Basking in the glow of Jazz Power Institute 2025

Jazz Power Institute 2025 Video Highlight 

July 22, 2025:

Last week we welcomed over 30 teachers and teaching artists to Lehman College in the Bronx for the 11th Annual Jazz Power Institute 2025. Once again, the Institute provided participants with a unique and inspiring immersion in jazz music and culture across disciplines of music, dance, theatre and writing. Guest teachers Louise Robinson and Carol Maillard of Sweet Honey in The Rock activated a ring shout and it rang throughout the two days empowering teachers and teaching arts to source tools from jazz and blues to support student learning and creativity and help uplift the communities we work in. Jeremy Pelt presented his interview process for his Griot book series; Charenee Wade and Antoinette Montague led a workshop for our voices; Lisa La Touche gave us a tap dance introduction for our feet and history for our heads; Kena Onyejekwe tapped everyone’s imagination and sourced their stories through theatre. Thanks to Jazz Power Institute co-chairs Antoinette Montague and Kena Onyejekwe and everyone who attended, and thank you to everyone who supported this work, making this immersion in jazz arts possible at this critical time, including the Lehman College Music, Department of Multimedia, Theatre, & Dance, The New York State Council on the Arts, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, TD Charitable Foundation, The NYC Arts in Education Roundtable, and individual supporters like you!

Thank you!

Eli Yamin, aka “Dr. E”

Managing and Artistic Director

Carol Maillard, Charenee Wade, Louise Robinson

“This was a very informative and effective workshop. The presenters were very prepared and experienced to meet the students where they are and guide us through the exercises. This created an immersive and engaging experience grounded in history and culture which made it an authentic experience.” Institute 2025 participant

“Jazz Power Institute expands your knowledge of music, you are free to express yourself, and may also get inspired by others.”

“It’s a very freeing space to be in and have a cathartic experience through the use of jazz.”

 

Jazz Power Initiative Celebration21

We are excited to celebrate 21 years of Jazz Power Initiative, the non profit I co-founded in 2003. Please join us in support of our mission of transforming lives through jazz arts education and performance. You can buy a ticket to the concert on May 21 or give a tax deductible donation on this link.

Eli on WBGO with Gary Walker

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I was thrilled to reconnect with Gary Walker at WBGO who I first met in 1986 when I starting working at WBGO on my 18th birthday. We discussed some of our experiences together at the station as well as my career as an artist, educator, co-founder, managing and artistic director of Jazz Power Initiative and our upcoming Celebration21 hosted by Catherine Russell where we are celebrating 21 years of Jazz Power Initiative transforming lives through jazz arts education and performance.

We Got That Swing! Jazz is Movement

Produced by Eli “Dr. E” Yamin with Jazz Power Initiative in collaboration with Harlem School of the Arts for the third year in the row, this uplifting performance joins an intergenerational array of jazz instrumentalists, vocalists and dancers in the heart of Harlem to celebrate International Jazz Day.

Special Guest:

LISA LA TOUCHE AND TAP PHONICS with JEREMY PELT, trumpet, ELI “DR. E” YAMIN, piano, JENNIFER VINCENT, bass, EJ STRICKLAND, drums

Featured Performers:

JAZZ POWER INITIATIVE’S ZAH! JR with DR. E AND JAZZ POWER

HSA JAZZ BAND

HSA TAPPERS

BELONGO’S FAT CATS

CELIA CRUZ BRONX HIGH SCHOOL OF MUSIC JAZZ BAND

Dr. E on The Kelly Clarkson Show

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I’m flabbergasted. 3 weeks ago, out of the blue, I got a call from The Kelly Clarkson Show on my cellphone. Is it real? I hardly can believe it. They are excited about my work with Jazz Power Initiative and would like to learn more and possibly have me on the show as a guest. I did an interview with an Assistant Producer, made a “Hi Kelly video,” and sure enough, last Tuesday (one week ago) they asked me to come on the show. It was a whirlwind week leading up to the taping this past Monday. They wanted me to come on with a dear colleague and former student, Charenee Wade, and a current student. There were umpteen rounds of releases to be obtained for videos and photos they wanted to use for telling our story. Our current student’s mom was added to the mix, a very good move. All in all, it was amazing to be part of shaping Kelly’s vision for telling our story and we are telling it this Friday, April 4th on NBC. It is my national television debut and for Jazz Power Initiative. We are sooooo excited to share our story with the world and I hope you can tune in wherever you are in the U.S. For international viewing, there will be a link to the story on YouTube. Until then, I’m so happy to share this good news with you, and I hope to see you soon!

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Eli (aka Dr. E)

 

Jazz Power Community Workshop

Birthday, Blues, Bebop and Boogaloo

Jazz Power All-Stars (JPI photo Tanya Kulesh)

I’m excited to play with the newly configured Jazz Power All-Stars, a spirited mix of tunes in celebration of my birthday and good things to come. Hope you can join us Saturday, November 16 at 4pm at National Jazz Museum in Harlem and/or Wednesday, November 20 at 7 pm at Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center. See you there!

Eli Yamin, piano and vocal

Michael Blake, saxophone and co-music director
James Zollar, trumpet
David F. Gibson, drums
Jonathan Troncuso, “JBlak”, percussion
Carmen Morillo, dancer
Charenee Wade, vocal (11/16)
Antoinette Montague, vocal (11/20)

 

Jazz Power Community Workshop returns

 

A jazz learning experience led by Eli “Dr. E” Yamin and inspired by Dr. Barry Harris. For singers and instrumentalists 16+ Participants are welcomed to attend ALL three hours! Workshop Structure: Piano Keyboard 6-7 PM Voice 7-8 PM Improvisation 8-9 PM. REGISTRATION LINK.

10th annual Jazz Power Institute for artists and educators

I’m excited to lead our 10th year of Jazz Power Institute for artists and educators offering a transformational experience for colleagues engaged in teaching jazz across disciplines of music, dance, theatre and writing. In addition to the wonderful artists in the flyer we will have a new acquaintance, Dr. Paul Austerlitz, a leading scholar on Afro Dominican music join us as well as Darick Kelly, who is Assistant Conductor of All City High School Latin Ensemble. We also expect to have students from All City and Jazz Power attend as musical demonstrators. It’s going to be a hoot!

FREE REGISTRATION LINK

Jazz Power Celebration20

Photo by Jim Cummins

It’s been an incredible journey, and I can hardly believe it – Jazz Power Initiative is turning 20! Two decades of rhythm, melody, story, and unforgettable moments in jazz. What an honor it has been to have the opportunity to transform lives through the power of jazz arts education and performance with thousands of young students, professional artists and audiences of all ages. The Jazz Power Celebration20 honoring the Miranda Family, Phil Bertelsen, and TD Bank will be hosted by Antoinette Montague and Kena Onyejekwe and feature performances by the Ariacne Trujillo Duran Trio, Judd Nielsen’s Organ Group and JPI’s advanced youth group, Zah! Jr. capped off with a Rhythm Revue Dance Party hosted by DJ Felix Hernandez. Get your tickets on this link.