MoMAÂ's Jazz Interlude Gala To Honor Spike Lee And Mera And Donald Rubell, 12/12

The Museum of Modern Art's 2012 Jazz Interlude, a benefit gala dinner and live music performance, will honor artist and filmmaker Spike Lee, and philanthropists Mera and Donald Rubell on December 12.

The black-tie benefit includes an elegant cocktail reception in the Museum, followed by a seated dinner and live performance by jazz musician Terence Blanchard, whose work has been featured in Spike Lee films such as 25th Hour (2002), When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006), and Miracle at St. Anna (2008). The event concludes with an after-party and performance by jazz artist Jason Moran and the Bandwagon featuring Tarus Mateen and Nasheet Waits, with special guest Ravi Coltrane. The evening's music is produced by George Wein and Jason Moran.

The 2012 Jazz Interlude event chair is Sherry B. Bronfman, who is joined by co-chairs Eboni S. Gates, and Noel Hankin. Honorary co-chairs are Agnes Gund, Tonya Lewis Lee, and David Rockefeller, Jr. Past honorees of the benefit have included Elizabeth Catlett, Roland and Lois Betts, Agnes Gund, David Rockefeller Jr., George Wein, Dorothy Cullman, and Camille Cosby.

The event is organized by The Friends of Education, a MoMA affiliate group dedicated to raising public awareness of African American artists, supporting the Museum's education initiatives, and encouraging the participation of African Americans at MoMA. All proceeds from Jazz Interlude will benefit The Friends of Education Fund, which enables the Museum to acquire important works by African American artists, to increase its outreach to the African American community, and to support the Museum's extensive educational programming.