About us.....

Washington Heights jazz musicians/educators Louise Rogers and Mark Kross founded Jazz WaHi in 2014 as a resource for jazz performance and music education in their neighborhood. Its mission: to bring jazz music to a diverse local audience, and to expand that audience through performances and educational opportunities in accessible neighborhood settings, inviting community members of all backgrounds to appreciate jazz as a living, breathing, evolving tradition. Jazz WaHi became a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation in August 2019.

Board of Directors

Louise Rogers President Artistic Director

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.

Mark Kross Treasurer Managing Director

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
Aimée Allen
John Albin
Chidiebere Emmanuel
Santiago Grullón
As a practicing attorney, Aimée Allen brings her legal experience and expertise to the Jazz WaHi Board. But in her real life, she has been a Jazz vocalist/composer/lyricist as part of the New York City jazz scene for over 20 years, performing regularly there and touring in the U.S. and abroad. Prior to settling in New York, she lived in Paris and performed there with her own projects. She has independently released six critically acclaimed albums under her own name and appeared as a guest artist on others. Her album Love and the Catalyst was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album – Vocal. An accomplished composer, her original music has been licensed for feature film and network television and her songs have been recognized in The International Songwriting Competition and The Annual U.S.A. Songwriting Competition. Aimée has sung with many renowned musicians including Romero Lubambo, Ron McClure, Roswell Rudd, Ari Hoenig, Joel Frahm, François Moutin, and Yomo Toro. She has appeared as a Rising Star jazz vocalist on Downbeat Magazine’s Annual Critics Poll. Aimée was recently awarded a Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant to write new original music.
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.
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!