Open Jazz Workshop Series (March – April 2024)

Please join our director saxophonist Joey Berkley along with the following veteran musicians for an Open Jazz Workshop Series 6-9PM on the following Sundays

March 10 Ralph Lalama (Tenor sax)
March 17 Alan Goidel (Trombone)
March 24 Paul Bollenback (Guitar)
April 7 Tony Kadleck (Trumpet)
April 14 Joel Rosenblatt (Drums)

Jam session immediately follows each workshop, open to the public.

Click here to register.


ArtsWestchester JazzFest 2023

A select group of students, along with several professional musicians opened up for the ArtsWestchester JazzFest on September 10th, 2023. It was a great afternoon of jazz capped off by performances by the Detroit-raised recording artist, bassist and composer Endea Owen and the Mount Vernon native and contemporary jazz saxophonist Mike Phillips.


Summer Performances at the Ridge Hill Mall 2023

The Westchester Center for Jazz & Contemporary Music continued playing in the Saturday Ridge Hill Mall Series in Yonkers in 2023 with performances in May, June, August, and September. A combination of professionals and our students, the series exemplifies a key aspect of our school, providing students opportunities to learn from and interact with professional musicians in various settings, including live performances.


Open Jazz Intensive 2023

The Westchester Center for Jazz & Contemporary Music hosted its first Open Jazz Intensive on March 11th, 2023. The workshop was conducted by our director saxophonist Joey Berkley along with special guests, the well-known veteran musicians Joel Rosenblatt (drums) and Brian Pareschi (trumpet). Participants got a chance to explore rhythm and brass techniques, along with improvisational fundaments within a relaxed, ensemble setting.


Summer Performances at the Ridge Hill Mall 2022

The Westchester Center for Jazz & Contemporary Music is playing Saturday’s 5-7 at Ridge Hill Mall in Yonkers through the month of July (with the exception of the Fourth of July Weekend). A combination of professionals and our students, it’s an opportunity for students to hone their skills while learning from the Pros. It’s great to be back. Very grateful for our director Joey Berkley for putting this together.


Registration for the Back to School Bootcamp for Summer 2022 is now open

 

Come tune up your skills! Focus on ensemble playing, improvisation, and improving rhythm and reading skills.

Week 1: Aug. 23, 24, 25 from 1-4PM

Week 2: Aug. 30, 31 and Sept. 1 from 1-4PM

Register Now for More Information


Center Teaching Vid Thursday Class The Chicken

Video # 2: Working with our Thursday class

In case you missed my previous comments –

We’re back! And I am very grateful to be working with our students at the Westchester Center for Jazz. All the new technology we’ve installed to make us Covid friendly also allows us to record and playback during rehearsal and also allows us to share what we do.
And always enjoyable to watch our director Joey Berkley in action.

Joey as usual says it better than me:

For me, the journey of Jazz is about learning and expressing. I think we can all agree we now face historic uncertain times as musicians collectively. While we race to find the “new normal”, as performing musicians we do not want to give up on the “only normal” and what it takes to get there. In our own way, the Westchester Center for Jazz and Contemporary Music is back at it live, expecting their students to know their scale/arpeggio exercises; rhythm-changes; time is Number 1; intonation matters, forever!!! I say, let’s learn and teach for the one normal that matters most: Miles, Monk, Trane, Bird, Brecker, Ellington, SRV, James Brown, Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Louis Armstrong and on and on…..and In Our Own Sweet Way, the Westchester Center For Jazz is back at it live.


Sunday Ensemble Improv Lesson

It’s great to be back working with our students at the Westchester Center for Jazz. All the new technology we’ve installed to make us Covid friendly also allows us to record and playback during rehearsal and also allows us to share what we do.

And always enjoyable to watch our director Joey Berkley in action.

Joey as usual says it better than me:

For me, the journey of Jazz is about learning and expressing. I think we can all agree we now face historic uncertain times as musicians collectively. While we race to find the “new normal”, as performing musicians we do not want to give up on the “only normal” and what it takes to get there. In our own way, the Westchester Center for Jazz and Contemporary Music is back at it live, expecting their students to know their scale/arpeggio exercises; rhythm-changes; time is Number 1; intonation matters, forever!!! I say, let’s learn and teach for the one normal that matters most: Miles, Monk, Trane, Bird, Brecker, Ellington, SRV, James Brown, Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Louis Armstrong and on and on…..and In Our Own Sweet Way, the Westchester Center For Jazz is back at it live.

Please check out the improvisation section of our Sunday class below


WCJCM COVID Modifications

Check out this video that outlines all of our latest updates and provisions in order to ensure a safe environment for the return of our students. With guidance form the CDC and our team’s collective efforts, we have made state of the art upgrades and accommodations so that we can all come together, social distance, play our tunes, and remain as safe as possible.


Westchester Center for Jazz & Contemporary Music Second Friday Jazz Series is Back!

To Benefit The Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library

For their third annual “Second Fridays” series of live jazz music, the Westchester Center for Jazz and Contemporary Music has agreed to donate a portion of each ticket sold to benefit the Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library. “I am excited for this opportunity to combine our efforts presenting great live music in Yonkers and making the city a cultural destination for jazz,” said Liz Sander, owner of the Westchester Center for Jazz & Contemporary Music. “We welcome everyone to join us for a fun night out, to hear great live music and support the library, at the same time.”

Joey Berkley The series consists of three concerts, held on the second Friday of the month: March 13, April 17,* and May 8. Each show includes a guest artist playing original works, standards, and R&B with the Joey Berkley Band.

“We are so grateful to the Westchester Center for Jazz for their support,” said Nancy Maron, President of the Foundation. “Music has deep roots in Yonkers cultural life, and we hope to see lots of library supporters there.”

Shows are located at 540 Nepperhan Avenue, Yonkers, NY at the Yoho Artist Lofts in the Carpet Mills Art District. Each $25 ticket includes table seating in the intimate cabaret-style room. Tickets are available online here. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. Doors open at 7:30; Show starts at 8:00.

* 3rd Friday in April due to Easter Holiday

The Westchester Center for Jazz & Contemporary Music
Second Friday Jazz Concert Series
540 Nepperhan Ave, Yonkers, NY at the Yoho Artist Lofts in the Carpet Mills Art District

Friday, March 13

Matt McDonald, Trombone

https://www.mattmcdonaldmusic.com

Trombonist Matt McDonald has performed at jazz festivals and venues around the world, including North Sea, Montreux, The Blue Note, Birdland, Carnegie Hall, and with world-class ensembles including Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis, The Max Weinberg Big Band, Mambo Legends Orchestra, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Christian McBride Big Band, and the Jimmy Heath Big Band.

For tickets: https://www.artful.ly/store/events/20076

Friday, April 17

Christine Tambakis, Vocalist

Instagram- @christinetambakismusic

Christine Tambakis has shared the stage and/or recorded with such artists as John Oates, The Neville Brothers, Matt Schofield, Bernard Purdie, Jon Herington, Boyz II Men, Bobby Brown, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sugarland, Gretchen Wilson, Vince Gil, Amy Grant, and more and has performed at venues including B.B. Kings Blues Club NYC, Saturday Night Live stage, Brooklyn Bowl, The Bitter End, Joe’s Pub, The Cutting Room, and at major festivals around the world.

For tickets: https://www.artful.ly/store/events/20077

Friday, May 8th

Tony Kadleck, Trumpet

Jazz trumpeter Tony Kadleck is a multi-talented force whose fiery blasts and sweet distinctive sound carry his horn into a musical space that defies categorization. One of the most sought-after trumpet players in the New York area, Tony Kadleck has performed & recorded with luminaries including Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Elton John, the Boston Pops Orchestra, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Luther Vandross, and Celine Dion. He’s also performed with the Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Isaac Hayes, and Steely Dan and is currently a member of the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra and the New York Pops.

For tickets: https://www.artful.ly/store/events/20078

About The Westchester Center for Jazz and Contemporary Music

The Westchester Center for Jazz and Contemporary Music provides an opportunity for musicians of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and ages to develop their own skills playing jazz and other related forms of contemporary music. Led by tenor saxophonist and band leader Joey Berkley, the team of instructors includes some of NYC’s best professional musicians on all instruments. The school’s priority is to develop musicians who play with confidence, skill, and knowledge. Courses currently offered include Big Band ensembles, improvisation and theory, composition, and R&B. Students join year-round and are welcome to sit in for a trial class.

Westchesterjazzcenter.com

facebook.com/westchesterjazzcenter

@jazzcenteryonkers

About Joey Berkley and the Joey Berkley Band

Veteran tenor saxophonist Joey Berkley has been a part of the NY music scene for more than 30 years. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Joey’s career has evolved from being known as a highly sought after sideman at ease in a wide variety of musical settings, to the present where Joey focuses his energy mostly toward writing and performing with his bands. Joey’s compositions can be heard on his CD releases: “Made in NYC”, “More’n Four” and “Joey Berkley’s Bandits.” The Joey Berkley Band includes pianist Gary Deinstadt, guitarist Andy Abel, drummer Chris Parker and bassist Joris Teepe. The title track from their 2019 release, “Moving Forward,” has been described as a “post-bop burner with energy to spare.” (All About Jazz)

About the Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library

The Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library is a not-for-profit organization created by the Trustees of the Yonkers Public Library to enhance the Library’s ability to provide outstanding programming, cutting-edge technology, and vibrant meeting places that best serve our diverse community.

www.foundationforypl.org

www.facebook.com/foundationforypl

@foundationforypl