JCAL is pleased to announce the series lineup for its Thursday Night Jazz season. The long-running series brings together and promotes jazz musicians from up-and-coming and midcareer artists to Grammy-winning performers. There will be eight concerts in all during JCAL’s 2024-2025 season. 

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/thursday-night-jazz-2024-3630799?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=creatorshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=odclsxcollection&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

Thursday Night Jazz takes place on the second Thursday of every month, October to May. Tickets are $10. A limited block of free seats for seniors and students (with ID) and JCAL members, will be allocated at the door on the night of the concert, courtesy of public support through New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and City Council Member Nantasha Williams. 

Hollis, Queens native Marcus Gilmore—grandson of jazz great Roy Haynes, recently honored by JCAL last month—will open the Thursday Night Jazz season on October 10, 8 pm, at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center (153-10 Jamaica Avenue). 

JCAL is also pleased to announce Emigrant Bank as a Thursday Night Jazz sponsor. New York's oldest savings bank, Emigrant serves local communities with 35 branches and various banking subsidiaries. Emigrant will present Financial Literacy: The Journey to Homeownership, a three-part seminar series for first-time home buyers, during the season. The first seminar, on Credit Report and Avoiding Identity Theft will take place Wednesday, November 13, 7pm, at the nearby Jamaica Arts Center (161-04 Jamaica Avenue). 

Thursday Night Jazz is curated by Rio Sakairi, Artistic Director and Director of Programming for The Jazz Gallery in Manhattan. Sakairi will also co-curate JCAL’s annual Downtown Jamaica Riddim & Jazz Festival in July 2025. 

Last season’s Thursday Night Jazz featured an eclectic mix of headliners, ranging from avant-garde emerging artist Cameron Campbell to established stars such as Ravi Coltrane—whose February 2024 performance drew a capacity crowd. Three-time Grammy-winner Samara Joy headlined the first-ever Downtown Jamaica Riddim & Jazz Festival last month, which drew over 1,200 people to Rufus King Park. 

“It is always such a pleasure to bring artists, new and established, to an appreciative audience,” says Rio Sakairi. “Jazz is people music and artists who have been part of the series really enjoy how they connect with audience members at JCAL. The energy at JCAL is always wonderful!”