Hunter College will honor the enduring legacy of jazz legend Louis Armstrong with a star-studded concert at the Kaye Playhouse on February 24.
Broadway powerhouses Max Von Essen and Brandon Victor Dixon will join noted jazz artists Champian Fulton and Catherine Russell for “Louis Armstrong: A Celebration of the Father of Jazz.” An all-star band featuring Adam Birnbaum on piano and Alphonso Horne on trumpet will provide the music.
The evening, the latest in Hunter’s “American Voices” series, is meant to fete the musical genius of Armstrong on the success of the recently published Stomp Off, Let’s Go, an Armstrong biography by two-time-Grammy-winner Ricky Riccardi. It will be emceed by American Voices Director and Moderator, Provost Scholar of the Arts and Humanities Paul Alexander.
“We are introducing a new generation of Hunter students to the riches of jazz, the first art form originally created in America,” Alexander said. “As Riccardi writes in his Armstrong biography, Satchmo, as he was called, represents the very foundation of jazz. Without him, this American art form would not exist as we know it today.”
Alexander, a noted cultural historian, launched “American Voices” in 2023 to celebrate American artists, writers, and cultural icons. To date, “American Voices” has honored the legacies of, among others, jazz legends Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, and Sarah Vaughan; The House on Mango Street author Sandra Cisneros; and Black Arts Movement pioneer (and Hunter alum) Sonia Sanchez ’55. Alexander is the author of Bitter Crop: The Heartache and Triumph of Billie Holiday’s Last Year (Knopf, 2024).
About the Artists
The Broadway Stars:
- Max Von Essen has appeared on Broadway in numerous musicals, among them Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Anastasia, Chicago, Evita, and the ill-fated Dance of the Vampires opposite Michael Crawford. His star turn in An American in Paris earned him an Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Tony nomination. Other notable credits include Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie Hall and the national tour of the Lincoln Center production of Falsettos. His recordings include the cast albums for Death Takes a Holiday, Evita, and An American in Paris (Grammy nomination) as well as Love Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber.
- Brandon Victor Dixon is Tony-nominated for his role as Davis in Hell’s Kitchen. His illustrious career includes starring as Aaron Burr in Hamilton, Harpo in The Color Purple (Tony nomination), Berry Gordy Jr. in Motown: The Musical (Grammy nomination), and Haywood Patterson in The Scottsboro Boys (multiple nominations, including Drama Desk and Olivier). He also starred in the Emmy-nominated telecasts of Rent and Jesus Christ Superstar.
The Jazz Luminaries:
- Catherine Russell brings a profound personal connection to the evening; she carries the rich tradition of her father, pianist/composer Luis Russell, who served as Armstrong’s musical director and collaborator. A Grammy winner for her work on the Boardwalk Empire soundtrack, Russell has recorded or performed with David Bowie, Paul Simon, and Steely Dan. Her most recent solo album, My Ideal, received a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal — her fourth nomination in the category.
- Champian Fulton is a world-renowned pianist and vocalist who has released 19 albums and performed in more than 25 countries. A regular headliner at Birdland, the Jazz Corner, and the Carlyle Hotel, she has been named "Pianist and Vocalist of the Year" by Hot House Magazine and recognized with multiple "Album of the Year" awards from the NYC Jazz Record.
Event Details:
- Event: Louis Armstrong: A Celebration of the Father of Jazz
- Date: February 24
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Location: The Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (East 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues)
About the Kaye Playhouse
The Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse is a premier performing arts center at Hunter College, presenting a diverse array of professional music, theatre, and dance performances for the New York City community.
