Silent Movie Jazz Jam Session

Season Finale: East End Jazz Reimagines the Golden Age with “Silent Movie Jazz Jam" at Southampton Cultural Center

East End Jazz is thrilled to announce the grand finale of its current season: a special "Live Film / Live Jazz" edition of the "East Meets West Jazz Jam Session" on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026 from 2 to 4:30PM at the Auditorium at SCC on 25 Pond Lane, SH. Admission Free. This season closer features a high-concept collaboration with renowned multimedia artist Cliff Baldwin, who has curated a series of silent film clips specifically to be "scored" in real-time by the community.

In a departure from traditional performances, the musicians are in complete charge of the narrative. As Baldwin’s visual compositions flicker on screen, participating artists will be tasked with creating their own musical stories to match the action. From dramatic crescendos to whimsical melodies, the musicians will use their instruments to provide the dialogue, emotion, and pacing, making every performance a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience.

To support this creative leap, East End Jazz will provide a professional rhythm section as backup for all musicians and vocalists to participate. Musicians will also receive cues in advance—ranging from a specific melody or a classic jazz standard to a driving rhythm or a specific emotional movement—to serve as the foundation for their stories. These prompts allow participants to bend familiar sounds to fit the mood on screen, whether transforming a swing rhythm into a high-speed chase or using an emotional movement to guide a moment of cinematic reflection.

"This finale is about giving the musicians total creativity in writing their own story," says Iris Ornig, Director of East End Jazz. "By combining visuals with music, we are transported back to the spirit of the early 19th century. With Cliff Baldwin’s visuals, we are challenging the performers to become storytellers and inviting the audience to create their own stories as well. Whether they are using a well-known standard or pure improvisation, they are directing the mood and soul of the film."

As the final session before the summer hiatus, East End Jazz invites musicians of all ages and skill levels—especially local students—to bring their instruments and step into the role of film composer for the afternoon.

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About East End Jazz: East End Jazz is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating, entertaining, and inspiring a community of children, parents, students, teachers, and audience members through live jazz performance and education. They have performed at various venues across the East End and offer youth workshops at the Southampton Youth Bureau, Bridgehampton Child Care Center, and local daycare centers.

About Southampton Cultural Center: The Southampton Cultural Center’s mission is to provide performance, exhibition, and compelling arts and cultural education opportunities accessible to all in the greater Southampton community.

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