GSA JAZZ NIGHTS
Since 2022, Justin Kauflin has served as a faculty member at the Governor's School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia, where he also curates and produces the Jazz Night Concert Series, providing free performances for students and the community. A special thanks goes to Jane Hotchkiss for supporting last year's lineup! To keep this series flourishing, we welcome donations and sincerely appreciate everyone who has contributed. While most concerts are held at the Governor’s School Miner Music Hall in Norfolk, VA we also utilized Old Dominion University's Choir room and The Roads Bistro restaurant in Virginia Beach.
It's been an exhilarating journey to perform alongside the musicians and friends who first introduced me to jazz and sharing this art form with the next generation. This year, we will be notifying folks via email, social media and 'word-of-mouth.' The event is free and walk-ins are welcome. The schedule for this year's line-up will be announced soon, so stay tuned!
2025-26
TBA SOON!
2024-25
The Music of Billy Strayhorn
The Jae Sinnett Trio
JK's Christmas Hang
The Music of Charles Mingus
Michael Hawkins & The Brotherhood
2023-24
Jimmy Masters Trio
Duo Pianos Toomey & Kauflin
Liz & Brydge w/Alan Parker
Thomas Fonnesbaek & Justin Kauflin
Eddie Williams Quartet
GSA Alumni
SHOWS
JULY 25, 2025 6-7 PM - Kennedy Center VSA "Mentor in Concert" WATCH
Past performances
CENTRAL AMERICA — Guanajuato, Mexico SOUTH AMERICA — Brazil | Teatro Coliseu CARIBBEAN ISLANDS — Dominican Republic | DR Jazz Fest CANADA — Ontario | Oscar Peterson Tribute Ontario | Bravo Niagara! Toronto | Royal Conservatory Belleville | Belleville Film Fest ASIA — UAE | Abu Dhabi Festival UAE | Q’s Bar Residency, Dubai Indonesia | Java Jazz Festival S. Korea | SK Gym Japan | Blue Note Tokyo Japan | International Forum Japan | Green Arena Japan | GS Arts EUROPE — Denmark | Jazzhus Montmartre Denmark | Thisted Jazzklub Sweden | Horby Denmark | Hillerod Denmark | Svaneke Denmark | Koge Denmark | Vordingbord Denmark | Kolding Denmark | Assens Denmark | Skanderborg Denmark | Aalborg Netherlands | Catharinakapel Italy | Teatro Garibaldi Italy | Teatro Ristori Italy | Teatro Sangiorio Italy | Jazz Club Ferrara Italy | Sina Brufani Czech Rep | Anezsky Klaster Latvia | Dzintari Concert Hall UK | Pizza Express Live France | Duc des Lombards Austria | Treibhaus Germany | Jazzahead! Showcase Germany | Cinema Arthouse Blue Note Netherlands | Junushoff Theater Denmark | Dansk Jazz Historie Denmark | Kerteminde Denmark | Karrebaeksminde Denmark | Askov Hoskole Denmark | Bangsbostrand Kirke Denmark | Audonicon UK | Wigmore Hall Netherlands | Theater de Meervaart Italy | Blue Note Milan Sweden | Fasching Jazz Sweden | Malmo Jazz France | International Jazz Day Sweden | Nefertiti Jazz Germany | Unterfahrt Switzerland | Montreux Jazz Club Denmark | Copenhagen Jazz Fest Germany | Bix Jazz Austria | Porgy and Bess Netherlands | Bimhuis Germany | Moments Musikclub Germany | Jazz Ahead! France | Jazz a Vienne Rep. of Georgia | Griboyedov Theater Rep. of Georgia | Balanchivadze Netherlands | Lanteren Venster Poland | Klub Zak Czech Rep | Brno Filharmonie Belgium | DeSinger UK | Ronnie Scott's Jazz Norway | Baerum Kulturhus Ireland | Guinness Jazz Festival Ireland | National Concert Hall Ireland | The Black Box Switzerland | Salzhaus Brugg Denmark | Jazzy Days Croatia | Academy of Music Ireland | Kilkenny Arts Festival Italy | Time in Jazz, Pattada Italy | Time in Jazz, Berchidda Germany | Schloss Elmau Switzerland | Dracula Club Italy | Umbria Jazz Festival Latvia | Rigas Ritmi Festival Denmark | STARS DK France | Rhyme du Jazz Spain | Jamboree Jazz USA — WDC | Kennedy Center, Duke Ellington Tribute MO | Starkloff Benefit MO |Jazz St. Louis CA | Bach D&D CA | Libretto MO| Clark Terry Centennial Jazz St. Louis CA| Live recording - Sam First Records CA| Thelonious Monk SF Jazz VA | Music in McLean Concert Series CA | Lewis Family Playhouse NYC | Mezzrow Jazz Club CA | Museum of Making Music CO | Dazzle Jazz Club OH | Blu+ Jazz NY | The Jazz Forum CT | The Side Door MA | Scullers Jazz CA | Sam First VA | Winter Blues & Jazz Fest CA | Alvas Showroom CA | Contrapuntal Hall WA | Icicle Creek Arts Center PA | WCR Concert Hall VA | The Tin Pan TN | Story 2018 CA | Bacchus' Kitchen OH | Rubber City Jazz Festival CA | Filoli Jazz CA | Oscar with Love UT | John Clayton's Jazz Show MI | Gilmore Keyboard Festival WA | Upstream Music Festival AR | Walton Arts Center NYC | Club Bonafide NJ | WPU Jazz Room CA | Montalbon Theater NYC | Django Jazz NY | Bard College NJ | Ridgewood Library NYC | Bar Lunatico MA | Berkshire Gateway Jazz NYC | Bobo’s NYC | Settepani's NJ | Morris Museum NYC | Top of the Standard NYC | Whitney Museum NJ | Drew University CA | EG Conference MO | We Always Swing VT | St. Michaels College WDC | NEA Jazz Masters KC ID | Lionel Hampton Jazz Fest CA | Blue Whale CA | Queen Latifah Show WA | The Triple Door CA | SOhO Music Club CA | Monterey Jazz Festival WA | D'mitrious Jazz Alley CO | Vail Jazz Festival NJ | Bickford Theater CA | Encore 2016 VA | Old Dominion University NY | Rochester Inst. Tech CA | Wallis-Annenburg NYC | Subrosa CA | EDYE Broad Stage CA | Jazz at A-Frame RI | Roger Williams University NYC | The Jazz Standard NYC | Miles Cafe WDC | Kennedy Center Jazz Club WDC | Bohemian Caverns WDC | Twins Jazz Club CO | Baurs CO | Wheeler Opera House WDC | Library of Congress WDC | Westminster Jazz VA | JAM INC VA | Westminster-Canterbury NYC | Baruch College NY | Jacob Burns Center NYC | Rockwood Music Hall VA | Havana Nights VA | Contemporary Arts Center VA | Jazz on Taz VA | Temple Beth El TX | N. Texas Jazz Festival WDC | Kennedy Center Millenium Stage WDC | Kennedy Center Terrace Theater VA | Main Street Jazz VA | Chantilly Jazz Festival JAZZ CLINICS & CAMPS VA| Governor’s School for Performing Arts (Faculty) IN | Notre Dame Jazz Workshop HI | Jazz Maui Summer Camps CO | Vail Jazz Workshops CA | Monterey Jazz Next Gen (Adjudicator) ID | Lionel Hampton Jazz Workshop WA | Centrum Jazz Clinics WA | Icicle Creek Elementary Jazz Workshop VA | VCU Jazz Clinic VA | Governor’s School Masterclass CA | USC Jazz Clinic NJ | WPU Jazz Room Workshop VA | RJS Educator Series, Richmond AR | University of Arkansas Jazz Clinics CA | NAMM Accessibility Demo Dominican Republic | DR Jazz Fest Workshops Latvia | Riga Jazz Fest Workshop Rep. of Georgia | Telavi Music School Denmark | Termansens Masterclass Denmark | Ribe Jazz Camp
YOUTUBE
LIVE STREAMS
JK's Wednesday Night Hangs
The "Wednesday Night Hangs" began during the pandemic shut down, featuring the music of some of my favorite musicians, including Clark Terry, Mulgrew Miller, Derrick Hodge (interview w/Derrick), Oscar Peterson (interview with Celine Peterson), 3 episodes of The Beatles, John Williams (Harry Potter & Star Wars), Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy VII), The Disney Songbook, James Horner, Cole Porter, Hank Jones, Song Writers and Listener Requests (JK's Jukebox).
The "Sunday Hymns & Things" also began during the pandemic shut down. This excerpt from "Come Hang with Me" says it best: "I’ve been brainstorming on how to stay active in this new climate, and landed on something with which I feel ok. When I lost my sight completely, there were three elements in my life that allowed me to turn what could have been a time of turmoil and depression, to a relatively smooth transition into the life I have now. These three factors were my faith, my family, and the piano. Anytime I felt any emotions at all, I gravitated towards prayer and practice. Some of my most cherished musical memories are playing with no agenda late at night for myself, but most especially for God. It’s something I’d like to try to bring back in my own life."
Christmas Hangs
As the Advent Season approached, I chose to host an extra live stream every Thursday in December, culminating in a special "Marathon Christmas Eve or Day Hang." The intention was to offer background music for activities like wrapping, baking, and opening presents, but it's been a bit of a 'double-edged sword' as I’m also able to enjoy reconnecting with old friends and welcoming new listeners of this tradition! Despite life getting busier, the Christmas Marathon will carry on for as long as I can manage!
VIRTUAL
STUDIO TECHNOLOGY
JK's Playground
ITALIAN GRANDS: This episode features 2 sampled Italian 10 ft pianos. The song is Duke Ellington's "All Too Soon."
MODERN UPRIGHTS: This is a back-to-back improvisation using identical midi performances to illustrate the different types of uprights I like to use.
CONCERT GRANDS: The song is an untitled, bootlegged composition of Robert Glasper in the early 2000s and features 2 sampled Yamaha CFX concert grand pianos.
STEINWAY GRANDS: This video is inspired by the classic Bill Evans recording “Conversations with Myself." I decided to use all of the Steinways available from Synthogy.
COLLABORATION: This features the music of my good friend from London, Andre Louis.