The Jazz Drama Program ....

The excitement is building for the 10th Anniversary Benefit Concert of The Jazz Drama Program honoring Bob Stewart and hosted by Terrance McNight.  There is very limited seating so please make your move now to purchase tickets for the 6-8pm gathering with open bar, elegant and delicious hors d'oevres and intimate performances by Bob Stewart, John Kamitsuka, Sara Caswell, Eli Yamin and Tom Dempsey.  Ticket price for this event is $125 ($75 is tax deductible). Each ticket holder will receive a CD of the featured artists.  We thank-you for supporting the work of The Jazz Drama Program, Jazz Arts for a Better World!

We understand that you might like a less pricey way to celebrate with us.  That's why we are continuing the celebration with the Blues After Hours with The Eli Yamin Blues Band from 8:30-11pm.  Ticket price for this event is $60 which includes admission ($50 tax deductible), $10 minimum purchase additional for food and drink. Purchase tickets for this part here.    

 Meet the artists... 

Our honoree Bob Stewart has established himself as both an innovative tuba player and equally creative jazz educator playing with artists from Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie and Gil Evans to Taj Mahal, Jason Moran and Eli Yamin.  And teaching at LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, The Juilliard School and Lehman College, City University of New York. 

Sara Caswell, a leading jazz violinist has played with Esperanza Spaulding, Mark O' Conner, Rosseana Vitro, the New York Pops and leads her own bands.  She is on the faculty at Manhattan School of Music and can be heard on The Jazz Drama Program's cast album of Holding the Torch For Liberty.

John Kamitsuka, performs worldwide as solo recitalist, soloist with orchestras and chamber music. In New York City, he performs annually on the Abby Whiteside Foundation Concert Series at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, a unique series presenting disciples of Whiteside's distinct approach to piano playing from the best of both worlds of classical and jazz. In addition to presenting Mr. Kamitsuka, other artists include jazz legends Barry Harris and Fred Hersch. 

Eli Yamin, artistic director and co-founder of The Jazz Drama Program has been spreading the jazz gospel for 30 years as a pianist, educator, composer and rabble rouser.

Tom Dempsey, guitarist, educator and Board Member of The Jazz Drama Program is celebrating his new CD, Saucy and will appear on the next cast album from The Jazz Drama Program, Message From Saturn.

Here's Tom and Eli at Avatar Studios...photo by Nisha Sondhe

"I firmly believe that any exposure to the arts like this is vital to the spirit of America, to the spirit of the children."

-Mercedes Ellington, choreographer and Granddaughter of Duke Ellington

Shataysha Peprah performs Holding the Torch For Liberty

"I had the life changing experience to have studied under the professorship of  Mr. Carlson and Mr.Yamin, while attending Louis Armstrong Middle School from 1997 - 2004. Since that time I continued to study music and recently received my Masters Degree in Classical Voice and Opera Studies from NYU."  JDP Alum Tyenne Silleken.

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