Hosted by RON CLAIBORNE of ABC News, the Gala will take place at Mary Cary Flagler Hall at The DiMenna Center, 450 West 37th St, in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, June 7th from 7-9pm. The proceeds benefits the education efforts of The Jazz Power Initiative, transforming lives through jazz arts education.

Wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres will be served and guests will have an opportunity to interact with the artists. 

The Jazz Power Initiative (JPI) formerly The Jazz Drama Program is a 501c(3) non profit organization. Support for the organization goes towards training 100 young people and 40 teachers from 20 different schools in JPI methods, and initiating an ongoing jazz residency at the United Palace of Cultural Arts in Washington Heights. 

Duke Ellington Level: $10,000

Louis Armstrong Level: $5000

Ella Fitzgerald Level: $2500

Dizzy Gillespie Level: $1000

Mary Lou Williams Level: $500

Jazz Friend/Single Ticket: $150

Jazz Power Initiative's Managing and Artistic Director Eli Yamin with JPI students.

The mission of Jazz Power Initiative is:

To ignite the power of jazz arts education to transform lives by fostering self-expression, leadership, collaboration and diversity.

Jazz Power Initiative, formerly Jazz Drama Program, was founded in 2003 as a 501(c)3 non-profit by jazz musician/educator Eli Yamin and teacher/writer Clifford Carlson to get youth involved in and excited about jazz.

As jazz itself emerged as a way of musically expressing the Black experience in America, we believe this art form inherently offers invaluable lessons in self-expression, leadership, cooperation, out-of-the-box thinking, trust, respect and being present in the moment. We believe nurturing these values in our youth and communities through the power of jazz arts education can make the world a better place.

By creating new jazz musicals, recording CD’s, distributing scores and scripts and offering professional development for teachers and workshops for students, The Jazz Power Initiative is building new audiences and stakeholders in the jazz arts through the media of storytelling, music, theatre, dance and visual arts.

Jazz Power Initiative is committed to promoting the humanitarian values of jazz and giving jazz artists including musicians, singers, dancers, actors and storytellers, meaningful platforms to create, share their knowledge and artistry, and pass it on.

To date, JPI musicals have seen over 80 performances in fourteen states and five countries, involving thousands of young people and their families in sustained exposure and involvement in the jazz arts.