Tonight’s Musical Performance: Shenel Johns Quintet
Shenel Johns, voice; Zaccai Curtis, piano; Corcoran Holt, bass; Kush Abadey, drums; Dana Hawkins, trumpet
Shenel Johns sings in a highly personal style that moves seamlessly from jazz and R&B to soul and gospel. A native of Hartford, Connecticut, she studied with musical legends such as René McLean, Jimmy Greene, and Nat Reeves. Performing from an early age, she toured not only in the U.S., but also in Russia, Africa, and her place of national identity, Jamaica—all by the age of 21—and has shared the stage with Curtis Fuller, Hank Jones, Dionne Warwick, and Sheila Jordan. She recently returned from a residency at Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha in Qatar; later this year she will present a tribute to one of her idols, Lena Horne, at JALC’s Appel Room. For her performance at MoMA Nights, Johns will focus on the music and words of Abbey Lincoln and Nina Simone, drawing inspiration from “the strengths, struggles, and stories that come out of the African diaspora.”
Every Thursday in July and August, 5:30–8:00 p.m.
Live music begins at 6:30 p.m.
Regular Museum admission applies. Performances take place in the Sculpture Garden. In the event of rain, the Garden will close, and music will take place in Theater 1. Please note: Sculpture Garden and indoor seating are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.
The musical component of Summer Thursdays 2018 celebrates musicians living and working in New York City. Organized in collaboration with PopRally, the series hosts a variety of sounds that explore the City’s expansive musical landscape. Each evening, unique sonic flavors fill the Sculpture Garden with a range of blended genres such as dream punk, Afrofuturist soul, funk fusion, hip-hop, experimental, and lo-fi baroque pop.
This performance was organized in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center.