Jazz Greats to Celebrate the Life and Music of Charlie Haden

Charlie HadenCharlie Haden had an incredible life full of triumph, tragedy, and – most of all – beautiful music that he shared with the world. His passing earlier this year rocked the jazz community, who remembered his legacy with an outpouring of anecdotes on his impact on their lives. Now everyone is invited to honor Haden’s memory with a special concert on Tuesday, January 13th at the Town Hall in New York City.

The Charlie Haden Memorial and Celebration will include guest speakers and performers that worked with the legendary bassist. Artists include Geri Allen, Kenny Barron, Carla Bley, Jack DeJohnette, Denardo Coleman, Ravi Coltrane, Mark Fain, Bill Frisell, Ethan Iverson, Josh Haden and the Haden Triplets, Ruth Cameron-Haden, Dr. Maurice Jackson, Lee Konitz, Pat Metheny, Josh Redman, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Brandee Younger. Additionally, Haden’s bands Quartet West and Liberation Music Orchestra will perform, with bassists Scott Colley and Steve Swallow filling in to each band, respectively.

In addition to being a three-time Grammy winner, Haden was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the NEA Jazz Master Award, and the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. His five-decade career included groundbreaking work with the Ornette Coleman Quartet, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Alice Coltrane, Chet Baker, and many more.

“Charlie would play what it meant to be human, he had a sound that gave people the idea of what music does,” Ornette Coleman stated. “When you find that sound that comes from the soul, you can really do something, and Charlie did, he did something for all of us.”

The event is free and open to the public. In lieu of admission, its promoters are helping to collect tax deductible donations to benefit the Charlie Haden CalArts Scholarship Fund, a 501c3 that provides tuition assistance for jazz students in need. For more info, check out the Town Hall website.

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