2020 NYC Winter Jazzfest Jazz Talks

In a continued effort to engage artists and audiences in conversations around relevant and impactful issues facing the jazz community and our broader cultural ecosystem Winter Jazzfest partners with Equilibrium (@thisisequilibrium) and Moon31 to program an expansive Jazz Talks series on a range of topics including social justice, gender, environmentalism, international issues, and an in-depth track on wellness and mental health.

*All Jazz Talks sessions are FREE and open to the general public with an RSVP at DoNYC

Saturday, January 11, 2020 / 11:00am

Alternative and Non-Traditional Approaches to Wellness in Music

An artists’ life is challenging, particularly while on the road, and traditional medicine doesn’t always address the issues intrinsic to this lifestyle. This discussion will feature Alternative Health practitioners exploring their work, utilizing a variety of non-traditional approaches to support artists in finding health and balance in the development of a sustainable career.

Moderator: LJ Malberg (President, Compassionate Muse), Panelists: Bikbaye Inejnema (Founder, Conscious Youth Global Network), Carey Davidson (Tournesol Wellness), Maureen Dodd (Spiritual Mentor), Kassa Overall (drummer, producer, rapper), Bob Roth (CEO The David Lynch Foundation).

The Assemblage 17 John Street NYC

Saturday, January 11, 2020 / 1:30pm

Laughter is the Best Medicine led by Laraaji

A guided experiential, interactive, uplifting laughter playshop with call & response chanting, therapeutic laughter-crises, extended laughter, and deep relaxation to live music. A seriously playful and positively affirming experience led by Laraaji with Arji OceAnanda. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a yoga mat or blanket if you like.

The Assemblage - 17 John St, NYC

Saturday, January 11, 2020 / 2:30pm

Navigating Healthy Relationships in the Arts

Maintaining healthy relationships with loved ones is not easy and the music industry makes it particularly challenging with long hours, touring, a social culture that may encourage drug use, and complicated relationships intertwining business and romance. As a result, many in the music industry struggle to maintain healthy relationships with friends, family, and significant others, while often sacrificing self care and mental health. This panel brings together artists and entrepreneurs to share insights based on their own healthy and unhealthy relationships.

Moderator: Jenice Acosta

Panelists include Mark Guiliana (WJF Artist in Residence), Gretchen Parlato (Grammy-nominated vocalist), Tasha Blank (DJ, Writer, Yogi and Founder of The Get-Down), Francine Steadman (Founder of Bhuddabooth), and Gethin Aldous (filmmaker).

Moxy NYC East Village - 112 E 11th St, NYC

Saturday, January 11, 2020 / 4:00pm

Organizations Caring for Musicians: Resources, Institutions, and Foundations supporting musicians, substance abuse, depression and more

The music industry is a space where addiction, mental health issues, and substance abuse are common. Many of the most celebrated and innovative artists today face illness, sickness and mental health issues yet lack health insurance, full-time salary equivalence, and support resources. This panel brings together organizations that lead initiatives to help artists in need, and provide viable options towards recovery and wellness.

Moderator: Nicole Blonder (Founder of Equilibrium). Panelists: Jennifer Leff (Senior Director at MusiCares), Alisa Hafkin (Director of Social Services at Jazz Foundation of America), Michael Rexford (Founder, LightHopeLife), Hilary Gleason (Backline, Founder) and Gene Bowen (Road Recovery).

Moxy NYC East Village - 112 E 11th St, NYC

Sunday, January 12, 2020 / 11:00am

Environmental Activism and Jazz: The power of Music on Global and Physical Health

Knvul Sheikh from The New York Times wrote “The earth’s climate is changing around us - from the frequent wildfires in California to the increasingly severe cyclones in the Indian Ocean,...yet many people are still not motivated enough to act.“ We bring together music industry professionals and musicians active in the climate change movement to discuss their inspirations, how climate change has affected their lives and offer advice and strategies to make meaningful local change.

Moderator:

Amer Jandali (CEO/Founder of Future Meets Present),

Panelists: Cassia Patel (Program Manager, Oceanic Global), Emily Moxon (Managing Director, Brownswood Recordings), Jesse Lewis (Musician, Biophilia Records), and Justin Ahiyon (Owner, House of Yes).

The Assemblage - 17 John St, NYC

Sunday, January 12, 2020 / 1:30pm

Jazz & Gender: A discussion of Community, Culture & Participatory Allies

In this year’s Jazz & Gender panel segment, moderators Nate Chinen and Sarah Elizabeth Charles explore the topic of jazz and gender in relationship to where we stand at this moment as a community. As the conversation has broadened, and new institutions and curricula have been formed we explore the current realities and examine next steps towards a future where this conversation may be obsolete.

Moderators: Sarah Elizabeth Charles (musician, teaching artist), Nate Chinen (journalist), Panelists: Aja Burrell Wood (professor, ethnomusicologist, Managing Director, Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice), Chloe Rowlands (musician), Naomi Extra (writer, poet), Jerome Jennings (musician), Ben Williams (musician).

The Assemblage - 17 John St, NYC

Sunday, January 12, 2020 / 2:30pm

Is Jazz Good For Your Health?

Moderated by DJ and music journalist John Murph, this discussion explores ways in which jazz musicians embrace wellness, mental, spiritual, and physical health. In addition to addressing strategies for a healthy lifestyle including exercise, diet, and proper sleep all while on the grind (or even more challengingly, on the road), the panelists will discuss ways of combating anxiety and depression, and maintaining wellness.

Moderator: John Murph; Panelists: Theo Bleckmann (vocalist, composer), Tobias Meinhart (saxophonist, composer), Allison Miller (drummer, composer, Professor, Boyer College of Music, Temple University), and Jacques Schwarz-Bart (saxophonist; Professor, Berklee College of Music).

The Moxy Hotel East Village - 112 E 11th St, NYC

Sunday, January 12, 2020 / 4:00pm

Artists Sharing Stories of Recovery From Substance Abuse, Addiction,
& Depression/Mental Health

The world has lost some of the greatest musicians of our time to issues arising from substance abuse, depression, mental health, addiction, and related complications. In an effort to both acknowledge those lost and to provide support for those currently facing these issues, these panelists share stories of their battles, struggles (some for the first time), and recovery around these most important and relevant issues.

Jennifer Leff (Director at Grammy MusiCares) moderates a conversation with Meghan Stabile (Founder, Revive Music) and Ralph Peterson (drummer, composer, educator).

Bowers & Wilkins Sounds Lounge at Winter Jazzfest

The Moxy Hotel East Village - 112 E 11th St, NYC

Sunday, January 12, 2020 / 5:00pm

From Detroit To The World:
A Conversation on the Jazz Legacy of Detroit

Journalist and critic Mark Stryker, author of Jazz From Detroit (University of Michigan Press, 2019), explores Detroit’s pivotal role in shaping the course of modern and contemporary jazz from the 1940s until the present day. His presentation also includes a panel discussion about the impact of the legendary Detroit teacher and trumpeter Marcus Belgrave (1936-2015).

Moderator: Mark Stryker (journalist, author); Panelists: musicians Robert Hurst (bassist), Joan Belgrave (vocalist, bandleader, widow of Marcus Belgrave), Karriem Riggins (drummer, producer).

Le Poisson Rouge - 158 Bleecker Street NYC

*This Talk is available only with a ticket to ‘From Detroit To The World’ concert.

Sunday, January 12, 2020 / 6:00pm

Healing Power of Music

Presented by Bowers & Wilkins

The healing properties of music have long been touted. As wave forms and frequencies permeate even more areas of the brain than language, research has now shown that music is a potent treatment for health issues. Music impacts one’s physical and emotional well-being, affecting heart rate, blood pressure, pain, mood, creativity and so much more. Music also brings people together in a physical space, creating community that supports mental well-being. We gather musicians and those involved with music as a healing tool to discuss the healing power of music.

Panelists: Laraaji (musician, healer), Helen Sung (musician, composer, neuroscience), Theo Croker (trumpet player, composer), J. Hoard (musician, vocalist), more TBA.

Moxy NYC East Village - 112 E 11th St, NYC

Monday, January 13, 2020 / 4:00pm

Turbulent Times for International Musicians

Bowers & Wilkins Sound Lounge at Winter Jazzfest

In these turbulent times, fluctuations in the law and the overwhelming growth of music streaming has impacted jazz musicians; from the international artists with whom you collaborate to the revenue received from recorded music. At this panel, we will discuss developments in U.S. visa laws, copyright laws and the digital music streaming ecosystem worldwide.

Panelists Ali Sachedina (VP, General Counsel & Business Affairs at JioSaavn), David Amar (CoveyLaw), Ben Allison (jazz musician and rights advocate).

Moxy NYC East Village - 112 E 11th St, NY

Monday, January 13, 2020 / 6:00pm

Expressions of Song

Presented by Bowers & Wilkins

Join us for a discussion with your favorite artists as they describe the process they go through when creating music as well as the meaning behind the notes, and the emotions their songs elicit. The conversation consists of each artist presenting one of their most emotional tracks for discussion.

Moderator: Monique Martin (Harlem Stage)

Panelists: Adeline (vocalist, composer), Madison McFerrin (vocalist, composer), Jose James (vocalist, composer), Rob Moose (producer, arranger, violinist, yMusic co-founder), Taali (singer/songwriter, producer, Rainbow Blonde Records label owner), Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpeter, composer).

Moxy NYC East Village - 112 E 11th St, NYC

Monday, January 13, 2020 / 7:00pm

The State of Wellness in NYC's Nightlife

According to a report by the Mayor’s office, NYC claims one of the world’s largest and most influential music ecosystems. More concert tickets are sold in NYC than anywhere else in the world. With live music playing such a large role in NYC’s economic and artistic ecosystem, caring for musicians is vital. Join the leaders of some of New York City’s most iconic institutions and festivals, alongside members of its governing body, to discuss health and the live music industry in NYC.

Moderator: Neal Ludevig (CEO/Founder of Moon31). Panelists: Ariel Palitz (Senior Executive Director, NYC Office of Nightlife, Mayors Office of Media and Entertainment), Elizabeth Hamby (Director, Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, Take Care New York), Erika Elliott (Artistic Director, Summerstage), Justin Ahiyon (Owner, House of Yes).

The Assemblage - 17 John St, NYC

Wednesday, January 15, 2020 / 7:00pm

Toward a Better Jazz Culture in the 2020s: Targets & Trajectories

During the first decade of the 21st century, jazz made certain sociocultural advances: a robust dialogue around racial injustice, greater parity for women, an expanded global network of inflections and ideas. We stand at the threshold of a new decade, and there’s much more work to be done. What are our blue-sky aspirations for the culture around this music in the 2020s? How can we ensure that the gains we’ve made as a community are not only carried forward but expanded and amplified? Our panel will use recent experience as a basis for mapping out the near future.

Moderator: Nate Chinen (NPR Music), Panelists: Michael Mwenso (musician), Nikara & Black Wall Street (musician), Gregg August (musician), more TBA

The Assemblage - 17 John St, NYC

Friday, January 17th - 2020

The Future of Jazz and Independent Labels

We have arrived at a tipping point in the music business - the digitalization and streaming of music has given artists and labels both unprecedented audience reach and an uncertain return on investment. Yet the fact has never been clearer that for almost every artist, the major label paradigm of yore is neither functional nor sustainable.

Lucky for us, the solution lies within our own history and spirit. A music and movement born of innovation and improvisation, jazz is uniquely suited to weather this constantly changing landscape. 

What are the merits of going independent for jazz or jazz-related artists? How does this align with the music’s history of transformation without sacrificing the creative core? Through the lens of our own label and creative experience (both past and present), we’ll examine the promise and potential trajectory of musical independence. 

Panelists: Janette Beckman (photographer), Talia Billig (singer-songwriter, Rainbow Blonde Records co-founder), Brian Bender (producer, engineer, Rainbow Blonde Records co-founder) José James (vocalist, Rainbow Blonde Records co-founder) 

Rough Trade NYC - 64 N 9th Street, BK

About Equilibrium:

Equilibrium is a series of events that explore the issues of health and wellness in the music industry. equilibrium was created by Nicole Blonder and Marni Wandner, both certified holistic health coaches and music industry professionals who share a mutual passion for making the music business a healthier space for both artists and industry.

About Moon31:

Led by Neal Ludevig, a producer, artist, creative, and entrepreneur, Moon31 is all about experiences that bring people together in innovative, unique ways. Through art, storytelling, shows, concerts, exhibitions, festivals, dinners, and more, Moon31 aims to create platforms for meaningful conversation that tackle the important issues of today, that circle around sustainability, LGBT advocacy, community building, civil rights, and gender equality. Moon31 ’s has been covered in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, NPR, Time Out New York, among others, with its most recent work including the 50th Year Anniversary of Black Woodstock, the Marketplace of the Future as part of Climate Week, and the online mini-series “Insomnia”.