NATIONAL JAZZ MUSEUM IN HARLEM

Since its founding in 1996, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem (NJMH), currently located at 58 West 129th St., between 5th and Malcolm X Blvd, has solidified its preeminent position as a leader in preserving, promoting, and presenting jazz. It is a critical cultural institution in Harlem — inspiring knowledge, appreciation, innovation, and the celebration of jazz in Harlem, locally, nationally, and internationally.The NJMH seeks to solidify Its preeminent position by building a permanent museum in Harlem. National Jazz Museum in Harlem has launched an exploratory campaign to secure support for this vision, that will allow the museum to expand its community outreach, programs, and educational initiatives; establish state-of-the-art rehearsal and performance space for emerging, aspiring and established jazz artists; develop scholar-in-residence programs; and create world-class exhibition space for its ever-growing collections, archival materials, and visiting exhibitions.Adhering to its mission, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem holds an impressive number of historical materials and information in its possession.
 

 

For example, the long-lost, treasured Savory Collection of rare jazz recordings was acquired by the NJHM in 2010. In 2014, the family of legendary saxophonist Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis donated some of the musician's prized memorabilia — such as scrapbooks of contemporary press clippings, photographs, contracts, and clothing — to the museum.As plans for a permanent home develop, the museum continues to present educational programs, exhibits, and concerts under the direction of Grammy Award-winning musicians Jon Batiste and Christian McBride, who serve as artistic directors for NJMH.The National Jazz Museum in Harlem is elated that The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce has selected the building of a national jazz museum in Harlem as one of its four major priorities for the upcoming years. The NJMH is also proud that directors from The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce have served as NJMH board members. They include former NJHM chairman Arthur Barnes, and Chamber directors who currently serve: Mark Willis, Richard Taffet and Lloyd Williams.