Flushing Town Hall is celebrating Women’s History Month with a special “Octogenarian Women of Jazz” performance. Four octogenarian women will take center stage at Flushing Town Hall on Friday, March 24th, in honor of Women’s History Month. Well past the age of retirement but still very much in their artistic prime, these women prove that great jazz, like great wine, gets better with age.
Flutist/tenor saxophonist Carol Sudhalter, beloved as Flushing Town Hall’s house band leader, will celebrate her 80th birthday leading a very special quintet of Octogenarians for the occasion. She will be joined in the band by world-renowned pianist Bertha Hope (86), drummer Paula Hampton (87) of the legendary jazz Hampton family, and widely popular vocalist Keisha St. Joan (84).
In addition, the concert will feature the rare participation of revered bassist Bill Crow, joining the women on stage at an impressive 95 years of age. Performing well past the typical age of retirement and still very much in their artistic prime.
“Looking at movies, books, and general depictions, we are accustomed to thinking of 80 as an ending, as an age when the mind and body begin to decline,” says Carol Sudhalter.” But now that I am 80, I realize that it is just the beginning of a new life and such a rewarding culmination of past years’ work at the same time. I am so excited to share the stage with my fellow Octogenarians to bring a wonderful evening of jazz to the audiences in Queens.”
“I have been honored to have Carol lead the house band of our popular Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jams for several years now and am excited to see her take the stage with this extraordinary ensemble for her big birthday,” says Flushing Town Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek. “Carol’s work is extremely important to Flushing Town Hall and the Queens jazz community — and we are so excited to celebrate her birthday with this special concert.”
Flushing Town Hall’s Women of Jazz concert begins at 8:00 PM EST on Friday, March 24th. Tickets are $15/$10 for members, seniors, and students with ID. Tickets can be purchased here.
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