Black Art Jazz Collective Co-Op

Anticipating Black History Month—

The Black Art Jazz Collective brings together an accomplished ensemble of young African-American musicians who celebrate Black culture in a positive way. The Collective was co-founded by trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, saxophonist Wayne Escoffery and drummer Johnathan Blake. Their first performance was at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in April 2013.

All three founders graduated from esteemed music programs in the Northeast at the same time. They quickly became ingrained in the New York jazz scene as leaders and invaluable members of ensembles led by legends like Tom Harrell, Bobby Hutcherson, Wayne Shorter and Ron Carter. The ensemble also features brilliant trombonist James Burton, bassist Corcoran Holt, and the great pianist/composer Xavier Davis.

“The Collective’s mission statement celebrates African-American cultural and political icons. At the core is a modernism that conjures up the classic bands of Art Blakey and acoustic Miles Davis. But with its contemporary soul-fueled solos and locked-in rhythm the band is likely to launch into a counterpoint riff or the spacious funk of hip-hop... Pelt and his ensemble work as a cohesive unit of like-minded individuals who truly seem to dig playing with each other!!!” New York Magazine