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
 |
 |
 |
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, October 08, 2025
*NEW START TIME* 6:30 pm at the Betty Mae Kramer Gallery and Music Room
Important Update: Lineup Change
We apologize for any inconvenience and truly appreciate your understanding. All tickets remain valid, and we look forward to seeing you tonight.
Thank you for your continued support.
Join us for a night of jazz featuring pianist vocalist Gracie Jay, guitarist Parker Speirs, and pianist Ben Merliss.
October Musicians
Ryan Hanseler
Pianist & composer Ryan Hanseler has been featured with top performing artists including Branford Marsalis, Herlin Riley, Wessel Anderson, Delfeayo Marsalis, Adonis Rose, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jazzmeia Horn, Jason Marsalis, Cyrille Aimee and more.
Hanseler’s heavy rhythmic expression and commitment to melodic invention has contributed to an international demand leading to tours in over twenty countries. For the past several years, much of Hanseler’s touring has been alongside artistic director of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, drummer Adonis Rose.
For Hanseler’s most recent group, the Ryan Hanseler Trio + 1, creativity has proved to be limitless as the group explores its own compositions, deeply rooted in the lineage of New Orleans, Thelonious Monk, Betty Carter, AFO and other paramount figures in the realm of Black American Music.
Hanseler recently released his latest album, Four, a duo recording featuring friends and mentors Leroy Jones, Nicholas Payton, Doyle Cooper and Ricardo Pascal. His previous album, Live at Snug! received the Off-Beat Top Fifty Artist award in New Orleans where it was recorded.
Currently, Ryan Hanseler is the pianist for the Navy Commodores Big Band in Washington D.C where he resides. He is a graduate of North Carolina Central University where he studied under the guidance of Dr.Ira Wiggins, Branford Marsalis and Joey Calderazzo.
Follow Ryan on Instagram!
Gracie Jay
Multi-talented arranger and vocalist, Gracie Jay has performed and recorded with artists including Cyrille Aimee, Nicholas Payton, Camille Thurman, Jamison Ross, and more. Her written works have been performed by groups including the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Next Generation Big Band, and the New Guard Big Band. Part of a rare, niche category of talented female vocalists, Gracie is a powerful force on stage, simultaneously writing and arranging for the same large ensembles she masterfully sings for.
In addition to her success as an arranger and jazz vocalist, Gracie works on a number of side projects including her role as the lead singer for the Colorado-based band, J-Calvin, The New Guard Big Band in Phoenix, AZ, and of course her own solo and group projects. Hired for her diverse artistic contributions, Gracie is known for elevating every group she’s invited to. Performances with these groups include Carnegie Hall, Tuscon Jazz Festival, French Quarter Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival, DC Jazz Festival, and more.
Gracie received her Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance and Professional Music from Berklee College of Music. In 2020, she received her Master’s degree in Arranging and Composition from North Carolina Central University under the tutelage of Joey Calderazzo, Branford Marsalis, and Brian Horton.
William “MoBetta” Ledbetter
William “MoBetta” Ledbetter, a native of Hampton, Virginia, is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in the upright bass. He graduated from UNCG Miles Davis Jazz Studies program in 2019, where he studied double bass and blended jazz with his foundations in the Blues, Gospel, and R&B. In December 2021, Ledbetter joined the U.S. Navy Band Commodores becoming their first African American bassist. Before joining the Navy, he played with The Piedmont Triad Jazz Orchestra, The Camel City Jazz Orchestra, and the John Coltrane All-Stars.
Anyone who has worked with or heard “MoBetta” knows that he is a driving force while performing. His drive and love for music and performance has captured the attention of many world-renowned artist. Ledbetter has worked with a plethora of artists including, Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Sean Mason, and many more. He can be heard on Delfeayo latest album “Uptown on Mardi Gras Day”. He also performed at the historic Newport Jazz fest in 2023 with the Branford Marsalis Quartet
Follow William on Instagram!