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Jazz+Wednesdays

Capacity for this program is limited to 55 people. Doors open at 12:45. To ensure your space, we strongly recommend you arrive early.

On the first and third Wednesday of each month, at 1 p.m., jazz guitarist Bill Wurtzel and guests play standards from the American Songbook. Please note that currently, this series is held adjacent to our location at 2 Lincoln Square (*this venue is wheelchair accessible). Museum staff and volunteers will be onsite to assist with wayfinding.

Jazz + Wednesdays is generously sponsored by Joyce B. Cowin.

Bill Wurtzel began playing guitar at age 9, and was a radio and TV country music performer by age 12. He attended art school and had a career as an award-winning advertising creative director. He continued to play professionally and switched to music full time in 1989. Bill has played worldwide with many jazz legends, including the Count Basie Countsmen, Wild Bill Davis, Bill Doggett, Jimmy McGriff, the Harlem Blues & Jazz Band, singers Gloria Lynne and Terri Thornton, as well as Paul Simon. Bill is a director of the Jazz Foundation of America. He also improvises with food and has authored Funny Food, Funny Food Made Easy, and Foodie Faces. Bill has performed for over a decade at the American Folk Art Museum. 

Jay Leonhart began his musical journey at the age of 7 on piano and percussions at the Peabody School of Music in Baltimore. At age 14, he chose the biggest instrument that he could find—the bass violin—and has since played with many of the major jazz musicians, big bands, pop singers, and jazz groups of this world. He has three times been voted the “Most Valuable Bassist in the Recording Industry.” Jay is known for his work with artists such as Jim Hall, Marian McPartland, Mel Torme, Maureen McGovern, Rosemary Clooney, Sting, and James Taylor, among others.

For questions, please email publicprograms@folkartmuseum.org.

Read an interview with Bill Wurtzel in The New York Times.

Image: Courtesy of Bill Wurtzel.

1:00 pm-2:00 pm

Free