Publisher’s Letter (Issue n.8)

Dear NoMad Magazine Readers and Supporters, Jazz Lovers, and the Greater Flatiron and NoMad Community,

As we turn the pages of this very special issue, I’m filled with a sense of awe and gratitude. What once was a dream — a vision to celebrate jazz, culture, and community in the heart of NoMad — has now become a living, breathing reality.

The inaugural NoMad Jazz Festival is more than just a weekend of music; it’s the culmination of shared dreams, creative ambition, and extraordinary collaboration. Behind this festival is an amazing team of passionate, talented individuals and organizations who believed in the power of music to bring people together. From city agencies to local businesses, cultural institutions to visionary artists, so many have stepped up to make this moment possible.

We are especially proud to recognize our Founding Sponsors — The NoMad Alliance, The Jazz Gallery, the Flatiron NoMad Partnership, and the Madison Square Park Conservancy — who have worked tirelessly and wholeheartedly to help bring this vision to life. Their partnership and dedication have been instrumental in shaping this festival and anchoring it in the very soul of our neighborhood. And none of this could have happened without the outstanding leadership of Miriam Dalaei Fodera, our director, whose passion, vision, and determination have guided us every step of the way.

This issue of NOMAD Magazine celebrates every note, every effort, and every partnership that brought the festival to life. It’s a tribute to the people who’ve built this neighborhood into a creative hub, and to those who continue to reimagine its future. Jazz has deep roots in this city and in NoMad, its soul resonates through every corner, every gathering, every performance.

Most of all, this issue honors community — the shared belief that when we come together with purpose and passion, we can create something beautiful, inclusive, and lasting. The NoMad Jazz Festival is a celebration of that spirit.

So as you read through these stories — of legendary artists, up-and-coming voices, historic venues, and local champions — I hope you feel the rhythm of a neighborhood that knows how to come together in harmony.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Let the music begin.

With gratitude,

Leslie Spira Lopez

Publisher, NOMAD Magazine