Creative Alliance provides venue space for
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The musically impressive Godwin Louis is a Haitian-American with a love for the rhythms and melodies of his motherland, who is on a quest to trace the roots of jazz. The saxophonist has traveled to over 100 countries in the study of the African musical diaspora. His findings inspired Global, a far-sweeping and personal debut album, which could also be seen as his manifesto.
Tap dancer and vocalist, Brinae Ali, and her bandmates of the Baltimore Jazz Collective celebrate the life and legacy of Baltimore's greatest tap dancer: Baby Laurence (February 24, 1921-April 2, 1974).
Mark Guiliana has become recognized as one of the world’s leading drummers, admired and in demand across the spectrum from jazz to rock to electronic music for his rhythmic sophistication, creative impulse, and individual sound. He has been in the vanguard of drummers creating a new vernacular on the instrument, blending virtuosity on acoustic drums with artfully deployed electronic beats and processing. Guiliana was chosen as Best Jazz Drummer in the Modern Drummer Readers Poll 2017, while DownBeat dubbed him a Rising Star in its Critics Poll. JazzTimes aptly proclaimed: “Guiliana, a technical master with a rare sense of musicality, has over the past decade become one of the most influential drummers of his generation.” Along with leading his own groups – the acoustic Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet and electronica-minded Beat Music – the drummer has appeared on a string of acclaimed recordings with others. The verve and precision of Guiliana’s drumming was a prime mover of Blackstar, David Bowie’s multiple Grammy Award-winning final album. Guiliana teamed with keyboardist Brad Mehldau as the duo Mehliana for the Nonesuch release Taming the Dragon, and he has also collaborated with such artists as saxophonist Donny McCaslin, guitar hero John Scofield, Soundgarden/Pearl Jam drummer-songwriter Matt Cameron, neo-soul singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello, guitarist-vocalist Lionel Loueke, jazz bassist Avishai Cohen, reggae/hip-hop artist Matisyahu and jazz singer Gretchen Parlato.
Ngaiire’s shows give the audience the full spectrum of live performance: one moment a pop banger will have you dancing, and in the next moment, she will break your heart.
Can I Kick It? events take cult classics and contemporary martial arts/action favorites and LIVE scores the film with a blend of genres such as hip hop, soul, and funk.
Kassa’s solo work melds avant-garde experimentation with hip-hop production techniques to tilt the nexus of jazz and rap in unmapped directions. His message is equally as visionary, often speaking on his own mental health struggles and the turmoil within the collective consciousness.
A leading voice of the harp, Brandee Younger recently made history at the 2022 Grammy Awards as the first Black female solo artist nominated in the Best Instrumental Composition category for her song “Beautiful Is Black."
We are thrilled to welcome Akua Allrich & the Tribe back to the Patterson to present a soul-stirring performance with an exciting repertoire of original compositions as well as revered tribute pieces in a Black August Celebration of Freedom.
Celebrating the deep-rooted and diverse talent of Baltimore City, we present a double bill of Charm City's finest rising stars in the jazz and afro-folk scene.: Ray Winder and Randi Withani.
Argentine accordionist, composer, and researcher Alejandro Brittes, who will tour in the US this October, has been declared one of the foremost contemporary chamamé ambassadors and innovators. Born of the centuries-long interaction between ritual practices of indigenous Guaraní and the Baroque music influences brought by Jesuits in the Mission period (16th to 18th Centuries), chamamé can be conceived of as a ritual that seeks to communicate with the Earth and the Universe and maintain harmony among humans, through music and dance that lead participants to moments of ecstatic trance. Often this ecstasy is viscerally expressed by participants through a sapucay, a piercing, spontaneous ancestral yell to release strong emotions pent up inside.
Originally featuring jazz heavyweights Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, and funky soul diva Chaka Khan, Alison presents Echoes of An Era, a memorable jazz album that meshes past and present inside of rearrangements of swinging jazz standards and originals by Chick Corea.
A rare live performance by the Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra, a nine-piece ensemble of six horns, piano, bass, and drums led by Baltimore bass clarinetist and composer Todd Marcus, one of the few jazz artists worldwide to focus primarily on the bass clarinet. The band features lush and intricate original compositions that often feature influences of Middle Eastern music reflecting Marcus' Egyptian-American heritage. Started in 2003, the ensemble includes musicians from Baltimore, New York, Knoxville, St. Louis, and Lansing. Albums include the 2006 debut In Pursuit of the 9th Man, 2015’s portrayal of Egypt's Arab Spring revolution called Blues for Tahrir, and 2022’s In the Valley that offers a portrait of modern and ancient Egypt.
Akua Allrich is a local musical treasure with a massive stage personality and vocal style that is fluid and ever-evolving. Her musical roots run deep into blues, soul, and rhythm and blues, with a clear grounding in jazz and Pan-African music.
We are thrilled to welcomer back Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog to the Patterson to celebrate their 5th studio release, Connection. Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog has long pushed the boundaries between traditional pop songcraft and avant-garde improvisational music, bridging their customary genre-agnostic approach with elements of glam boogie, minimalist disco, psychedelic boogaloo, garage-punk-against-the-machine agitprop, and so much more.
Celebrate the music, life, and legacy of Ethel Ennis during an evening inspired by the Ethel’s Place exhibition at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Library.
Performances by acclaimed vocalist Charenée Wade and the Peabody Jazz Ensemble will bring to life some of Ethel’s signature songs. Between song sets, Ethel’s husband Earl Arnett and the singer’s longtime percussionist and friend Gaynell Colburn will share stories of how Ethel spread her love through songs, relationships, and even business ventures. This soulful evening of music, memories, and love is not to be missed!
Tap dancer and vocalist, Brinae Ali, and her bandmates of the Baltimore Jazz Collective celebrate the life and legacy of Baltimore's greatest tap dancer: Baby Laurence (February 24, 1921-April 2, 1974). Baby Laurence was the first tap dancer to record a jazz album—Dancemaster (recorded in 1959, released in 1977). Brinae will be sharing works in progress that reimagine his music, as well as original compositions and choreography.
QWANQWA uncovers lesser known traditional sounds from East Africa regions of Ethiopia and beyond—a trance-like chant of the Eritrean tribe of Blen, a psychedelic Somalian cover, an extended Amhara wedding medley, a Mahmoud Ahmed sing-a-long. With Selamnesh Zemene, the Azmari diva powerhouse, at the helm, QWANQWA is a conversation of virtuosos through tight arrangements and extended experimental moments. The live show ranges from intimate to wild, from whispery conversations to full blown rock show, and it is hard to believe these psychedelic sounds are coming from traditional harps, one string fiddle, and violin. Driving and powerful, QWANQWA proves we are living during another Golden Age of Ethiopian music.
In 2013, a group of jazz players and Korean traditional musicians started to play jam sessions based on traditional Korean folk melodies and shamanistic rhythms, eventually forming SE:UM. The eclectic quintet is composed of saxophonist Hachul Song, trumpeter Jongsang Park, bassist Jaeha Lee, traditional percussionist Minhyeong Lee, and gayageum (twelve-stringed Korean zither) player and music director, Joon Lee. The members of SE:UM have learned to respect one another’s musicalities over the years, and succeeded in breaking down the borders between their musical conventions, finding balance and harmony in their own music.
Seo Jungmin is a Korean Gayageum artist and composer who pushes the boundaries between traditional and contemporary music with her exceptional skills on the 25-string Gayageum. As a member of the renowned Korean traditional music duo Su:m, Seo has earned global recognition through performances at major festivals such as WOMEX, WOMAD, and SXSW.
Be part of history! Tonight's concert will be recorded live for an album release. Join us for an enchanting evening as we pay homage to the unparalleled Duke Ellington, an iconic figure whose musical genius transcended boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on the fabric of modern music. A true pioneer in the realm of jazz, Ellington's compositions surpassed mere entertainment—they emerged as a compelling voice against racial inequality. Through his innovative and emotive arrangements, Ellington not only highlighted the struggles and triumphs of African Americans but also mesmerized diverse audiences with his unique ability to weave intricate stories through sound. His influence reverberates through time, traversing the infectious rhythms of the Harlem Renaissance to the soul-stirring melodies of the Civil Rights era and beyond, encompassing Jazz, swing, fusion, pop, and theatre. In commemoration of his 125th Anniversary, we are honored to be joined by four world-class solo pianists. Baltimore-based Lafayette Gilchrist and Marc Cary, along with Philadelphia-based Orrin Evans and James Hurt, will interpret and expound on Ellington's legacy. Together, they will guide us through the rich tapestry of Ellington's musical journey, bringing to life the enduring power of music to inspire change.
Be part of history! Tonight's concert will be recorded live for an album release. Join us for an enchanting evening as we pay homage to the unparalleled Duke Ellington, an iconic figure whose musical genius transcended boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on the fabric of modern music. A true pioneer in the realm of jazz, Ellington's compositions surpassed mere entertainment—they emerged as a compelling voice against racial inequality. Through his innovative and emotive arrangements, Ellington not only highlighted the struggles and triumphs of African Americans but also mesmerized diverse audiences with his unique ability to weave intricate stories through sound. His influence reverberates through time, traversing the infectious rhythms of the Harlem Renaissance to the soul-stirring melodies of the Civil Rights era and beyond, encompassing Jazz, swing, fusion, pop, and theatre. In commemoration of his 125th Anniversary, we are honored to be joined by four world-class solo pianists. Baltimore-based Lafayette Gilchrist and Marc Cary, along with Philadelphia-based Orrin Evans and James Hurt, will interpret and expound on Ellington's legacy. Together, they will guide us through the rich tapestry of Ellington's musical journey, bringing to life the enduring power of music to inspire change.
Buy your tickets online, in person, or over the phone by calling 410-276-1651. Members save $3 on almost every show!
Our Box Office is currently open from Noon to 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays and one hour before all ticketed events. We accept cash, cards, and checks. Service fees are waived for in-person ticket purchases.
