As a 43 year veteran of the stage, I have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles across the globe sharing the magic and majesty of Jazz with humanity. From Carnegie Hall to the humble house concert I’ve seen first hand the difference it makes to a community to have a quality venue, a place of pride where they can create and hear music that energizes and uplifts, tell truth through song, sing the sorrows and the joys of the day out loud. The Durham Jazz Workshop is such a place - a rare jewel and model of what’s possible in a culture that preaches profit above all else. I could hardly believe my luck when, upon moving to Durham from NYC I found Dave and Valerie beginning to build a dream that would benefit everyone lucky enough to cross its threshold in the ten years it’s been operating.
Having watched many great jazz rooms of NYC rise and fall, I want to warn that we must not for a moment take for granted the Herculean efforts it takes to grow a garden like this that feeds so many artists, so many hungry listeners, so many young people that need the direction and growth that musical skill can provide. I truly don’t know if I’ve seen a place run with such wisdom, savvy, warmth and passion. I urge you to join me in supporting The Durham Jazz Workshop, Support it with your time as a volunteer, with your dollars, with your presence at the shows. Durham would be a poorer place without it. THANK YOU DAVE AND VALERIE and Congratulations on 10 amazing years!!!
In gratitude,
Kate McGarry
3x Grammy nominee,
Downbeat Critics Poll Winner,
State Dept Jazz Ambassador
former faculty Manhattan School of Music
Having watched many great jazz rooms of NYC rise and fall, I want to warn that we must not for a moment take for granted the Herculean efforts it takes to grow a garden like this that feeds so many artists, so many hungry listeners, so many young people that need the direction and growth that musical skill can provide. I truly don’t know if I’ve seen a place run with such wisdom, savvy, warmth and passion. I urge you to join me in supporting The Durham Jazz Workshop, Support it with your time as a volunteer, with your dollars, with your presence at the shows. Durham would be a poorer place without it. THANK YOU DAVE AND VALERIE and Congratulations on 10 amazing years!!!
In gratitude,
Kate McGarry
3x Grammy nominee,
Downbeat Critics Poll Winner,
State Dept Jazz Ambassador
former faculty Manhattan School of Music
"Congratulations to Dave Finucane and Valerie Courreges. As the December, 2022 10th anniversary of the Durham Jazz Workshop and Sharp 9 Gallery approaches, I wanted to speak to the importance of this cultural treasure in three distinctive voices.
As a trumpeter, I am extremely excited for each opportunity I have to step on the Sharp 9 stage to perform. Whether in the context of an North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra concert, or as leader of the Jim Ketch Swingtet, or as a sideman performing in support of a colleague’s creative efforts, I know that I am sharing my artistry with people who have come out to listen to jazz. The Sharp 9 audience cares about the music, the musicians, and the people sharing the same listening space. This level of musical intimacy is a treasured gift and one to be held up for recognition and celebration.
As an educator, I take great pride in the fact that the Durham Jazz Workshop is nurturing young musicians, highly achieving high school and college musicians, and adult musicians reconnecting with former musical passions. The cohort of faculty instructors is simply superb and the expanded venue can handle multiple classes simultaneously. Every time one of our young musicians achieves a goal, whether it be educational (graduation, acceptance into a program), or performance (placement in statewide, regional, and national programs), our Sharp 9 community wells up with pride.
As a member of the Board of Directors of the Durham Jazz Workshop, I find working with Dave and Valerie to be both an honor and privilege. These two are no strangers to the arts and arts management. Resulting from their tireless efforts, and the efforts of the most dedicated group of volunteers I have ever witnessed, they have created a venue that is, in my opinion, the finest jazz listening venue in the state of North Carolina. Word is quickly reaching beyond both the walls of the Research Triangle, and the borders of the state. In years to come, the Sharp 9 will welcome more jazz artists that travel up and down the Atlantic seaboard, making touring a bit easier for musicians and broadening our NC jazz experience in the process.
Won’t you join me in support of this cultural treasure in our NC backyard!
Warmest congratulations Dave and Valerie,"
Jim Ketch
Music Director and Trumpet (NCJRO and Swingtet)
Emeritus Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies, UNC-Chapel Hill
Member of the Board of Directors, Durham Jazz Workshop
As a trumpeter, I am extremely excited for each opportunity I have to step on the Sharp 9 stage to perform. Whether in the context of an North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra concert, or as leader of the Jim Ketch Swingtet, or as a sideman performing in support of a colleague’s creative efforts, I know that I am sharing my artistry with people who have come out to listen to jazz. The Sharp 9 audience cares about the music, the musicians, and the people sharing the same listening space. This level of musical intimacy is a treasured gift and one to be held up for recognition and celebration.
As an educator, I take great pride in the fact that the Durham Jazz Workshop is nurturing young musicians, highly achieving high school and college musicians, and adult musicians reconnecting with former musical passions. The cohort of faculty instructors is simply superb and the expanded venue can handle multiple classes simultaneously. Every time one of our young musicians achieves a goal, whether it be educational (graduation, acceptance into a program), or performance (placement in statewide, regional, and national programs), our Sharp 9 community wells up with pride.
As a member of the Board of Directors of the Durham Jazz Workshop, I find working with Dave and Valerie to be both an honor and privilege. These two are no strangers to the arts and arts management. Resulting from their tireless efforts, and the efforts of the most dedicated group of volunteers I have ever witnessed, they have created a venue that is, in my opinion, the finest jazz listening venue in the state of North Carolina. Word is quickly reaching beyond both the walls of the Research Triangle, and the borders of the state. In years to come, the Sharp 9 will welcome more jazz artists that travel up and down the Atlantic seaboard, making touring a bit easier for musicians and broadening our NC jazz experience in the process.
Won’t you join me in support of this cultural treasure in our NC backyard!
Warmest congratulations Dave and Valerie,"
Jim Ketch
Music Director and Trumpet (NCJRO and Swingtet)
Emeritus Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies, UNC-Chapel Hill
Member of the Board of Directors, Durham Jazz Workshop
"Sharp Nine is intimate and special - one of the best “listening room” in the Triangle! Whether it’s a solo performance or a big band concert, you experience every musical nuance". —--Lois Deloatch Gomes
“The Durham Jazz Workshop is the sanctuary of jazz in the Triangle. Acclaimed professional musicians bring enthusiasm and experience to students who learn not only about history and theory but also the nuances of jazz’s improvisatory traditions. There is no better jazz venue for students, performers, and listeners in the area than the DJW.” Adithya Vaidhyan
“The Durham Jazz Workshop was the best jazz venue that I could imagine having access to as a high school student. From my time in big bands, combos, and playing gigs at the Sharp Nine, DJW is a great way to get access to the professional music scene” - Fred Larson
“ I have played at The Sharp Nine Gallery many times with some incredible musicians over the last ten years, and every time has been a pure joy. Dave, Valerie and the staff there do a wonderful job of taking care of the musicians and making sure that the music sounds top notch. I love to play there! “ - Ron Brendle
"I credit Dave and the Durham Jazz Workshop for where I am today as a musician living and working in Philly. The workshop was full of inspiring mentors and peers and it was a great place to hang and talk about music. Dave and everyone at the workshop has been nothing but welcoming and generous with the space at the workshop. In my opinion it is the best place for jazz education and live jazz in the triangle." - Andrew Long
"The Durham Jazz Workshop offered me a community of talented young people where learning and growing as a musician was the focus. I’m very grateful to have shared the stage and built relationships with many incredible individuals as I went through the program." - Jakob Bower