A hundred years ago, New York City pulsed to the rhythms of the Jazz Age. Harlem’s clubs were alive with the sounds of jazz greats like Louie "Satchmo" Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Edward “Duke" Ellington, — the infectious energy of a music revolution.
Today, that same spirit is being rekindled—not as nostalgia, but as a movement for a new century—by Jazz Power Initiative, a nonprofit that’s turning studios and concert halls in upper Manhattan into incubators of creativity, community, and inclusion with educational programs and concerts.
Founded by jazz pianist and composer Eli Yamin (affectionately known to students as Dr. E), Jazz Power Initiative has been introducing thousands of New Yorkers — ages 8 to 80+ — to the joy of jazz through music, theater and dance education. Their mission is simple yet profound: to help people make friends with jazz and in jazz.
“We want the powerful, uplifting and transformational culture of jazz and blues music to be widely accessible to everyone, especially in underserved areas,” Eli said. “There just isn’t enough of that going on.”
A steady beat of support
Since opening its first account at TD Bank’s Inwood Manhattan store 22 years ago when it came into being, Jazz Power Initiative has received banking and community support from TD. The volunteering efforts of TD colleagues have helped the organization to continue to scale its reach and impact.
The results speak volumes:
- Nearly 7,000 young people engaged
- More than 225 performances
- 42,500 in-person attendees and another 80,000 via livestream
“They don’t just manage our accounts,” said Janny Gonzalez, the organization’s Senior Director of Business Affairs. “They help us sustain and grow our programs so we can offer more to the community.”
“TD’s relationship with the visionary Jazz Power Initiative organization has been a profound source of pride and inspiration for more than two decades,” said Ralph Bumbaca, Regional President of Metro New York, TD Bank. “Their unwavering dedication to uplift diverse voices and foster more inclusive communities through arts education in underserved areas aligns deeply with TD’s values. We are proud to continue supporting Jazz Power Initiative’s mission.”
Bridging past and present
Jazz Power Initiative connects Harlem and its neighboring communities of Washington Heights and Inwood to the music’s deep roots, born in New Orleans from marching bands, spirituals and the blues, and then flourishing in Harlem’s legendary clubs in the 1920s and ’30s.
While the names of jazz greats still echo in history books, many young people in the neighborhood have never experienced jazz firsthand. The Jazz Power Initiative changes that—giving them the tools to explore, remix and reimagine jazz in ways that resonate with today’s music, from hip hop to spoken word.
“It’s like a lightbulb turns on,” Eli said. “They start making connections and get drawn in.”
The students don’t just learn—they share, performing for their communities and even presenting original works like Nora’s Ark, the jazz musical, a production about finding common ground with people you don’t necessarily like but need to work with to address urgent global problems.
“We celebrate Jazz Power Initiative and their work to bring jazz education and music performance to our neighborhoods,” said Marcus Gonzales, Community Business Development Officer in New York City, TD Bank. “Their educational program fosters community, creativity and confidence, underscoring TD’s commitment to enriching lives and connecting communities.”
The lessons go beyond music. Student Sula Fox said her experience was learning “how to use my body and voice to spread hope and messages through movement and song.” For Kali Bass, it was “finding my own spark in any group, no matter the age or background.”
This isn’t just about preserving jazz—it’s about powering the next movement, one note, one beat, one person at a time.
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