David Amram
Composer, Conductor & Multi-instrumentalist

Current and Past Shows

“He’s one of the most talented
musicians in the universe!”
...Pete Seeger

2018 Calendar
David on Piano

JANUARY - 2018

January 12th, 2018Lord Buckley Show
Joe's Pub
NYC


Jan 1-14Day and nightComposing last movement of Partners: A Double Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra - This final movement honors the musical partnership of the iconic Cuban band leader Machito, a pioneer of combining the beauties of Afro-Cuban music and jazz and with his vocalist Celia Cruz, opening up a door in the 1940s to welcome the world into sharing the genius of these two forms of music and celebrating those who have continued to contribute to their symbiotic relationship


Jan 15-21Day and NightHavana, Cuba - Annual Havana International Jazz Plaza Festival
Amram performs with musicians from around the world, as well as being a guest soloist with the Festival's founder Bobby Carcasses for the opening gala · Amram will also be the featured guest in the Festival's tribute to Gilberto Valdez for his lifetime in Cuba for the past 70 years and as a supporter, performer and pioneer drummer of Jazz combined with Afro-Cuban roots; Valdez was responsible for Amram's returning to Cuba for the first time since 1977 when Valdez welcomed and organized concerts and jam sessions with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Earl "Fatha" Hines and Amram when they came to Havana in 1977 · These historic collaborations were the first time that North American musicians came to perform publicly with musicians in Cuba since 1961 · Amram has also been invited perform in Matanzas with Los Munequitos de Matanzas, the legendary masters of the Rhumba and the Guaguanco and will be doing seminars and workshops with young musicians during his week at the Festival


January 15th - 22Shows in Cuba


January 26-28Concert with Dave and Rad
Florida


January 28th4-8 pmVero Beach, Florida - The Indian River Arts & Concert series Amram and Croatian virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Radoslav Lorkovic perform together as a duo for the first, debuting their global music in a special concert celebrating the kids for Head Start, who will sing with members of the community joined at the end by Amram and Lorkovic, prior to their 70 minute set together


FEBRUARY - 2018

February 5th8:30-11 pmCornelia Street Cafe New York City - 62 Years in Greenwich Village David Amram and his quartet (Kevin Twigg , drums and glockenspiel, Rene Hart, bass, Adam Amram, congas and percussion) are joined by actors, poets, singers, and musicians of all genres to celebrate the creative work done by Amram as an award-winning classical composer for the concert hall, multi-instrumentalist, collaborator with Jack Kerouac for the first public jazz/poetry readings ever presented in NYC in 1957, creator of scores for films and the theater and tireless advocate and pioneer of World Music decades before the term existed. The performances celebrate countless events since Amram's arrival in the Village as a member of Charles Mingus Quintet in 1955 up to his current adventures of 2018 · No two shows are ever the same!


February 9th8:30-11:00 p.m.Mercury Cafe 2188 California St Denver Colorado - Neal Cassady Ninth Annual Birthday Bash Amram makes his annual appearance to celebrate the legacy of Denver´s native son Neal Cassady, the real-life hero of Jack Kerouac´s novel On the Road · His Rocky Mountain Quartet (Tony Black, drums, Artie Moore, bass and Hugh Ragin trumpet) are joined by surprise guest artists who are familiar with the great days of Five Points in Denver when Kerouac was introduced by Cassady to a whole new world of jazz and those who created it, and how this influenced Kerouac's writing. There will also be readings with musical accompaniment from Kerouac´s On the Road, as Amram and Kerouac did together for years, Amram will also read excerpts from his book Offbeat Collaborating with Kerouac and will perform with his quartet at Denver´s prize-winning radio station KUVO-FM for their annual fundraiser.


February 9th8:30-11:00 p.m.Mercury Cafe 2188 California St Denver Colorado - Neal Cassady Ninth Annual Birthday Bash Amram makes his annual appearance to celebrate the legacy of Denver´s native son Neal Cassady, the real-life hero of Jack Kerouac´s novel On the Road · His Rocky Mountain Quartet (Tony Black, drums, Artie Moore, bass and Hugh Ragin trumpet) are joined by surprise guest artists who are familiar with the great days of Five Points in Denver when Kerouac was introduced by Cassady to a whole new world of jazz and those who created it, and how this influenced Kerouac's writing. There will also be readings with musical accompaniment from Kerouac´s On the Road, as Amram and Kerouac did together for years, Amram will also read excerpts from his book Offbeat Collaborating with Kerouac and will perform with his quartet at Denver´s prize-winning radio station KUVO-FM for their annual fundraiser.


February 10th7:15-11:00 pmAlamo Drafthouse Cinema: 4255 W Colfax Ave, Denver · Pull My Daisy 60 Years later Amram will host a screening of Robert Frank´s classic short film Pull My Daisy narrated by Jack Kerouac for which Amram created the jazz and chamber music score, and in which Amram also appeared, at the request of Kerouac. Following the screening, Amram and Neal Cassady´s daughter Jami Cassady, will discuss how when it was released in 1959, it was considered a home movie for a tiny audience. And how today it is now considered by many to be an iconic film and major influence on many contemporary filmmakers


February 13th10:15-11 amRadio station KCUR Kansas City Missouri · Up To Date Amram celebrates K.C. Amram recounts his adventures and creative energy shared with Kansas City greats Mary Lou Williams, Charlie Parker. Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Buddy Tate, Jimmy Witherspoon and his work with the Kansas City Symphony as a commissioned composer, guest conductor and soloist


February 13th7-10 pmOlathe Public Library 201 E. Park Street, Olathe, Kansas · A Composer´s Collaborations Amram will be interviewed for an hour by author, journalist and historian Chuck Haddix. He will discuss his work with authors Jack Kerouac and Langston Hughes, jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Mary Lou Williams and Thelonious Monk, folk and country artists Pete Seeger, Willie Nelson, Odetta and Bob Dylan, film directors John Frankenheimer and Elia Kazan, playwright Arthur Miller, and poets Lawrence Ferlinghetti and W.H. Auden · Chuck Haddix will also interview Amram about his life and his ties to the Kansas City music scene. Amram will close the evening playing with local musicians Victor && Penny and the Loose Change Orchestra, and include music by Kansas City greats Charlie Parker, who mentored Amram in 1952, Lester Young, Count Basie and of his own compositions.


Feb 14-18Day and NightFolk Alliance International Annual Conference · Kansas City · Folk Music: The Root of the Tree - David Amram, recipient of the 2017 Folk Alliance International Lifetime Achievement Award, returns for the fifth consecutive year to give mentoring classes to musicians of all ages about how to incorporate world rhythms, harmonies and global music into every singer-songwriter´s vocabulary, how to create their own techniques to engender audience participation, and how to accompany spoken word artists and create rhymed raps on the spot · He also will play with anyone and everyone who asks him to, sharing the egalitarian spirit of all those artists who encouraged and mentored him throughout his forty years living in Greenwich Village


February 24th • Amram will speak to the audience during the open rehearsals and preview talks given prior to the concert · The three movements of Greenwich Village Portraits are entitled MacDougal Street (for Arthur Miller), Bleeker Street (for Odetta) and Christopher Street (for Frank McCourt). Each movement honors three friends and artistic collaborators of Amram´s and their favorite streets in the Village. Written originally for alto saxophone and piano and premiered in New City, Amram hoped to have the chance to make a string orchestra version. Bruce Hangen as well as Ken Radnofsky made it possible to commission and schedule the world premiere of this version of Greenwich Village Portraits with the excellent musicians of the Indian Hill Symphony


Feb 22-25Indian Hill School of Music - Amram returns for the world premiere of a new work, hosting an evening of jazz and talks · The first highlights of his residency Friday night Feb 23 at the Fitchburg Art Museum 183 Elm Street at 7 pm. Amram will lead members of the Indian Hill Music School faculty, local high school students and members of the community in an evening of jazz and world music. He will also discuss how spirit of all sincere forms of music built to last and how the rich tapestry of the multi-cultural life and creative energy that living in Greenwich Village New York City all enabled him to compose Greenwich Village Portraits for his friend , the virtuoso classical saxophone master Ken Radnofsky.


February 26th6-7 pmclassical music radio station WWFM by its music director David Osenberg - Amram will be interviewed for an hour by David Osenberg and will discuss the new vistas of 2018 for all composers, and how increased technology has made it possible for musicians of every genre to create their venues and outlets for their creativity · Amram wIll also discuss his ongoing collaborations with virtuoso violinist Elmira Darvarova classical master saxophonist Ken Radnofsky and comment on their new CD of Amram´s chamber music So in America, featuring works composed from 1958 until today performed by outstanding chamber music players and soloists chosen for the recording by Elmira Darvarova. The CD ends with two excerpts from author Jack Kerouac´s On the Road, narrated by Oscar-winning actress Estelle Parsons with Amram accompanying her as he with did Kerouac in New York City´s first-ever public jazz/poetry readings in 1957.


MARCH - 2018

March 1st11:00-3:00 PMWestchester Community College · Davis Auditorium - Opening up the doors to your own creativity As the final guest speaker for the poets and author series, David Amram will read from his three books, improvise a freestyle song made up on the spot from suggestions from the audience, and stress the importance of reading and writing as a gateway to understanding the world in which we live · He will also explain how developing verbal skills has helped him to become a better and more prolific composer of classical concert music and performer of global folkloric styles of improvisation · He will be joined by Ireland's renowned master of modern percussion, Brian Fleming, whose virtuosity as a performer of his native Bodhran has added a new chapter to the role of this ancient traditional instrument · Amram and Fleming will create a composition on the spot, as well as performing music from around the world · Amram will also recount highlights of his 60 years of travels as a global ambassador for music and the joy of collaborations with poets, authors, playwrights and artists of all genres. And he will end the program free-styling a rhymed scat made from suggestions from the audience. This event is open to members of community as well as studenenue ts enrolled at the college.


March 5th, 2018Cornelia Street Cafe
New York City
David Amram and his quartet (Kevin Twigg: drums and glockenspiel, Rene Hart: bass, Adam Amram: congas and percussion) are joined by actors, poets, singers, and musicians of all genres to celebrate the creative work done by Amram as an award-winning classical composer for the concert hall, multi-instrumentalist, collaborator with Jack Kerouac for the first public jazz/poetry readings ever presented in NYC in 1957, creator of scores for films and the theater and tireless advocate and pioneer of World Music decades before the term existed.


March 12th7:00-11:00 PMBeat and Beyond
Beyond Baroque Center for the Arts
Venice California

Celebrating Beyond Baroque´s 50th Anniversary and the birthday of author Jack Kerouac, Amram will host a screening of Robert Frank´s classic short film Pull My Daisy narrated by Jack Kerouac for which Amram created the jazz and chamber music score, and in which Amram appeared, at the request of Kerouac · Following a Q & A from the audience, Amram will be interviewed by author Pat uas and then play music from the era, joined by his son drummer Adam Amram, accompany poets and authors reading excerpts for On The Road as Kerouac and Amram did at the first-ever public jazz poetry readings ever presented in 1957 and conclude the evening reading a short excerpt from his book Offbeat: Collaborating with Kerouac describing the chaotic three weeks filming of what is now considered to be a classic

In the evening:
Zebulon
Los Angeles


March 13th12:00-4:00 PMAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Film Music · Foundation Pickford Center · 1313 Vine Street Hollywood - Amram and Films Jon Burlingam conducts a filmed interview for the the Academy of Motion Pictures Film Foundation about Amram's unique contributions to film scoring is unique path · He will document Amram in his own words explaining why, after composing the groundbreaking scores for Elia Kazan´s Splendor in the Grass and John Frankenheimer The Manchurian Candidate, he made the unusual choice of returning from Hollywood to New York, after doing these two Iconic film scores, In order to continue writing for the concert hall · Over the past fifty sixty years since his groundbreaking score for The Manchurian Candidate, Amram´s prolific career as the composer of critically acclaimed symphonies, concertos, operas, chamber and choral music has enabled him to continue on his unique path. Still he has found the time to occasionally writes scores for films he feels have lasting value and where he has the freedom to orchestrate, conduct and write every note himself · Jon Burlingame will also ask Amram to clarify what he had said to young composers to remind them that regardless of all business restrictions, film scoring is an art · Jon Burlingam will end his interview discussing Amram´s current work in film, where in the middle of all his classical commissions and appearances as a guest-conductor and multi-instrumentalist, he is currently composing the score for Oscar award winning Barbara Kopple´s new documentary feature about Syrian and Iraqi refugees who are finding a new life in Canada


March 17th7:30 11:00 PMEchoes of Erin - Tompkins Corners Cultural Center · Putnam Valley, NY, A celebration of the music that has sustained waves of Irish emigrants on their journey to what was called this Isle of Hope · Amram will perform his Theme and Variations on Danny Boy


March 18th7:00-10:30 PM Washington Square Hotel (formerly the Earle) · 103 Waverly Place, NYC - Village Nights Since 1902, the Washington Square Hotel (formerly "The Earle") has been a haven for writers, artists and musicians · Guests have included Ernest Hemingway, Dylan Thomas, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Bo Diddley, Maynard Ferguson, The Rolling Stones · Village Nights has been created by musician and singer-songwriter Richard Barone · This new monthly series will premiere on Sunday, March 18, 2018 with ex-Villager composer, conductor and multi-instrumentalist David Amram and his quintet


March 19 - April 1Composing - Amram works on the final movement of Partners: a double concerto for violin and orchestra, to be premiered in December of 2018 and subsequently performed by four other orchestras · He is also beginning composing the score for Oscar-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple´s new documentary feature film about Syrian and Iraqi refugees who are finding a new life in Canada


APRIL - 2018

April 1st, 2018Jewish Music Benefit
Mercury Lounge
NYC


April 2nd, 2018Cornelia Street Cafe
New York City
David Amram and his quartet (Kevin Twigg: drums and glockenspiel, Rene Hart: bass, Adam Amram: congas and percussion) are joined by actors, poets, singers, and musicians of all genres to celebrate the creative work done by Amram as an award-winning classical composer for the concert hall, multi-instrumentalist, collaborator with Jack Kerouac for the first public jazz/poetry readings ever presented in NYC in 1957, creator of scores for films and the theater and tireless advocate and pioneer of World Music decades before the term existed.


April 4-7, 2018Third Street Music School
NYC


April 18th, 2018Salute to David
Di Menna Center
NYC


April 25th, 2018Sophie Gersen Awards
Poisson Rouge
NYC

The David Amram Band


April 29th, 2018Woody Guthrie Center Anniversary Concert
Tulsa, OK


MAY - 2018

May 3rd, 2018Pete Seeger Tribute


May 11th, 2018Uncle Dan’s Radio show
and
Jazz Kitchen


May 21st, 2018Show with John McEuen


JUNE - 2018

June 3rd, 2018Ginsberg Howl
Bowery Poetry Club
NYC


JULY - 2018

July 7th, 2018Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame


July 10th, 2018Blue Door
Oklahoma City, OK


July 12, 2018Woody Guthrie Festival
The Crystal Theater
Okemah, OK


July 13-15, 2018Vancouver Island Festival
Canada


AUGUST - 2018

August 1-3Day and NightInternational Horn Symposium · Muncie Indiana - Featured Performer - Amram performs with band of 26 horns, playing french horn, piano congas and Latin Percussion. He gives a workshop-seminar on the history and use of the 12 bar blues as a gateway for playing jazz, has all hornists join him to learn fundamentals of improvising. He also attends performances of his classical compositions for French Horn.


August 5th2-4:30 Beacon NY - Jazz Salute to the Hudson Valley Amram performs with his quintet with Kevin Twigg drums, Rene Hart Bass. Adam Amram congas, Elliot Peper bongos and surprise guests.


August 5th7-10 pm Tompkins Corners Cultural Center · Tompkins Corners NY - Jazz and World Music Celebration Return - Amram and his quintet play global music in the new culture center on Peekskill Hollow Road in Putnam County.


August 12th7-10:30 pmCentral Park's Summerstage · NYC - Music of Sixties from Greenwich Village to the World This free concert hosted by Richard Barone includes performances by Amram, John Sebastian, José Feliciano, Jesse Colin Young (of the Youngbloods),Melanie, Maria Muldaur, Marshall Crenshaw, Happy Traum, The Kennedys and surprise guests.


August 13-19Day and NightBeacon, NY - Composing and orchestrating Amram orchestrates the last movement of his latest classical composition Partners: A Double Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra · This final movement honors the musical partnership of the iconic Cuban band leader Machito, a pioneer of combining the beauties of Afro-Cuban music and jazz and with his vocalist Celia Cruz, opening up a door in the 1940s to welcome the world into sharing the genius of these two forms of music and celebrating those who have continued to contribute to their symbiotic relationship.


August 20th8:30 - 11:00 PMCornelia Street Cafe · New York City · 63 Years in Greenwich Village David Amram and his quartet (Kevin Twigg , drums and glockenspiel, Rene Hart, bass, Adam Amram, congas and percussion) are joined by actors, poets, singers, and musicians of all genres to celebrate the creative work done by Amram as an award -winning classical composer for the concert hall, multi-instrumentalist, collaborator with Jack Kerouac for the first public jazz/poetry readings ever presented in NYC in 1957, creator of scores for films and the theater and tireless advocate and pioneer of World Music decades before the term existed. The performances celebrate countless events since Amram´s arrival in the Village as a member of Charles Mingus Quintet in 1955 up to his current adventures of 2018 · No two shows are ever the same! Special guest Jose Pacheco will read his prise wed violining poem about Charlie Parker´s final performance in Greenwich Village and excerpts from Jack Kerouac´s On the Road.


August 27 to 30Day and NightLouisville Kentucky - Celebrating the Poetry, Prose and Musical Legacy of the South Amram joins award winning poet and activist Ron Whitehead, providing music for Whitehead´s new CD of his poetry with Amram providing music music as well as performing his own tribute to his old friend Hunter S. Thompson.


SEPTEMBER - 2018

September 3rd, 2018Cornelia Street Cafe
New York City
David Amram and his quartet (Kevin Twigg , drums and glockenspiel, Rene Hart, bass, Adam Amram, congas and percussion) are joined by actors, poets, singers, and musicians of all genres to celebrate the creative work done by Amram as an award -winning classical composer for the concert hall, multi-instrumentalist, collaborator with Jack Kerouac for the first public jazz/poetry readings ever presented in NYC in 1957, creator of scores for films and the theater and tireless advocate and pioneer of World Music decades before the term existed.


September 25th, 2018House Chamber Concert
Denver, CO


September 26th, 2018Dazzles
Denver, CO


OCTOBER - 2018

Oct. 4-7, 2018Tribute to Jack Kerouac
Lowell, MA


October 19th, 2018Tribute to Jack Kerouac
St. John's Cathedral
NYC

The David Amram Band


October 25th, 2018Thelonious Monk Panel on Style
Lincoln Center
NYC


NOVEMBER - 2018

November 8-11Day and NightStamford, Connecticut · North East Regional Folk Alliance Annual conference Amram mentors young singer-songwriters, instrumentalists and improvisers on Global roots Music, how to accompany others, how improvise words as well as music and basic music theory


November 13th7:15 pm • IFA Theater in NYC - World Premiere screening of Oscar-winning director Barbara Kopple´s film New Homeland - Amram composed, orchestrated and conducted the score


November 16 + 177:00-11:00 PMTarrytown New York · Amram Jam 88th birthday at the Jazz Forum David Amram Quintet and friends celebrate Amram´s 88th birthday at Mark Morganelli´s new Jazz Forum in Tarrytown NY · This is the 38th year Morganelli has organized an Amram Jam, since the first one he presented in NYC for Amram´s 50th · See Jazz Forum schedule for more details


November 30th8:00-12 PMCornelia Street Cafe - Tribute to the birthdays and collaborations of Cornelia Street founder Robin Hirsch and David Amram


DECEMBER - 2018

December 1st2:00-5:00 PMColumbia University Butler Library - Celebration of their acquisition of the conductor Maurice Peress archive · Amram and Peress collaborated musically for 62 years.


December 5thAnn Arbor, Michigan Amram attends rehearsal of PARTNERS with soloists Jolyon Pegis, Maria Schleuning and conductor Kenneth Kiesler


December 6thNYC - Amram flies to NYC to perform at Symphony Space for the 50th anniversary of radio host and New York Times journalist Robert Sherman´s award winning show Woody's Children. (See Symphony Space web page for details)


December 7th7:30-11:00 PMAmram performs for the 50th anniversary tribute to Robert Sherman´s show Woody´s Children - (See Symphony Space webpage for details)


December 8thAll DayAnn Arbor, Michigan - PARTNERS A double Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra - Amram returns for the World Premiere


December 9thAll DayPARTNERS A double Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra
Amram attends final rehearsal and World Premiere


December 11thBeacon, NY - Amram returns to to resume composing Voyages for Unaccompanied Violin


December 15th2:00-5:00 PM • Amram filmed for Hunter Peress documentary feature film about conductor Maurice Peress.


December 16th7:00-11:00 PMThe Falcon · Marlboro, New York · Amram's 88th Birthday and Global Holiday Salute


December 18th8:00-10:30 PMWeill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, NYC · Elmira Darvarova performs Amram´s Violin Sonata


December 19th8:00-11:30 PM Theater for the New City · 1st Ave between 9th and 10th Street, NYC · Annual Amram Jam Amram´s classical chamber music compositions and his jazz , folk, world music, film and theater music, spoken word; A final celebration of his 63rd year in New York and his 88th year on the planet


Dec 20-Jan 5 • Amram composes Voyages for Unaccompanied Violin, works on his new book David Amram: The Next 80 Years and his musical and literary materials for the Lincoln Center Branch of the New York Public Library´s collection of his archive.


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