Woodmere kicks off season of jazz in Chestnut Hill [photos]

Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill is continuing its music series with Friday Night Jazz from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday evenings through March 18.

Visitors are able to enjoy music and art together as the new exhibit ‘Look Both Ways: Art at the Crossroads of Abstraction and Representation” is presented at the museum and is loosely coordinated with the themes presented in music.

“I think it’s pretty wonderful to listen to music in an environment surrounded by artworks. Because what happens is that when you sit and listen to music, the music affects you physically, you start looking around and absorbing what you see in a very different way, letting it all in,” said Hildy Tow, Woodmere Art Museum curator.

Here’s the schedule for the remainder of the season. 

Thelonious Monk: A True Jazz Giant – Feb. 19

Thelonious Monk brought a unique voice to piano with compositions that continue to inspire artists in all genres of music. Special guest Adam Faulk and the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble will bring Monk’s music to life, performing classics like “Well, You Needn’t,” “Blue Monk,” “‘Round Midnight,” “April in Paris,” and many more.

Putting Pictures to Music: Henry Mancini and Quincy Jones
 – Feb. 26

Join us for a tribute to two great composers, Quincy Jones and Henry Mancini. Their film scores make the music a must “see” and bring to life the stories and characters in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Wiz, Days of Wine and Roses, In the Heat of the Night, The Italian Job, The Pink Panther, and more.

Motown Meets Jazz Part 3 – 
March 4

Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble will continue their presentation of Motown Meets Jazz with guests Roy Richardson, Pat Scott, and Tony Smith. Dance down memory lane with the Temptations’ “My Girl” and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and turn up the temperature with “Heat Wave” and more.

Billie Holiday: A Woman of Strength – 
March 11

Michal Beckham shows us the many sides of Billie Holiday as she takes us “All The Way” on a journey that includes signature songs like “Good Morning Heartache,” “God Bless the Child,” and many more.

Country Goes City: Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline – 
March 18

Take a trip down a country lane with a big city attitude as we find out what kind of “cousins” these two styles of music really are to each other. “You Were Always on My Mind” and “Crazy” are just two of the songs that will help us peek into the minds of two dynamic singer-songwriters. Special guests Julie Salvano and Herb Smith.