The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) invites you to join us for Jazz at the Kramer! A music series in partnership with Paul Carr’s Jazz Academy of Music presenting a free evening of jazz at the Betty Mae Kramer Gallery & Music Room on the second Wednesday of every month.
Admission is FREE but advanced registration is required due to limited capacity. Kindly be aware that reservations are limited to 2 tickets per person. For group reservations, feel free to contact us directly at publicart@creativemoco.com.
** Please Note: Outside food and beverages are not permitted in the gallery with the exception of water.
Second Wednesdays: Jazz at the Kramer featuring Vocalist Sharón Clark and Pianist Chris Grasso
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Second Wednesdays: Jazz at the Kramer featuring Bhagwan Khalsa on Bass + Eric Byrd on Piano and Chris Latona on Piano + Andrew Latona on Guitar.
Jazz at the Kramer
Event Listing
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
*NEW START TIME* 6:30 p.m. at the Betty Mae Kramer Gallery and Music Room
Join us for a night of jazz featuring jazz vocalist Iva Jean Ambush, aka “Scat Lady”, and pianist, composer and instructor Jon Ozment.
May Musicians
Iva Jean Ambush
Iva Jean Ambush, affectionately known as the “Scat Lady,” is a celebrated jazz vocalist whose performances embody the essence of syncopation—blending voice, rhythm, and phrasing into a seamless conversation with her audience. This year, Iva presents the “Ladies of Jazz” show, a stunning homage to iconic performers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Peggy Lee. With her captivating stage presence and unique scat style, Iva will breathe new life into timeless classics, honoring the enduring influence of these legendary women while showcasing her own artistry.
As the recent winner of the prestigious Billie Holiday Competition, Iva has graced renowned stages across the globe, leaving an indelible mark on the jazz world. Her performance credits include international venues like Le Duc des Lombards in France and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, as well as iconic U.S. stages such as Birdland (NYC), Blues Alley (Washington, DC), Keystone Korner (Baltimore), and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She has appeared at major festivals, including the DC Jazz Festival, Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, East Coast Jazz Festival, and Frederick’s In the Streets Festival. Locally, she has performed at Alice’s Jazz and Cultural Society, The Cellar in Newnan, GA, Jazz Night at Westminster DC, and The Third Door, among others. Her talent has also been highlighted in Frederick’s Baker Park 4th of July Celebration for multiple years, WPFW 89.3’s Live @ 5, and International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences.
Born into a family of jazz luminaries, Iva’s musical roots run deep. Her maternal relatives include the late trumpeter Lester Bowie, saxophonist/composer Byron Bowie, and guitarist Jonathan Townes, while her paternal lineage boasts bassist Scott Ambush of Spyro Gyra and pianist Allen Ambush.She also draws inspiration from mentors such as Sheila Jordan, Dr. Horace Boyer, and Ronnie Wells, Iva has honed her craft under their guidance, delving deeply into jazz phrasing and rhythms. She has also been Influenced by legends, such as, Paul Carr, Prof. Charles Ellison, the late Dr. Frederick Tillis, Dr. Billy Taylor, and Dr. Yusef Lateef.
Currently, Iva is working on two highly anticipated recordings. “I Am Jazz” pays homage to her family’s musical legacy with a fusion of jazz, gospel, funk, and soul, while “Mosaic Voices of Four Women” celebrates the lives and contributions of Abbey Lincoln, Lena Horne, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Nina Simone. Through these projects and her live performances, Iva continues to demonstrate why the voice remains the ultimate instrument of syncopation—an instrument, a language, and a means of connection.
Follow Iva on Instagram!
Jon Ozment
Pianist Jon Ozment is a performer, instructor, composer and arranger. He has a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park, and also pursued private study with Paul Bley. Jon has appeared on numerous recordings, has performed in concerts with Jon Faddis, Bobby Hutcherson, Al Jarreau, Nneena Freelon, Frank Foster, Clark Terry, Frank Wess, Chuck Brown, Curtis Fuller, John Handy, and Larry Ridley, and has toured nationally with Marlena Shaw, Miki Howard, Rain Pryor, Kim Waters, and the Blackbyrds. Throughout ’97-’99 Jon toured the States and Europe with saxophonist Maceo Parker; he also performed and recorded for 20 years with local sax legend Roger ‘Buck’ Hill. Jon is currently Adjunct Professor of Jazz Piano at the University of Maryland in College Park and at the American University.