Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
With the opening of the Judy and Arthur Zenkel Hall, a 644-seat flexible performance and education space, Carnegie Hall will complete Andrew Carnegie’s original 1891 vision—three venues of different sizes under one roof.
And they’re throwing quite the party.
Jazz luminaries Brad Mehldau, Bill Frisell, Kenny Barron, Stefon Harris, Omar Sosa and Diane Reeves will join the cross-genre cast of artists scheduled to play during the Hall’s inaugural two weeks.
Mehldau will be with his Trio, Frisell with his Intercontinentals, and Sosa with his Octet. Stefon Harris will join the Kenny Baron Quintet.
Joining the jazz artists will be classical, pop, and world music stars including Yo-Yo Ma, Randy Newman, Youssou N’Dour and Sérgio and Odair Assad.
Starting Friday, Sept. 12 and running through Sunday, Sept. 28, the festival will represent a microcosm of the Hall’s yearly programming. Tickets to the shows range from $5 to $82 with most shows staying around $25.
Zankel Hall lies directly underneath the Isaac Stern Auditorium. It has a contemporary design and state of the art technology while still maintaining the 19th century feel of the rest of Carnegie.
According to Robert Harth, Carnegie Hall artistic and executive director: “Throughout the festival, over 100 artists will perform in Zankel Hall, a place to hear all kinds of music in an intimate and relaxed setting.”
For more information, go to www.carnegiehall.org
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
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