Next Monday.
Billie Holiday’s birthday.
That’s all.
JAN 31 ᐧ New Jazz Listener in DC
Meet up with changamiré, Marvin Anani and DC-area members and friends of The New Jazz Listener for a smooth, exciting performance by:
SAMUEL PRATHER — THE NEXT GENERATION
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Friday, January 31
6:00 PM
Jazz Night at Westminster
400 I Street SW 20024
Admission $10
Arrive early for the best parking and seating.
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The mission of The New Jazz Listener is to introduce jazz to new people, in hopes of converting them into jazz fans. Our vision is that those new fans will help fill jazz audiences in their corner of the world, thereby supporting local musicians and jazz presenters.
Join us near the vivacious SW waterfront for NJL Local:DC!
2025 DCCAH Grant Recipient
I am honored to be the recipient of a 2025 Artist Fellowship from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.
I cannot thank the Commission enough for supporting my work and life as an artist, and I look forward to creating more music and programming to well represent DC — my hometown — and serve my city and the global community.
Great Day In The Studio
Changamiré had an incredible recording session yesterday, as she nears completion of her highly anticipated third studio album, a tribute to Billie Holiday. Her rendition of God Bless the Child and the original title track were recorded and mixed with great mastery and integrity.
Alongside the participation of high-profile entities on the project, yesterday’s session underscored the significant impact this album will have on the jazz canon.
Check out this sneak peek.
Stay tuned!
Women’s Global Institute
On Friday, March 22, 2024, I had the distinct pleasure of singing for an esteemed audience at the Women’s Global Institute Trade Bureau high tea at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Washington, DC. Filled with women who conduct successful business at the global level, the afternoon occasion was lovely and incredibly inspiring.
The afternoon highlighted Japan in a breathtaking room filled with photos of cherry blossoms. The Embassy of Japan’s Attaché for Self Defense, Force, Air and Space spoke of Japan’s focus and opportunities for U.S.-Japan best practice exchanges in these industries. And a Kyoto player beautifully set the international tone with a musical performance during tea.
After more powerful….and sometimes hilarious!….speeches from women, a couple of men gave insightful ones, with Johnny Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, being among them.
My warmest thanks goes to WGITB Founder, Marcia Dyson, for including me in the program.
DEC 10 • NJL Turns 3!
The New Jazz Listener celebrates 3 years of introducing jazz music to new people on Sunday, December 10, 4:00-5:30 PM ET on the Clubhouse app!
Sponsored by Koss, the event will feature trumpet virtuoso Jon Faddis and jazz royalty Thelonious Monk IV as our very special guests.
Coordinated by Sarah Fierek, Founder of #WeFundVisions, NJL will offer a few lucky audience members superior audio accessories from Koss Stereophones!
Join me, co-host Marvin and the NJL community as we celebrate our collective milestone and listen to incredible jazz records in grand style. Visit NewJazzListener.club for Clubhouse access.
2024 Fellow!
I am proud to announce that I have been awarded a 2024 Artist Fellowship from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities!
With the help of this support, I am able to continue creating exciting experiences for your ears, eyes and soul!
Thank you DC Commission! ❤️
Congratulations, Louis!
Last month, I was honored to have been invited to the opening of the Louis Armstrong Center in the charming Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. The modern center is an extension of the historic home of the late jazz trumpet icon, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong.
It is “a wonderful world” that the museum team and Corona community have built for us to marvel, including an impressive lineup of concerts by renowned jazz artists.
After touring (and shopping!) in the new center, you can walk across the street and sit on Louis’ house steps that appear in that famous photo of him playing trumpet for neighborhood kids.
Check out a few photos and videos here on my Instagram.
POSE: Music with Dance
During the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the fact that I do not play an instrument, I thought I couldn’t collaborate with multi-layered music without my quintet. So, I played around with audio software and ended up composing a more involved piece of music for the first time. We’ll categorize it as orchestral pop.
When listening back to it, I got a little silly during the breaks in the middle of the composition and began posing like Vogue! So I titled the piece “Pose” and commissioned dancer Asya Shaw to choreograph and perform with the music.
Click here to go to my YouTube channel to watch Asya’s awesome performance with the playful composition.
AAJ Covers Germany Trip
AllAboutJazz.com wrote a wonderful article about my participation in the 2022 “Jazz In Germany” program. As a part of a 6-country delegation, I represented the United States, and our group engaged with the jazz scene in Berlin, Frankfurt and Darmstadt.
You can read the article here.
And click “The World” on my menu for a ton of photos from the trip!