The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning will be holding a free music festival, Southeast Queens Jam Fest, at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center on July 24. Some of the community’s most talented musical artists will be taking part in Southeast Queens Jam Fest.
Among those scheduled to perform at the Southeast Queens Jam Fest are Steven Kroon and the bands Riffz and True Tribute AllStars. Jam Fest is expected to run from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, which located at 153-10 Jamaica Ave.
Kroon is part of a high-energy and electrifying Latin jazz sextet. Much of his band’s music consists of jazz with a blend of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music. He has worked with several notable musicians throughout his musical career, including Lady Gaga, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin and Ron Carter. Additionally, he’s performed on several notable television programs, including “The Tonight Show,” “Late Night with David Letterman” and the Grammy Awards.
Riffz has retained and rotated at least 10 members since the group’s establishment in 2009. Each member of the group is a youth from an underserved community who is capable of proficiently playing multiple instruments. The group makes annual appearances at community events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, award ceremonies, community leaders, elected officials, school concerts, parties and much more.
Established by saxophonist and educator LeRoy Graham Jr. in 2014, True Tribute AllStars is made up of musicians and vocalists from various cultural backgrounds whose musical performances aim to stimulate as well as entertain. The group aims to educate and entertain audiences. Their presentations are meant to act as a tribute to Caribbean music and culture while also honoring the pioneers of Caribbean music.
While the event is free, those interested in attending must register to attend Southeast Queens Jam Fest at Eventbrite.com.
Founded in 1972, the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning is a multidisciplinary arts center based in southeast Queens. It is devoted to offering quality visual, performing and literary arts and providing accessible education programs encouraging participation in the arts. Among the center’s features are an array of art galleries, dance spaces, music studios, visual arts classrooms, a ceramic studio, a digital art lab and a 99-seat proscenium theater. Its venues are used for full-time development and presentation of performance work and are available to other arts companies and community partners for a reduced rental fee.
The Jamaica Performing Arts Center is a mid-size, multipurpose performance venue. It is located in what was formerly the First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica, a landmark building dating back to 1858. The building has since been renovated into a state-of-the-art, multifunctional 400-seat theater. Today, it is a showcase for local, regional and national artists and performers.
