Jazz Poetry Month at Alphabet City / City of Asylum - Tribute to Nat King Cole

Musicians: Dwayne Dolphin (bass); Tom Wendt (drums); Deanna Witkowski (piano).

Singer and composer Nat “King” Cole is undoubtedly one of America’s most identifiable and beloved musicians. His silken voice helped jazz gain wider popularity. But Cole was also an elegant keyboard player whose innovative groups popularized the jazz piano trio. Additionally, he was an influential figure in the struggle for racial equality—he was the first Black American to have his own television show. It only lasted one season, as he could not secure a sponsor. This concert will highlight Cole’s early trio and explore his piano music. 

This is the first time Off Minor jazz has synced with the Jazz Poetry festival. The musicians, live from the Alphabet City stage, will participate in virtual collaborations with poets mónica teresa ortiz, Mansur Rajih (ICORN writer-in-residence from Yemen), Sara Borjas, and Grace Shuyi Liew

The Off Minor Jazz Series is a season of thematic jazz programs that focus on legendary musicians or specific techniques. These concerts offer musicians the opportunity to experiment and innovate in a format rarely heard in traditional jazz clubs. They also feature an educational component and further connect audiences, artists, and jazz history. In signature Off-Minor style, in this concert, drummer/curator Tom Wendt will tell us more about Cole’s history with the racial justice movement. 

Deanna Witkowski, Dwayne Dolphin, Thomas Wendt