Conversations About Jazz Turns Spotlight On Producers On December 10

Hammonds House Digital invites you to join us for Conversations about Jazz & Other Distractions hosted by former jazz radio host and founder of Notorious Jazz, Carl Anthony. On Thursday, December 10 at 7:30 pm (EST), Carl’s special guests will be some of the industry’s top Producers: Leatrice Ellzy Wright, Executive Director of Hammonds House Museum; Sunny Sumter, Executive Producer of the DC Jazz Festival; and Laura Greer, Senior Producer for The Apollo Theater.  This is the last Conversations About Jazz for the year. The program is free and will stream live on Hammonds House  Museum’s Facebook and YouTube.

Leatrice Ellzy Wright is a curator, producer, thinker, and fan of disruption. She is the Executive Director of Hammonds House Museum where she curates and produces art exhibitions, as well as cultural and music programming. Her unique skill set has been developed over 29 years of migrating through non-profit management and development, broadcast, media relations, arts presenting and technology. Her arts management and administration experience developed through work at Woodruff Arts Center and the National Black Arts Festival (NBAF). She produced for NBAF from 2002-2005. In 2005 she was hired to manage the organization’s artistic programming and later became the organization’s 5th Artistic Director. More info HERE.

Sunny Sumter is the Executive Director of the DC Jazz Festival, a nonprofit service organization established in 2004 to present jazz-related cultural and educational programs in the nation’s capital. Its signature programs are the annual DC JazzFest held each June, the year-round DC Jazz Festival Education Program; and the Charles Fishman Embassy Series. Prior to her tenure at the DC Jazz Festival, Sumter held management/director positions with the Aspen Institute, National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. Sumter earned her bachelor’s degree in music business from Howard University where she minored in jazz voice. More info HERE.

Laura Greer is the Senior Producer for The Apollo Theater where she has served for more than a decade overseeing the performing arts, education, and community programs of the historic theater. Prior to her current position, Greer was the Associate Producer at the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Georgia (1999-2005) where she was responsible for the artistic and production oversight of the annual festival. She has also served as the Director of Programming at 651 Arts at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Majestic Theater, specializing in works grounded in the African Diaspora and held various leadership positions at Aaron Davis Hall at City College of New York (1985-1998).

Hammonds House Museum is generously supported by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Fulton County Arts and Culture, the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, The National Performance Network, AT&T and WarnerMedia.

Hammonds House Museum’s mission is to celebrate and share the cultural diversity and important legacy of artists of African descent. The museum is the former residence of the late Dr. Otis Thrash Hammonds, a prominent Atlanta physician and a passionate arts patron. A 501(c)3 organization which opened in 1988, Hammonds House Museum boasts a permanent collection of more than 450 works including art by Romare Bearden, Robert S. Duncanson, Benny Andrews, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, Hale Woodruff, Amalia Amaki, Radcliffe Bailey and Kojo Griffin. In addition to featuring art from their collection, the museum offers new exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, concerts, poetry readings, arts education programs, and other cultural events throughout the year. 

Located in a beautiful Victorian home in Atlanta’s historic West End, Hammonds House Museum is a cultural treasure and a unique venue. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they continue to observe CDC guidelines, but look forward to welcoming in-person visitors soon!  For more information about upcoming virtual events, and to see how you can support their mission and programming, visit their website: hammondshouse.org.

MEDIA Contact Karen Hatchett at Hatchett PR, karen@hatchettpr.com