About Us

Jazz WaHi expands access to jazz in Washington Heights by presenting free and low-cost performances and educational programs in accessible neighborhood venues. We serve diverse, multigenerational audiences, helping them experience jazz as a living, evolving art form.

Founded in 2014 by jazz musicians and educators Louise Rogers and Mark Kross, Jazz WaHi addresses the lack of local jazz programming while building community connection through music.

We became a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit in 2019.

Leadership

  • Artistic Director/Board Member

    Louise Rogers has a voice that has been described as “pure and incandescent, free of affectation or obvious influence. Rather like a moonbeam transported from a distant solar system...” (Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times). As an influential figure within the jazz world, ​her contributions extend beyond the realms of performance to the critical domain of education. ​Her body of work, inclusive of ​six albums, one under Chesky Records and f​ive under ​her own imprint, serves as a testament to ​her artistic capabilities. Noted jazz critic, Nat Hentoff, has underscored ​her efforts in audience development for jazz as "the most joyously encouraging way of expanding the audience for jazz". ​ Her commitment to jazz does not end at performance. It extends into fostering the musical growth of aspiring jazz talents across all age groups. From children to adults, ​her work in education is as significant as ​her contributions on stage, ensuring the continuity and vitality of jazz for future generations.

  • Managing Director, Board President

    Pianist, composer, educator, and bandleader Mark Kross moved to New York City in 2014 after having been a fixture on the Boston jazz scene for well over thirty years. Of his playing, Ray Murphy in the Boston Globe wrote "Mark Kross digs hard with a bright contemporary piano style with Monkish bop influences," while The Jazz Review's Scott Yanow maintains that "Kross' swinging piano...is certainly worthy of our attention." Downbeat’s Fred Bouchard asserts that "His compositions are consistently intriguing...a straight-ahead exploration that is nonetheless a quantum leap from bebop… Paul Klee set to music." Mark has studied with Jaki Byard, George Russell, Fred Hersch, Joanne Brackeen, and Ezra Laderman; he holds a Master of Music degree in Afro-American Studies from the New England Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from SUNY Binghamton. He was the Head of the Music Department at the Middlesex School, an independent high school in Concord, MA, from 2006-2014. Mark has released five CD’s with his band, The Mark Kross Five-Piece Trio

“Louise Rogers and Mark Kross are a power couple at the forefront of jazz in Washington Heights.” — Elijah Shiffer, The New York City Jazz Record

Board of Directors

  • Ronald practices both law and the saxophone. He is a solo practicing attorney working on trust, wills, and estates for families, as well as commercial contract review for small business owners. Previously, he worked at JP Morgan Chase, doing legal compliance. His volunteer work includes working with the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and the Friends of the Coltrane Home in Dix Hills (where John Coltrane wrote “A Love Supreme”). He is a Board Member for the St. John’s University School of Law Alumni of Color Chapter. Ronald loves jazz and live music and is committed to supporting community-based music. He loves to collect records (vinyl) and has a robust collection of jazz, R&B, and foreign records. Fun fact: he and Mark Kross played in the same college jazz band (Binghamton University), but several decades apart.

  • Board Secretary

    John Albin is a public administration professional with decades of experience in government, higher education, and non-profits. He is also a seasoned jazz and blues musician who has been performing at venues in New York and Europe since the early 1980s. John has been a board member since Jazz WaHi was formed and is also an active member of the Washington Heights jazz scene.

  • Hailing from Nigeria and now making waves in the vibrant music scene of New York City, Chidiebere Joseph Emmanuel is a percussionist whose beats resonate with cultural depth and artistic finesse. Under the tutelage of two esteemed Nigerian jazz icons, drummer Adewale Adeyemi and bass player Bright Gain, Emmanuel honed his craft, gracing stages including the prestigious Lagos International Jazz Festival. His musical journey led him to Idaho State University, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Commercial Music, broadening his horizons and enriching his repertoire. Immersed in the dynamic arts community, he served on the Board of the Pocatello Arts Council, nurturing his passion for both performance and advocacy. After deepening his understanding of jazz at New York University, where he earned a Master's degree in Jazz Studies under the mentorship of acclaimed drummer Ari Hoenig, Emmanuel continues to blend traditional rhythms with contemporary flair in every performance. Emmanuel is on the faculty at Five Towns College, is proudly sponsored by Canopus Drums, Bosphorus Cymbals, and Salyers Percussion Drumsticks.

  • Board Treasurer

    Santiago brings his love of jazz and Latin music, as well as his extensive experience in community engagement, economic analysis, and strategic planning, to the Jazz WaHi Board.

    He has been Senior Economic Analyst for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Senior Legislative Financial Analyst for the New York City Council, Budget and Financial Reporting Analyst for the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Professor of Economics at Mercy College, and Board Member at the Centro Cultural Orlando Martinez.

    Santiago holds a Ph.D. in Economics, and M.B.A. in Finance, and a B.B.A./B.A. in Accounting/Economics, but most importantly, he is a big fan and supporter of Jazz WaHi and can often be seen at Jazz WaHi events and other music events around the New York City!

Mark Kross, Louise Rogers

Chidiebere Emmanuel

John Albin

Santiago Grullón

Ronald Reid

In August 2025 we celebrated our 6th year as a non-profit corporation.

What six words describe
Jazz WaHi to you?

“Great, loud, nice, interesting, neighborhood tunes” - Nestor

“Best discovery of my parental leave” - Barry

click photo to listen

“The beat right up the street” - Michael

“Love at first sight inda Heights” - Saudy

“Jazz so close, far from ordinary” - Nicole

“Always great music in Washington Heights” - Mahazi

Our partners

Jazz WaHi’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.