NEW YORK, The Museum of Modern Art presented an elegant black-tie gala, Jazz Interlude, on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, hosted by The Friends of Education, a Museum affiliate group devoted to encouraging greater appreciation of art made by African Americans and the participation of African Americans at MoMA.  The event was chaired by Sherry B. Bronfman. Proceeds from Jazz Interlude benefit The Friends of Education Fund, which totaled over $550,000 this year.

 

The evening included a cocktail reception, followed by a jazz performance and a black-tie dinner. The jazz performance, produced by George T. Wein, featured drummer Roy Haynes, bassist Bob Cranshaw, trumpet player Jeremy Pelt, and jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller.

 

The 2008 Jazz Interlude honored Agnes Gund and David Rockefeller, Jr.  Gund is President Emerita of The Museum of Modern Art and Chairman of its International Council.  She joined MoMA’s Board in 1976 and served as President from 1991 until 2002.  David Rockefeller, Jr. is a director and former chairman of Rockefeller & Co. and has been an active participant in the non-profit arena, especially in the areas of environment, philanthropy, arts, and public education. Mr. Rockefeller is a trustee of The Museum of Modern Art, the Asian Cultural Council, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 

 

Since the last Jazz Interlude held in 2006, the group has provided extensive support to a number of exhibitions at MoMA, including Jazz Score (2008), Martin Puryear (2007), and Comic Abstraction: Image Breaking, Image-Making (2007) and helped acquire David Hammons, Untitled (Rock Head) for the Museum’s permanent collection.  The group has also provided contributions to the Exhibition Fund in honor of Peter Norton and Gwen Adams at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center.

 

Past Jazz Interludes have honored Dr. Camille O. Cosby (2006), Dorothy Cullman (2004), and George Wein (2001), with a performance by Wynton Marsalis in 1998.

 

Décor was by Zéze Flowers.

Catering was by Glorious Food.

Belvedere, Veuve Cliquot, and other wines and spirits compliments of Moët Hennessy USA.

Special thanks to Sandy Starkman and MAKE UP FOR EVER.

 

JAZZ INTERLUDE ATTENDEES:

Benefit Chairman:  Sherry B. Bronfman

Performance Produced by George Wein

Performers: Roy Haynes, Bob Cranshaw, Jeremy Pelt, Mulgrew Miller          

Artists:

Fred Brown, Mel Edwards, Deborah Grant, Trenton Doyle Hancock,  Jennie C. Jones,   Glenn Ligon, Martin Puryear,

Pipilotti Rist,  Jean Claude Samuel, Ming Smith, Will Villalongo

William T. Williams
 

Special Guests

Gayle Perkins Atkins, Klaus Biesenbach,
Patricia Blanchett, Ron Carter

Glenn Close, Dale Cochran

Ornette Coleman,  Gordon J. Davis

Howard Dodson, Marquita Pool-Eckert
and    Knut Eckert,  Philip Glass

Agnes Gund, Vivian Hewitt

Bernard Jackson & Joyce Mullins-Jack
Nancy L. Lane,  Jo Carole Lauder, Reginald Van Lee

David Levering Lewis, Stuart Lewis, Glenn Lowry

Terry McMillan, Kynaston McShine, Peter and Gwen Norton

Richard D. and Laura Parsons, Carlos Picon,
David Rockefeller, Jr., Lowery Stokes Sims, B. Smith

Isabel and Don Stewart, David Teiger, Ann Temkin