2013 Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival

The newspapers wrote, “Jammin’ with Yamin,” and you know, it really was.  It’s my dream and mission for jazz education to feel like the real thing–as creative, adventurous and rapturous as performing it and that’s what’s happening at The Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival. I’m so grateful for this wonderful festival that provides the opportunity […]

Eli’s blues message in a State Department salute to Black History Month

I’m honored to be featured in this article on the blues on the US Embassy website… “American Blues Music Formed by Pain to Cure Pain” — by Stephen Kaufman

Two Pianos Two Minds One Message – FREEDOM

Great times presenting on the music of the Civil Rights Movement this week at Mesa Arts Center with maestro Damien Sneed.  What a pleasure and honor.  Looking forward to next week’s concert with Eli Yamin Blues Band and the Okra Dance Company at TriBeca Performing Arts Center in lower Manhattan, Friday, October 26 at 8pm.  […]

The Jazz Drama Program presents New Orleans Music and Culture Professional Development at National Dance Insitute Center for Learning & the Arts in Harlem, USA

What a pleasure and honor it was giving this professional development workshop at National Dance Institute at their beautiful new center in Harlem.  Thanks to music director, Jerome Korman and Artistic Director, Ellen Weinstein for bringing me back to NDI after many years.  What a tremendous group of dancers and musicians ready to give their […]

Jazz Quartet North Country Tour

Eli Yamin Jazz Quartet hits the North Country this weekend with Eli Yamin, piano, Zaid Nasser, alto saxophone, Ari Roland, bass, LaFrae Sci, drums Click on “gigs” for all the details! Here’s  a teaser from a Montenegro TV show we did a while ago…          

Back in New York City

Back in New York City this week we performed at Intermediate School 291: Roland Hayes School in Brooklyn with the Eli Yamin Trio and The Magic and Mechanics of Jazz.  Drummer Dwayne “Cook” Broadnax and bassist Elias Bailey have been performing this show with me for ten years and this time it was different.  We […]

Abakan, Siberia

Dlya menya ehto ne prosto pesnya Sdelai vdoch ee ti poymesh Ya ee bleus vso vremya vmeste Dushevny blues Dushevy blues Russian translation by Ludmila Borisova A Healing Song by Eli Yamin and Clifford Carlson from the jazz musical “Message From Saturn”       We had the good fortune to visit the music school […]

The Jazz Drama Program Summer Gala

In 2003 I co-founded The Jazz Drama Program to support the idea of creating new jazz musicals for kids to perform for their peers.  This work brings all the things I love together in one place–jazz, theatre and watching kids grow!  The program has had many successes over the years in 64 performances in 4 […]

Great week at Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival

                          What a magnificent week at the 45th Annual Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival.  It’s an amazing gathering of fans, musicians, students, volunteers and staff creating a soulful jazz village in the sparsely populated and somewhat remote region of northern Idaho.  Joy permeates […]

Jazz, Drama and Young People

  http://www.jazzartassociation.org/jam/jam-2011/bulletin-2011/ It’s amazing to receive this bulletin from our trip last Spring to Montenegro with the quartet and Nora’s Ark.  What an unbelievable time that was! And now I’m excited to be returning to Idaho on Monday for my third trip to participate in the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival.  It’s an amazing festival […]