On Wednesday, March 2, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined the Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium for a press conference at Brooklyn Borough Hall announcing the 12th annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival to run April 1-30.
This year’s festival, entitled “It’s All Jazz,” will present concerts and events, as well as feature jazz bands celebrating Brooklyn’s contributions to jazz. Today’s kickoff featured entertainment from the Bedford Village School Ensemble.
“Next month, New York City’s ‘jazz central’ will be the Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival,” said BP Markowitz, “and you’ll be able to hear ‘blue notes’ practically any day of the week in Brooklyn. You might say the ‘vanguard’ of jazz is happening right here in our borough. After all, who needs Manhattan when Brooklyn is ‘birdland’? In the month of April, whether you want bebop or fusion, straight-ahead or Latin soul and every kind of jazz in between—you must take the ‘A’ train to Brooklyn!”
Two proclamations were presented to Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium: One from Borough President Marty Markowitz and another from The Office of New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn via Felix Palacios. Musical presentation was provided by P.S. 3’ Bedford Village Ensemble under the direction of CBJC member Ahmed Abdullah.
Markowitz said that several venues approached him about becoming more involved with Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival. “My recommendations are based on the needs of the venues, its audiences, music stylings of the artist and the greater need of expanding this jazz festival. Thanks to all the artists who brought their press kits,” added the borough president.
Special thanks to Foodtown of Bedford Stuyvesant, located in Restoration Plaza on Fulton Street, Brooklyn Tourism and Visitors Center an initiative of Borough President Marty Markowitz, and Afroarts Design for providing hosting services.
