Sep. 7, 2023 By Carlotta Mohamed
This month, Flushing Town Hall is continuing its popular Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam and Mini Global Mashup-up series, and is offering a free public painting workshop and screenings throughout the month of September.
Wednesday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m.
Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam
In-person tickets: $10 for general admission; free for members, students and jamming musicians
Open to professional jazz musicians, graduate students studying jazz, music educators and serious hobbyists, Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jams invites musicians to perform at Flushing Town Hall. All are welcome, regardless of instrument (vocalists, too!). Steinway baby grand and drum kit are available at each Jam. Health and safety protocols will be in place so bring a mask, and feel free to bring your own microphone. House Band and Jam Sessions are led by Carol Sudhalter, with Joe Vincent Tranchina, Scott Neumann and Eric Lemon. Don’t play, but love Jazz? Come listen!
Saturday, Sept. 16, 8 p.m.
Keys & Beats from Uruguay and Argentina
In-person tickets: $25 for general admission; $15 for members and seniors; $12 for students with ID
Described as an “exuberant, virtuosic performance” by The New York Times and a “ferocious performance, emotionally wrenching playing” by the Los Angeles Times, three-time Grammy winner Gustavo Casenave and percussionist Franco Pinna invite you to experience a mesmerizing piano and percussion duo show: Keys & Beats from Uruguay and Argentina. Jazz, tango and classical elements intertwine in captivating improvisations, creating a soul-stirring symphony. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of musical brilliance and passion.
Sunday, Sept. 17, 1 p.m.
Mini-Global Mashup: China Meets Germany
In-person tickets: $15 for general admission; $12 for members, seniors and students with ID
Flushing Town Hall’s Mini-Global Mashup series continues through August 2023. Curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London (The Klezmatics), the Mini-Global Mashup series is bringing together two amazing global music artists along with accompanists for an afternoon of music, conversation and exploration. On Sept. 17, Flushing Town Hall will welcome renowned composer and violinist Jason Hwang, globe-trotting pipa player Sun Li, Klezmer trumpeter and composer Frank London, and folk singer Tine Kindermann to take center stage for a unique mashup event!
Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m.
2024 Grants Information Session
Free
Join Flushing Town Hall’s Arts Services Department for an info session to learn about the Arts Grants for Queens and GO Queens Grant. FTH will review guidelines, grant cycle schedules and best application practices. All sessions will be held in-person and in English unless otherwise noted.
RSVPs are recommended. Please note: If you are applying for the GO Queens Grant, you must attend an information session. First-time applicants to the Arts Grants for Queens are required to attend an information session before applying. Any one member of an organization or artist group may attend an info session on behalf of their group.
Saturday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m.
In-person tickets: $20 for general admission; $15 for members, seniors and students with ID
Join Flushing Town Hall for an electrifying evening of music with Slavic Soul Party! This nine-piece brass band will have you grooving to their unique blend of Fiery Balkan brass, irresistible beats, Roma (Gypsy) accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops. Hailed as NYC’s official #1 brass band for BalkanSoul GypsyFunk, Slavic Soul Party! transforms the sounds of New York life through a Balkan brass filter, creating fresh music that reflects themes of immigration, integration, and ingenuity.
The night’s program will kick off with a 7 p.m. exclusive dance workshop, where you can dive deeper into the band’s musical influences and learn about their innovative approach to blending different cultural elements. Then, at 8 p.m. the concert will begin, taking you on a musical journey through their captivating repertoire, including tunes from their recent record, “SSP! Plays Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite.”
This sixth album pays homage to the Ellington opus while infusing it with the band’s distinct flavor, resulting in a truly heavenly match of cultural boundaries and individual creativity. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to experience the magic of Slavic Soul Party! Known for their infectious energy and their ability to deliver a great time, this is a night of music you won’t want to miss!
Saturday, Sept. 23, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Chemin Hsiao Public Painting Workshop
Free with RSVP
Artist Chemin Hsiao was recognized with the 2023 Queens Arts Fund Grant from New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA). In lieu of his latest exhibition being on view at Flushing Town Hall throughout September, he will be holding a drop-in watercolor painting workshop! Come join Hsiao, whose works have adorned the entrance of Skyview Mall, for a soothing afternoon painting with your friends and family!
Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, 4:30 p.m.
Chemin Hsiao Public Reception and Exhibition Walk-Through
Free with RSVP
Hsiao’s newest exhibition, “From Past to Present,” will be on-view at Flushing Town Hall throughout September and you can now meet the mind behind the masterpieces at his reception on Sept. 23. “From Past to Present” is a series of new watercolor paintings made from observations of photos, printed materials and still images from videos. You can explore Hsiao’s personal connections with his cultural background from Taiwan and direct links to the close memories he has made with his family, past and present. This new work series marks a major transition from different eras of Hsiao’s watercolor painting practice. Before 2020, his artwork would depict nature – images created from time spent in botanical gardens. But during the 2020, his work became confined to his studio and his window outside became the photographs living in his computer, be they his own or references taken from online. Thus was his painting series “New Phase” born. You will see those works as part of his exhibition.
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m.
Free screening with RSVP
Flushing Town Hall, in partnership with Undo Poverty: Flushing, is proud to present the film screening for the Undo Poverty: Flushing + Sixty First Productions Documentary premiere, “The Cost of Living.” “The Cost of Living” depicts the lives of three extraordinary individuals and families who call the greater Flushing area their home. As they navigate the turbulent waters of economic hardship, they are also confronted with the ever-increasing cost of living in their once-affordable neighborhood. It is a testament to the human spirit and serves as a poignant reflection of life in the midst of an escalating cost of living. By sharing their stories, we hope to evoke empathy, compassion and understanding, transcending boundaries to foster a greater sense of community.
Saturday, Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Five Boroughs Music Festival 2023
In-person tickets: $20 for general admission; $10 for members, seniors and students with ID
Five Boroughs Music Festival presents Cecilia Duarte, Trio Chapultepec and percussionist Jesús Pacheco in a performance of Reencuentros, a collection of boleros, mid-20th century art songs from across Latin America. Duarte, a classical and opera singer in high demand across the United States and beyond, returns to her roots with this program, describing it as “a remembrance of the moments when I listened to my mother sing. Reencuentros represents where I come from and the stories that formed me. It is important for me to share this legacy of beautiful music, only a small token of the artistic richness of Latin American music.”