Meet Our Community
Chris Henderson France
Chris Henderson is a versatile drummer who has been a fixture on the live music scene in his adopted home of Paris, France for more than forty years. He has performed around the world with storied artists including the Sun Ra Arkestra, Harold Mabern, Marion Brown, Patricia Kaas, Justo Almario and Ed Blackwell, along the way eagerly absorbing influences from dancehall music to Makossa. True to one of his heroes, Art Blakey, Henderson has served as a real jazz ambassador for decades, including participating in a 2016 International Jazz Day program at the Café Bercy, a Parisian brasserie. Read on to learn about Henderson’s vision for the true impact of International Jazz Day.
“For us we are using jazz to unite people, bringing together people from all kinds of backgrounds, to share our love and joy for this beautiful universal music style.”
What does jazz music mean to you? To your community?
For us we are using jazz to unite people, bringing together people from all kinds of backgrounds, to share our love and joy for this beautiful universal music style.
Why are you celebrating International Jazz Day? Why is it important?
Catching new listeners, young and old, remembering and paying tribute to the jazz greats some know very well–others not so–respecting their musical spirit and the path they paved for us.
What would you like to see happen through this day–short term and long term?
More concerts, for every big city in the world (like Paris) a page where the concerts are announced in a clear way.
