About the Artist Talk

Houston native Jason Moran is a jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader who mines a variety of musical styles to create adventurous, genre-crossing performances. He has recorded nine critically acclaimed albums with Blue Note Records. A 2010 MacArthur recipient, he scored the Oscar nominated film Selma (2014) and is currently the Jazz Artistic Director at The John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. The scope of Moran’s partnerships and music-making with venerated and iconic visual artists is extensive. He has collaborated with such major figures as Adrian Piper, Joan Jonas, Glenn Ligon, Stan Douglas, Adam Pendleton, Lorna Simpson, and Kara Walker; commissioning institutions of Moran’s work include the Walker Art Center, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Dia Art Foundation, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

In fall of 2015, Da Camera launched Homecoming, a multi-year residency with Moran, presented in partnership with the University of Houston’s Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts. Moran is leading activities engaging Houston’s historic Third and Fourth Ward communities. Moran’s residency features in-school and community programs with his ensemble The Bandwagon, focusing on an exploration of the interconnected relationships between jazz, neighborhood, community and visual art.

Related Links

Learn more here.