Welcome to Hudson Jazzworks
We offer the Hudson Jazz Workshop, a weekend immersion in Jazz improvisation in a supportive and focused atmosphere conducive to intensive study and mutual encouragement, through individual and group instruction, jam sessions and a faculty/student concert, with two of today's leading practitioners of duo playing, Armen Donelian and Marc Mommaas.
2025 Summer Program
SUMMER 19th Annual HUDSON JAZZ WORKSHOP SUMMER INTENSIVE
On September 31 through August 3, 2025
For 2025 the program will include live participants who will attend the workshops, masterclass and performance . On August 3rd, two events - a Master Class with a special guest and the HJW Concert at the Hudson Opera House in Hudson, NY.
Armen Donelian
An experienced educator and artist of distinction. Sideman, Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Mongo Santamaria et. al. Pianist/composer/producer, 13 recordings with world-class musicians including Eddie Gomez, Billy Hart and Dick Oatts featuring penetrating originals, enduring folk songs of Armenia and classic American standards. Performer/bandleader/lecturer in 23 countries. Author, Training the Ear Vol. 1 & 2 and Whole Notes: A Piano Masterclass. Awards, Fulbright Scholar (5 countries), NEA Jazz Fellow (6-times). Faculty, New School (since 1986) and Wm. Paterson University (since 1993). Graduate, Westchester Conservatory of Music, Columbia University. Private studies, Richie Beirach (Jazz piano), Harold Seletsky (Schoenberg harmony and counterpoint), Ludmila Ulehla (advanced harmonic analysis), Michael Pollon (Classical piano), and Carl Bamberger (conducting).
Marc Mommaas
A gifted communicator and strong presence in today’s global Jazz scene. Saxophonist, Cum Laude graduate Manhattan School of Music, William Borden Award recipient, international guest lecturer at MSM , NYU, William Paterson University, Rhythmic Music Conservatory/Denmark and the Conservatory of Amsterdam, co-director of the New York Jazz Workshop, faculty member of the New School NYC, bandleader of his celebrated formation Global Motion and composer of innovative works featured on Global Motion, Balance and Landmarc (Sunnyside Records), a tour de force solo saxophone recording "irreversible momentum", the celebrated "Ballads and Standards" including Nikolaj hess, Vic Juris and Thomas Morgan. In the fall of 2022 Sunnyside records will release Mommaas' newest release, 'the Impressionist', compositions inspired by the French impressionist composer Gabriel Fauré which includes Gary Versace, Nate Radley and Jay Anderson. As a side-man he can be heard with the quintet and duo of Armen Donelian, the sextet of Amina Figarova, the quintet of Tony Moreno, the quintet of Sebastian Noelle and the octet and quintet of Tim Horner/Ron Horton. In 2023 two releases will come out, the music of Andrew Hill lead by Ron Horton and a collaboration between Kenny Wessel and Jay Anderson.
Hudson Jazz Workshop is in collaboration with:
Special guest Summer Intensive Steve Cardenas- Sunday Aug.3, 2025
Guitarist Steve Cardenas began his musical career in Kansas City and has been an integral part of the New York City jazz community since 1995.
Steve has performed and recorded with many well-known and highly esteemed musicians. Notably, he was a longstanding member of the Paul Motian Electric Bebop Band, Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra, the Steve Swallow Quintet, as well as Joey Baron's, Killer Joey. Steve is currently a member of the Ben Allison Band, John Patitucci Electric Guitar Quartet, Jon Cowherd Mercy Project and Adam Nussbaum Lead Belly Project. He has also performed with such diverse artists as Claude "Fiddler" Williams, Paul McCandless, Madeleine Peyroux, Norah Jones, Eliane Elias and Marc Johnson. Steve has toured extensively throughout Europe, North and South America and Asia, performing at international music festivals, theaters and clubs. He also leads his own group and has released seven recordings as a leader. Healing Power - The Music Of Carla Bley is Steve's latest release, in an ongoing trio collaboration with Ben Allison and Ted Nash, on Sunnyside Records.
Steve is also a well-respected educator. He is on faculty at The New School For Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City where he directs the Thelonious Monk Ensemble, Improv Ensemble and the Guitar Duos class, as well as offering individual lessons. He has also been on faculty at the California Institute of the Arts, Siena Summer Jazz Workshop, Begues Jazz Camp, Segunda Residencia Antonio Sánchez, Alternative Guitar Summit Camp, Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony, Stanford Jazz Workshop and Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music.
