Jack Kleinsinger is a former assistant attorney general of the State of New York. He had a passion for jazz, and in 1973 decided to try producing jazz concerts. One successful concert led to another, and Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights in Jazz has become the longest running continuous jazz series in the history of New York. He has produced more than 337 jazz concerts to date, featuring the most popular and greatest names in jazz. Artists featured in his series include Doc Cheatham, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Roy Haynes, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Gary Burton, Maxine Sullivan, Louie Bellson, Buddy Rich, Dave Brubeck, Roy Eldridge, Billy Taylor, Billy Higgins, Dick Hyman, Bucky Pizzarelli Jay Leonhart, Bobby Hackett, Cab Calloway, Art Farmer, Woody Herman and hundreds more.
NiteLife Exchange (NLE) celebrates Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights In Jazz (JK) with Six Questions
NiteLife Exchange: 2019 marks your 47th year for Highlights In Jazz. What motivated you to start the series and what has been your secret for success for keeping the series going?
Jack Kleinsinger: Musician/friends Bucky Pizzarelli and Phil Bodner suggested that since I loved jazz so much and was friendly with musicians that I should perhaps take over a club or rent a hall to present jazz performances. I feel that the success, at least in part, is due to the fact that we present groups of musicians who do not get a chance to perform together regularly in a jam session format as opposed to other concerts and/or club dates which feature regularly working bands.
NLE: Highlights In Jazz has been officially recognized as New York’s Longest Running Jazz Concert Series. When did you receive this recognition?
JK: On February 5th, 1998, the 25th anniversary of the series, the Manhattan Borough President made an official proclamation that the date was declared Highlights In Jazz/Jack Kleinsinger Day in Manhattan.
NLE: You’re also a lawyer and former Assistant District Attorney (ADA) and you also ran for public office. What can you tell us about this?
JK: Actually, I was not an ADA but served as an Assistant Attorney General of the State of New York for over 20 years. In 1964 I ran for State Assembly in The Bronx and lost a very close race to an incumbent who was subsequently indicted. I was 28 years old and, if elected, would have been the youngest Assemblyman in the history of New York.
NLE: You’ve presented many jazz legends over your 47 years. Who are some of the big names you’ve presented and is there a Highlights inn Jazz show that stands out in your mind?
JK: Lionel Hampton, Dave Brubeck, Keely Smith, Tito Puente, Woody Herman and many others. My most memorable concert was my first one on February 5th, 1973, which featured Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Joe Newman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Gene Bertoncini, Dr. Lyn Christie, Bobby Rosengarden and surprise guest Phil Bodner. The concert was completely sold out and received a rave review in The New York Times and a feature article in that week’s Sunday Times. This success encouraged me to present a full series of programs, which has continued to the present day.
NLE: Two of the special features of your Highlights In Jazz shows are a surprise guest and you always honor a living jazz musician with and annual award. When did you begin doing this and who were some of your favorite surprise guests?
JK: I decided to have a surprise guest at the very first concert and it seemed like a good idea to continue throughout the series. I also made the decision to honor a living jazz great every year and in our first season, the first such honoree was Lionel Hampton. Surprise guests have included Dizzy Gillespie, Cab Calloway, Branford Marsalis, Eubie Blake, Camen MacRae, Stan Getz, George Shearing and many others including some artists who were unscheduled but I noticed sitting in our audience and persuaded them to perform, including Earl Hines, Gerry Mulligan, Ray Nance, Maxine Sullivan and Paquito D’Rivera.
NLE: I understand a play is being written about you. What can you tell us about this? What can jazz fans look forward to for your 2019 season?
JK: A play is being written about my life starting from age 13 ½ when I ran away from home headed to Hollywood with the addresses of all the major movie studios. I got as far as Chicago where I did get to see Sarah Vaughn in person at the Chicago Theatre. The play will deal with my life as a NYC school teacher, soldier, lawyer, candidate for public office, and of course producer of the Highlights In Jazz concert series. The play will have live music including an original song written about me by Jay Leonhart.
In the 2019 season we are saluting Randy Brecker for his outstanding jazz achievements. We are also having a concert entitled Satchmo and Sydney Revisited, which will feature the son of Sydney Bechet—drummer Daniel Bechet, along with David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band. There will also be a concert remembering the great pianists Erroll Garner and Randy Weston, where their wonderful music will be played by some of today’s outstanding jazz artists. And as always, there will be a surprise guest at every concert.
You won’t want to miss a single event in this new season of Highlights In Jazz! Jack Kleinsinger’s 47th year of producing the series.
Thursday, March 28, 2019 – 8 P.M. • Satchmo & Sidney Revisited David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band Tubaist David Ostwald, Trumpeter Alphonso Horne, Claritetist-Saxophonist Adrian Cunningham, Trombonist Dion Tucker, Banjoist-Guitarist Arnt Arntzen, Drummer David F. Gibson, Bechet’s leading disciple Olivier Franc, Stride piano master Jean Baptiste Franc, Sidney Bechet’s son Daniel Bechet. Produced in Association with the Sidney Bechet Society, Along with surprise special guest!
Thursday, May 16, 2019 – 8 P.M. Salute to Randy Brecker, Jazz Millennials, Saxophonists Peter & Will Anderson
Singer Veronica Swift, Pianist George Cables, Bassist Buster Williams, Drummer Kenny Washington, Guest of Honor: Trumpeter Randy Brecker and surprise special guest!
Thursday, June 20, 2019 – 8 P.M. Remembering Erroll & Randy, The Erroll Garner Project, Pianist Christian Sands, Drummer Ulysses Owens, Bassist Luques Curtis
A Randy Weston Tribute Saxophonist T.K. Blue and the Weston Alumni Band, Bassist Alex Blake, Percussionist Neil Clarke, Special guest trombonist Steve Turre and surprise special guest!
All Shows Are performs at the BMCC TRIBECA Performing Arts Center, Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY http://tribecapac.org
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