Jazz legends performing at Pinecrest Gardens will now stay an extra day to mentor New World School of Arts high school students under the direction of James Gaiser, thanks to a new grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
“Everywhere you go in Miami, we want you to have an encounter with art. This jazz series will help not only bring a cultural opportunity to South Dade, but also build our next generation musicians through mentorships with accomplished performers,” said Dennis Scholl, vice president of arts for Knight Foundation.
Pinecrest will receive $75,000 from the Knight Foundation over two years with a $50,000 match by title sponsor South Motors, Inc. The funding will allow Pinecrest to give back to the community by providing young jazz musicians with an all-access, season long pass to jam with the likes of Branford Marsalis, Carmen Lundy, and Paquito D’ Rivera, all the while providing world-class jazz concerts to a growing public at accessible prices, which at most run $30 per ticket.
Only musicians who are available and interested in both the performance and mentorship opportunity will be invited to participate. The Gen-Next Jam Sessions will take place on Sundays, when participating students arrive at the Banyan Bowl to meet, participate in workshops and jam with jazz masters.
