Mark Morganelli began presenting concerts in his first Jazz Forum loft at 50 Cooper Square in June 1979. By the time the second Jazz Forum loft closed its doors in April 1983, recordings, videos, films and radio broadcasts had documented performances by Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Wynton Marsalis, Woody Shaw, Red Rodney, Carmen McRae, Barry Harris, Philly Joe Jones and Max Roach.
After brief residencies at the Village Gate and the Entermedia Theater, Morganelli established Jazz Forum Arts, a not-for-profit arts presenting organization, and in 1985 started the Riverside Park Arts Festival, which concluded on its 13th anniversary in August 1997. Morganelli has produced over fifty compact discs, most for Candid Records, twenty of which were recorded "live" at NYC's Birdland club, where he was the music coordinator for five years.
Seventeen years ago, Morganelli and his family moved to Westchester, and shortly thereafter, he inaugurated the Jazz at the Music Hall series in Tarrytown. Performers have included Ahmad Jamal, Billy Taylor, Harry "Sweets" Edison, James Moody, Lionel Hampton, Betty Carter, Gerry Mulligan, Herbie Mann, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Maynard Ferguson, Dave Brubeck, Chuck Mangione, and the Count Basie and Duke Ellington Orchestras. Morganelli produced the Sunnyside and Berkshire Jazz Festivals and was executive producer of "Reckson Jazz at Tilles", at C.W.Post College in Greenvale, Long Island for nine years.
Previous Grants for the Arts Are Gone, Your Support Is Now More Vital Than Ever When we started the Jazz Forum, it was your passion and generosity that made it happen. Our Charter Donors laid the foundation alongside government and corporate…
Read More »Jazz Forum Arts: How It All Started As we celebrate our 40th Anniversary year, we will be sharing stories that shine a light on our rich history and the milestones that helped shape Jazz Forum Arts. Today I'd like to tell you how it all started. …
Read More »40 YEARS OF JAZZ FORUM ARTS Celebrate This Major Milestone With Us Throughout 2025 We couldn’t be more thrilled to invite you on a journey that’s four decades in the making! Since 1985, Jazz Forum Arts has been dedicated to…
Read More »JITTERBUGS: JAZZ FOR KIDS Join the Jitterbugs 2025 Spring Program: Now Two Sections, Eight Weeks Each! The Jazz Forum brings jazz to a new generation of children and their families! Jitterbugs is an early childhood education program…
Read More »Join the Jazz Forum Student Ensemble • 2024 Fall Program Welcome to Jazz Forum Arts’ program for aspiring young musicians (grades 5-12). We offer music students the opportunity to become Jazz improvisers! Students will explore…
Read More »Exciting Updates Going Live Next Week Dear Friends and Fellow Jazz Lovers, We will be making some major improvements to our website next week on Monday and Tuesday, May 13 and 14. During this period you will not be able to make any purchases on…
Read More »What an honor! The Jazz Forum is nominated for: Best Music Venue in Best of Westchester 2024 AND Best Jazz Club in Best of Hudson Valley 2024 Please show your love for the Jazz Forum! Vote for us and ask your friends to do the same for one…
Read More »BECOME A 2024 MEMBER TODAY Dear Jazz Lovers, As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the incredible performances that we had the privilege to share with you all in 2023. We are thrilled that we will present new headline artists and…
Read More »Join the Club! 2024 Jazz Forum Memberships Now Available One of the best ways to show your commitment to Jazz in Westchester is to become a Jazz Forum club member. Members receive unique benefits such as gift tickets, club merch and local…
Read More »THIS WEEKEND Duduka Da Fonseca & Quarteto Universal + Special Guest Maucha Adnet Friday & Saturday • Nov 24 & 25 @ 7 & 9:30 PM A four-time Grammy-nominated drummer, Duduka Da Fonseca has appeared on over 250 albums alongside…
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