Ridgeway Arts

FEATURES

Developing cultural and educational imperatives.

Performance Program

Ridgeway Arts creates performing opportunities for projects through the development of a touring presenting program.

Mentorship Program

Emerging artist work with and receive professional guidance from Jeff Denson and the Ridgeway Records team on the various aspects of the music business.

Recording Program

Ridgeway Arts creates recorded documentation opportunities for projects through the development of a recording company, Ridgeway Records.

Podcast Program

A unique program designed to widely disseminate information, ideas, theories and concepts about music and culture through the medium of podcasts.

Education Program

Provides a series of residencies and workshops nationally and internationally. Publishes educational books for Ridgeway Publishing.

About

Developing cultural and educational imperatives.

"Music is the

universal

language

of mankind.”

― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Ridgeway Arts has been established to assist composer/musician/educator Jeff Denson in setting forth his own cultural and educational imperatives and assisting certain like-minded individuals in the development and execution of their own.

It is our intention to provide similar services to other artists as the organization develops, as well as developing the Bay Area educational and performance scene in conjunction with the students who emerge as professionals through Jeff's teaching activities at the California Jazz Conservatory and his outreach directorship.

From an artistic perspective, the organization will be creating performing and recorded documentation opportunities for Jeff's many projects through the development of a  recording company and touring program.

Educationally, Jeff will be providing a series of residencies and workshops internationally, both directly through Ridgeway and in conjunction with his position as Director of Outreach for the California Jazz Conservatory, at which Jeff is also a full-time professor. he is also preparing a series of educational books for Ridgeway Publishing.

Ridgeway Arts, Inc. Mission Statement

Ridgeway Arts, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit arts organization dedicated to stimulating, promoting and supporting creative endeavors, with a special emphasis upon music inspired by the jazz tradition, providing artists the opportunity to pursue their artistic visions.

  • Arts and the Economy

    America's nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion in economic activity every year, including $24.4 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues. - Americans for the Arts

  • Arts promote true prosperity

    The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, goodness, and beauty. The arts help us express our values, build bridges between cultures, and bring us together regardless of ethnicity, religion, or age. When times are tough, art is salve for the ache. – Mr. Randy Cohen

  • Arts improve academic performance.

    Students with an education rich in the arts have higher GPAs and standardized test scores, and lower drop-out rates—benefits reaped by students regardless of socio-economic status. Students with 4 years of arts or music in high school average 100 points higher on the verbal and math portions of their SATs than students with just one-half year of arts or music. – Mr. Randy Cohen

  • Arts have social impact

    University of Pennsylvania researchers have demonstrated that a high concentration of the arts in a city leads to higher civic engagement, more social cohesion, higher child welfare, and lower crime and poverty rates. The arts are used by the U.S. Military to promote troop force and family readiness, resilience, retention and for the successful reintegration of veterans into family and community life. – Mr. Randy Cohen

Staff

Meet the Ridgeway Arts Team
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Jeff Denson

Founder & Executive Director
Jeff Denson is an internationally touring and recording double and electric bassist, composer, songwriter, vocalist, eductor and current Dean of Instruction at the California Jazz Conservatory.
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Edward Simon

Associate Artistic Director
Edward Simon, a native of Venezuela, has made a name for himself over decades in America as a jazz improviser, composer-arranger and band leader, with his profile heightening in recent years as he has explored the commonalities jazz can have with the folkloric sounds of Latin America.
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Sheryl Lynn Thomas

Managing Director
Sheryl Lynn has been heavily involved in creating, developing and implementing integrated marketing plans/strategic career plans for musicians that have resulted in GRAMMY nominations, international touring and critical acclaim.

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