The Jazz Gallery
High above West 27th Street, tucked away on the fifth floor of an unassuming office building, lives a cultural gem that has shaped the soundscape of New York’s jazz scene for the past three decades. The Jazz Gallery – America’s premier performance space for emerging jazz artists – is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with an exciting debut: the first-ever NoMad Jazz Festival.
“It has always been a dream of ours to bring the music outside the walls of our venue and into the community,” said Janet Luhrs, Executive Director of The Jazz Gallery since 2013. “Now, together with our partners The NoMad Alliance, the Flatiron NoMad BID, and the Madison Square Conservancy that dream is becoming a reality.”
Founded in 1995 by legendary trumpeter Roy Hargrove, vocalist Lezlie Harrison, and anthropologist Dale Fitzgerald, The Jazz Gallery has built an international reputation as the place where “the future is present.” It’s where world-renowned musicians such as Vijay Iyer, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Lizz Wright (who is headlining at the NoMad Festival) honed their craft, and where 12 Thelonious Monk Competition winners and six MacArthur Fellows first took the stage. “When an artist gets a gig at The Jazz Gallery, they feel like they’ve made it in New York,” said Luhrs. “And they never forget that.”
Luhrs herself came to The Jazz Gallery from a storied background in television production and nonprofit leadership. A former senior producer at WPIX-TV and executive director at several arts and advocacy organizations, she joined the Gallery just after its move from Hudson Street to NoMad at a time when the neighborhood was still on the cusp of transformation. “Back then, it wasn’t what it is now,” she recalled. “But the growth has been amazing. It’s become this charming, village-like experience, and we’re proud to be part of that.”
Despite its intimate size — just 70 seats — the Gallery boasts an expansive reach. During the pandemic, the organization pivoted swiftly to live-streaming, with performances reaching over 50 countries. “I started in television, and now I’m in television again,” Luhrs laughed. “It kept us connected, relevant, and even stronger than before. Our board and staff got creative, and our artists kept playing.”
That spirit of innovation and resilience will be on full display this summer as The Jazz Gallery steps into the public eye with the inaugural NoMad Jazz Festival, a free, outdoor celebration of music and community. The event, set in the heart of Madison Square Park and at many venues in the neighborhood, will feature an eclectic lineup of artists, from world-renowned talents to emerging voices, offering New Yorkers a chance to experience jazz the way it’s meant to be heard: live, spontaneous, and full of joy.
“There’s a generosity in jazz,” Luhrs reflected. “Even when the music is soulful or woeful, there’s dialogue on stage that brings people together. You can’t help but smile and enjoy.”
The Jazz Gallery’s commitment to accessibility is core to its mission. It is a listening room with ticket prices starting at just $25 ($10 for students), no food or drink minimums, and a strong emphasis on artist freedom, it remains one of the most welcoming venues in the city. Thanks to a grant from the Baisley Powell Elebash Fund in 2021, the Gallery also expanded its physical space to include a lounge and artist green room, enhancing both guest experience and performer camaraderie.
As the 30th anniversary unfolds, the message is clear: The Jazz Gallery isn’t just a venue. It’s a movement, a launchpad, and now, a festival. “We want to help put NoMad on the map,” said Luhrs. “And more importantly, we want everyone — residents, workers, visitors — to come together and celebrate what makes this neighborhood, and this music, so special.”
The NoMad Jazz Festival promises to do just that. Expect live performances, spontaneous collaborations, and plenty of soul. And don’t forget to stop by The Jazz Gallery’s booth for tote bags, t-shirts, and a warm welcome into one of New York’s most vibrant musical families.