Jason Moran out at Kennedy Center

[jazzkrow]

(Although this can be considered Political).  It's still about our music, and so I am posting here....

I just saw on NPR that Jason Moran has left the Kennedy Center where he was director of jazz programming.

Unsure whether he left voluntarily or was pushed out. 

It never ends ..

[mjazzg]

Perhaps connected to

https://www.northernpublicradio.org/2025-09-11/jazz-head-at-kennedy-center-is-the-latest-firing-at-the-beleaguered-arts-institution

[david weiss]

5 hours ago, jazzkrow said:

(Although this can be considered Political).  It's still about our music, and so I am posting here....

I just saw on NPR that Jason Moran has left the Kennedy Center where he was director of jazz programming.

Unsure whether he left voluntarily or was pushed out. 

It never ends ..

Jason left back in July.

Kevin Struthers, who has been there for 3o years, was fired this week. 

He did good work, this is a shame.....

[bertrand]

I agree, they had some great concerts there. A real shame.

In a normal world, it would have been a great place to put on concerts related to whatever goodies might be found in the Wayne Shorter Archive once it is cataloged. Kevin had a good rapport with Wayne and Carolina and brought him there several times. I will have to find another venue...

[kh1958]

I'm sure Kid Rock Sings the Music of Billie Holiday will more than compensate.

[ghost of miles]

I thought Jason had tendered his resignation on June 19 (appropriately enough). The Kennedy Center has become an absolute joke. Likely no NEA Jazz Masters this year either.

EDIT:  Close enough re the date of Moran's departure--June 19 was apparently his last performance before stepping down.

Jason Moran leaves Kennedy Center

Edited September 12 by ghost of miles

[T.D.]

1 hour ago, kh1958 said:

I'm sure Kid Rock Sings the Music of Billie Holiday will more than compensate.

Kid Rock definitely, but I'm not sure Billie Holiday would pass muster. 

[Kevin Bresnahan]

3 hours ago, kh1958 said:

I'm sure Kid Rock Sings the Music of Billie Holiday will more than compensate.

Kid Rock couldn't cover Billie Holiday but I think they'd be ok it if he did a cover of Gary Glitter's "Rock And Roll".

[Rooster_Ties]

8 minutes ago, Kevin Bresnahan said:

Kid Rock couldn't cover Billie Holiday but I think they'd be ok it if he did a cover of Gary Glitter's "Rock And Roll".

Spot on.

[clifford_thornton]

Cassandra Wilson is of a similar political persuasion to Kid Rock and Gloria Gaynor, so maybe she’ll get the job.

This is all so depressing.

[JSngry]

https://youtu.be/YyNtFAMMsuA?si=C4_1JFIjU277Xsxa

[Patrick]

I have been a longtime Kennedy Center subscriber, primarily for jazz and dance. Lots of tremendous shows there over the years. My last jazz performance there for me this season was Jason Moran & Friends in late April. Those friends were Wadada Leo Smith, Sylvie Courvoisier, Mary Halvorson, Nicole Mitchell, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Reggie Workman. Over the years, the jazz program was notorious for being the last to announce its schedule. Two months ago, I exchanged emails with Kevin gently asking if/when a subscription series might be announced. He suggested (...not too strongly) that something might get announced late August/early September. So prior to this most recent news, I would occasionally check the website.

What “jazz” is currently scheduled? There are a few free performances on the Millenium Stage. For ticketed events, the Pan American Symphony Orchestra will present Tango of the Americas in October and one week later, the Glenn Miller Orchestra performs. Seriously. Check out their current suits. As of this writing, that is the jazz program at Kennedy Center.

[clifford_thornton]

12 hours ago, Patrick said:

 

What “jazz” is currently scheduled? There are a few free performances on the Millenium Stage. For ticketed events, the Pan American Symphony Orchestra will present Tango of the Americas in October and one week later, the Glenn Miller Orchestra performs. Seriously. Check out their current suits. As of this writing, that is the jazz program at Kennedy Center.

you've gotta be shitting me. This is grim.

[bertrand]

My friends at work kindly gave me a gift certificate for KC. I still have $65 left on it, no idea how I will use it, except the gift shop may have some CDs.

I attended the April Jason Moran and friends concert. Great lineup on paper but somewhat underwhelming, I felt it did not quite gel.

I saw a couple of things that I was surprised were able to go through:

1) Sun Ra Arkestra when Marshall Allen was receiving his Jazz Masters award in April. I have never sung along to 'Space Is The Place' with more glee.

2) Fay Victor's Herbie Nichols SUNG in May. Fantastic project, but definitely 'left of center'.

My last visit there was a free event for the DC Jazz Festival. There was some unpleasantness on the shuttle bus on the way over which I cannot discuss here per forum rules.

 

 

Edited September 16 by bertrand

[bertrand]

On 9/13/2025 at 7:39 PM, clifford_thornton said:

Cassandra Wilson is of a similar political persuasion to Kid Rock and Gloria Gaynor, so maybe she’ll get the job.

This is all so depressing.

You want to puke? For some unfathomable reason, she was chosen to 'play' Abbey Lincoln in a recreation of Max Roach's We Insist. Nasheet Waits was leading the band, maybe he just did not know. An insult to Abbey's memory and everything she and Max fought for. Several us boycotted the gig.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

This thread will be tough to keep non-political, but please try.

[jlhoots]

There's some great Jason Moran on You Tube.

[kh1958]

1 hour ago, jlhoots said:

There's some great Jason Moran on You Tube.

And on his own label.

[optatio]

Jason Moran: Modernistic. Blue Note 7243 5 39838 2 6 [US 2002]

Met him with Dave Holland's Overtone Quartet in Göttingen November 9, 2009

[mjazzg]

1 hour ago, optatio said:

Jason Moran: Modernistic. Blue Note 7243 5 39838 2 6 [US 2002]

Met him with Dave Holland's Overtone Quartet in Göttingen November 9, 2009

That's a great album

[Patrick]

Just received a “Jazz is back at Kennedy Center!” email with no additions to schedule beyond what I described above. 

[Hoppy T. Frog]

A few concerts have been added, but there is no subscribable season, just individual concerts. Gregory Porter and the Cookers are respectable.  I will admit I bought a ticket to Joe Lovano.  https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/jazz/

[bertrand]

55 minutes ago, Hoppy T. Frog said:

A few concerts have been added, but there is no subscribable season, just individual concerts. Gregory Porter and the Cookers are respectable.  I will admit I bought a ticket to Joe Lovano.  https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/jazz/

Planning on Lovano and Pelt but way too early to buy tickets. I will also go to the Cookers if I am in town.

Bummed that I already have a ticket for something else on 11/12. Would have liked to see the Army Blues. I worked with them on a Herbie Nichols Big Band project. But a lady I know said she got a ticket for a gig on 11/12. Any pseudo-date works for me as dating is going nowhere.

[Patrick]

Bummer I will be elsewhere for new year so will miss Cookers.