The Baltimore Jazz Alliance is again hosting a free one-day conference of workshops, presentations, and panel discussions on jazz related topics of interest to BJA members, jazz musicians, venue owners, and the jazz-loving public. It will be held at St. Matthew’s New Life Methodist Church, 416 E. 23rd St., Baltimore, MD 21218.

The day’s activities will begin with a General Meeting open to all members of the BJA, from 10 am to 11 am. Various workshops and presentations will happen throughout the afternoon up to 5 pm. A catered lunch will be served from 12:00 to 12:50 pm. The day will end with a concert starting 5:15 pm by the Thomas Schinabeck Quartet. REGISTRATION LINK BELOW.

• Digital marketing: Room “A,” 10:35 – 11:30 am. Digital Strategist Charmaine Michelle, who has worked with Capitol Bop, the Baltimore Jazz Festival and radio station Jammin 94.7 in St. Maarten, will explain how to create an eye-catching online brand to help get you booked and build a fanbase.
• Jazz Summer Camps: Room “B,” 10:35 – 11:30 am. Barbara Grubbs of Contemporary Arts, Inc. and John Lampkin of the B-Sharp academy will talk about their summer jazz programs for kids
• Venue Owners/Managers: Room “A,” 11:35 am – 12:25 pm Owners and managers of eating and drinking establishments will talk about how the live music fits into their business plan and how to manage expectations of musicians, patrons, and venue management. The session will feature Bob Diener of Glenwood Grill, Rudy Keswick of Rudy’s Mediterranean Grill, and Ed Baldi of The Sonic Lifeline which books at The Hemingway Room, and Barrett Johnson of the Atlas Group. Jazz musicians can learn more about the expectations of hosting venues. 
• Jazz Educators: Room “B,” 11:35 am – 12:25 pm – Lionel Lyles II, head of jazz studies at Morgan State, and Dave Ballou, head of jazz studies at Towson University, will discuss their programs and the various paths that an aspiring jazz musician can take. 
• Catered LUNCH 12:30 – 1:15 pm
• What is Jazz?: Room “A,” 1:20 – 2:40 pm The boundaries of what qualifies as “jazz” are always shifting, and sometimes the various subgenres blend or morph into each other. Straight-ahead jazz – Django jazz – “Smooth” jazz – free improv – what makes them all part of the same family? Musicians representing each genre will discuss what is unique about their genre and what it shares with others under the umbrella of “jazz.” Moderated by alto saxophonist Ebban Dorsey. 
• Vocal jazz Workshop: Room “C,” 1:20 – 2:40 pm. Prominent vocalist Anna-Lisa Kirby will lead a workshop for practicing and aspiring jazz vocalists A mixed level jazz vocal workshop with hands-on coaching on how to work and interact with a rhythm section. Vocalists should bring charts for a jazz standard you want to sing and, time permitting, step up to the mic for your coaching session. Pianist Alan Blackman and bassist Obasi Akoto will be accompanists. 
• Headline speaker Paul Carr: Room “A,” 2:45 pm – 3:30 pm  Well-known Jazz saxophonist, founder of Jazz Academy of Music (which host summer camps and jazz ensembles for kids throughout the year), and executive of the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Paul Carr will talk about the state of jazz today in Baltimore and beyond, and what it takes to have a successful career in jazz. 
• Jazz Jam Sessions: Room “A,” 3:35- 4:40  pm. Violinist Max Jacobs, who recently gave a presentation at Strathmore on the topic, will moderate a discussion with several area jazz jam leaders about the ins-and-outs of hosting a jam session and what etiquette participants should observe in a session.  Participants include Clarence Ward II, leader of the Monday night “The Session” now at La Familia; Bill Freed, leader of a session at City Chef’s in Bowie; and Terence Ward of Terra Cafe, which hosts two sessions.  
• Up-and-Coming Young Jazz musicians: Room “B,” 3:35- 4:40  pm.Young musicians, including upper-level students from Towson, Peabody, and other local colleges, will share their stories of how they chose to pursue jazz, the helps and hindrances along their journey, and where they hope to go in the future. Moderated by young saxophonist Ephraim Dorsey. 
• Concert by the Thomas Schinabeck Quartet, Room “C,” 4:45 – 5:45 pm. Saxophonist Thomas Schinabeck and his quartet, including Charlie Reichert Powell (guitar), Aiden Taylor (bass) and Koleby Royston (drums), have been making a name for themselves in Baltimore and beyond, with recent performances at An die Musik Live and Keystone Korner.  The concert is free to all participants and the general public. 

The closing concert at the church by the Thomas Schinabeck Quartet is open to all participants, beginning at 4:45 pm. The quartet, led by Alto Saxophonist Thomas Schinabeck, includes Charlie Reichert Powell (guitar), Aiden Taylor (bass), and Koleby Royston (Drums).Thomas Schinabeck is a rising star in the Baltimore jazz scene. He was awarded Outstanding Alto Saxophone Performance at the 2022 Jack Rudin Competition held at Jazz at Lincoln Center. He was a National YoungArts Winner in 2020 and 2021 and a member of the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra led by Gerald Clayton in 2020. He currently attends the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore where he studies with Tim Green. He has shared the stage with world-class artists such as Warren Wolf, Joel Ross Terence Blanchard, Sean Jones, Fran Vielma, Dominick Farinacci and Patrick Bartley. Thomas has performed with his own band playing his compositions throughout the DMV area, at An Die Musik, Keystone Korner, Mr. Henry’s, and Baltimore School for the Arts. During the summer of 2023, Thomas performed in a Midwest tour with the Step

Baltimore Jazz Conference 2025

Saturday, April 26th 11am – 4:45pm

St. Matthew’s New Life Methodist Church, 416 E. 23rd St., Baltimore, MD 21218

FREE

While the event is free, we request that you register in advance so that we have some idea about how many people to expect for each session — it REALLY helps us plan and keep this event running smoothly for you! Thank you.

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