTET

April 4, 2008

Music scholar Nat Hentoff writes that Shank's vocals are "striking and her musicianship is powerful". Shank's concert will include music from her latest album, "A Spirit Free," songs written by jazz icon Abbey Lincoln and reinterpreted by Kendra Shank. Shank performs with Frank Kimbrough, piano; Dean Johnson, bass and Tony Moreno, drums.

THE TONY PURRONE TRIO

May 2, 2008

Tony Purrone is one of the most technically proficient guitarists in the business, and has performed with The Heath Brothers, Freddie Hubbard, Billy Eckstine, Donald Byrd, Lee Konitz, Lenny WHite, Jon Faddis, Dizzy Gillespie, Randy Brecker, and Paquito D'Rivera. His trio, including Dave Anderson, bass; and Thierry Arpino, drums, will perform classic jazz standards.

THE JEB PATTON TRIO

June 6, 2008

Protegee of Roland Hanna and pianist for the Heath Brothers, Patton is described by All About Jazz as "a player of great expression, bringing to the surface every little vignette that gives a song its depth and character." Patton performs music from his CD "A Lovesome Thing" with David Wong on bass; and Peter Van Nostrand, drums.