This March, The National Jazz Museum in Harlem continues to offer a wide range of top quality free programming and affordable concerts from jazz’s most celebrated musicians, educators and historians. For Harlem Speaks, our flagship public program of oral histories, we have two brilliant and fresh voices on the scene: pianist Matthew Shipp and bassist Ben Williams. It’s a rare chance to hear them talk at length about the whats and whys of their lives. Jazz for Curious Listeners will be celebrating Women in Jazz in honor of Women’s History Month by featuring some of the music’s most vital, and in some cases, overlooked talents. Our Saturday Panel this month will feature an afternoon honoring Ethel Waters, the iconic American singer and actress, who was at the root of jazz singing and whose contributions deserve continued attention. At Harlem in the Himalayas, our longtime series presented at the Rubin Museum of Art, we’ll have an evening with the new music of the Linda Oh Trio. We hope to see you, your family and friends at as many of our events as you can make during this exciting month at The National Jazz Museum in Harlem. You’re bound to meet other similarly exciting, interesting and vital people – like yourselves!  Friday, March 2, 2012 Harlem in the HimalayasLinda Oh Trio7:00pmLocation: Rubin Museum of Art(150 West 17th Street)$18 in advance | $20 at door |For tickets: RMA Box Officeor call 212-620-5000 ext. 344Linda Oh, bassAmbrose Akinmusire trumpet Tommy Crane drums Born in Malaysia, raised in Western Australia, now living in New York City, Linda Oh is an active bassist and composer. Linda has performed with the likes of Dave Douglas, Kenny Barron, Steve Wilson, Slide Hampton, Kevin Hayes and Cyrus Chestnut. She has received many awards such as an ASCAP Young Jazz  Composer’s award in 2008, 2nd place at the BASS2010 Competition, an honorary mention at the 2009 Thelonious Monk Bass Competition and the 2010 Bell Award for Young Australian Artist of the Year. After graduating from Manhattan School of Music, she released her debut trio album "Entry" with Obed Calvaire on drums and Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet, which received some critical attention. Her second album “Initial Here” is to be released in 2012 features a quartet with Dayna Stephens on tenor sax, Fabian Almazan on piano and Rudy Royston on drums with special guest Jen Shyu on Vocals.Linda has written for large and small ensembles as well as for film, also participating in the BMI Film Composers Workshop. She also has a project with a jazz quartet/string quartet. Her trio will feature Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet and Tommy Crane on drums. Tuesday March 6, 2012Jazz for Curious Listeners                                                                     Women In Jazz Lil Hardin Armstrong: From Fisk to Jazz7:00 – 8:30pmLocation:NJMH Visitors Center(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300 Lillian Hardin was Louis Armstrong’s wife during the years he made the transition from sideman to leader, and by his own accounts, was the primary motivating factor in that evolution. But what is largely forgotten is her own story, her classical training at the Fisk University, her compositional and piano skills, and her place in the story of women in America. Join us for an evening co-hosted by Chris Albertson, eminent jazz historian and close friend of Lil’s.Tuesday, March 13, 2012Jazz for Curious ListenersWomen In JazzIn Good Time, The Piano Jazz of Marian McPartland: A Film by Huey7:00 – 8:30pm   Location: Maysles Cinema(343 Lenox Avenue between 127th & 128th)Donation Suggested | For more information: 212-582-6050Hosted by the film’s producer/director, Huey                                                                                In Good Time, The Piano Jazz of Marian McPartland, documents the life and career of jazz legend Marian McPartland as a musician, composer, and host of National Public Radio’s MarianMcPartland’s Piano Jazz. A native of England, McPartland arrived in America in 1948 with her husband Jimmy McPartland and established herself as a leading musician in the male dominated jazz world. Now 93, McPartland tells her own story through interviews filmed over 4 years. The film features McPartland’s own musical compositions and piano improvisations.She is seen performing and regaling audiences with her wit and stories in clubs, concerts, and Piano Jazz recording sessions with Dr. Billy Taylor, Elvis Costello, Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall, Bill Frisell, Nnenna Freelon, Renee Rosnes, Dick Hyman, and others.Thursday, March 15, 2012Harlem SpeaksMatthew Shipp, Pianist 6:30 – 8:30pmLocation: NJMH Visitors Center(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300Matthew Shipp was born December 7, 1960 in Wilmington, Delaware. He started piano at 5 years old with the regular piano lessons most kids have experienced. He fell in love with jazz at 12 years old. After moving to New York in 1984 he quickly became one of the leading lights in the New York jazz scene. He was a sideman in the David S. Ware quartet and also for Roscoe Mitchell’s Note Factory before making the decision to concentrate on his own music. Mr. Shipp has reached the holy grail of jazz in that he possesses a unique style on his instrument that is all of his own- and he’s one of the few in jazz that can say so. Mr. Shipp has recorded a lot of albums with many labels but his 2 most enduring relationships have been with two labels. In the 1990s he recorded a number of chamber jazz CDs with Hatology, a group of CDs that charted a new course for jazz that, to this day, the jazz world has not realized. In the 2000s Mr. Shipp has been curator and director of the label Thirsty Ear’s “Blue Series” and has also recorded for them. In this collection of recordings he has generated a whole body of work that is visionary, far reaching and many faceted.Saturday, March 17, 2012 Saturday PanelsHer Eye Was On The Sparrow: An Afternoon with Ethel Waters12:00 – 4:00pm   Location: NJMH Visitors Center(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300Join Artistic Director Loren Schoenberg for film and recordings of the iconic American singer and actress Ethel Waters. Long before Diana Ross, Lena Horne and Billie Holiday, Ethel Waters was acting, singing and influencing American minds about her plight as an African-American woman born in the 19th century. Her art remains supreme, and we’ll trace with film, word and music her incredible life. Don’t miss this afternoon spent with one of the great artists America has produced.Tuesday, March 20, 2012Jazz for Curious ListenersWomen In JazzThe Sweethearts of Rhythm: An Amazing Journey7:00 – 8:30pm   Location: NJMH Visitors Center(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300                                                                                The story of the “all-girl” bands of the Swing Era remains a vital part of not only jazz’s development but of the story of sexism, racism and societal attitudes in 20th century America. We will look at archival and documentary film as well as talk with experts in the field about this dynamic and innovative band that left a trail of change everywhere they went.Tuesday, March 27, 2012Jazz for Curious ListenersWomen In Jazz: Jacquie “Tajah” Murdock: One in a Million7:00 – 8:30pm   Location: NJMH Visitors Center(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300                                                                                 Tajah, as she is known professionally, was born in Harlem, danced with Count Basie’s band at the Apollo Theater, worked with many legends of Black Broadway, including Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle, and is herself a prime motivational speaker and historian of American culture. Known to the NJMH family for her steadfast support and spirit, this evening will give Tajah a chance to tell her own fascinating history and to engage in conversation with our audience. This is one evening you will not want to miss, because Tajah is a treasure.Thursday, March 29, 2012Harlem SpeaksBen Williams, Bassist 6:30 – 8:30pmLocation: NJMH Visitors Center(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300On the eve of his first CD, State of Art, Ben Williams is one of the most sought after bassists in the world, his resume a who’s who of jazz wisdom:  Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Terence Blanchard, Christian McBride Big Band, Nicholas Payton, Paquito D’Rivera, Cyrus Chestnut, Benny Golson, George Duke, Eric Reed, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roy Hargrove, and Mulgrew Miller, to name a few.Ben’s warm, woody tone, flowing groove, melodic phrasing, and storytelling approach has found favor among musicians, but also a larger audience.  A bandleader, musical educator, composer, and electric and acoustic bassist, Ben was the winner of the 2009 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition, a prestigious and important award that has propelled many a promising career. Working with New York’s finest jazz musicians even before graduating from Juilliard, Williams showcased his band, Sound Effect, at The Jazz Gallery in New York. Williams has recorded and performed regularly as a member of bands led by saxophonist Marcus Strickland, pianist Jacky Terrasson, and vibraphonist Stefon Harris. He’s led his own groups at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Harlem Stage, Rubin Museum of Art, Tribeca PAC in New York City, and SPAC in Saratoga Springs, NY. State of Art signals Williams’ emergence as a prominent voice in the greater jazz community.