Music by:

Roy Nathanson, Aidan Scrimgeour, Keyanna Hutchinson, Eric Alabaster, and 5PM Porch Student Performers

In March of 2020, Roy Nathanson, neighbor and world-renowned musician and composer soothed Ditmas Park during the COVID quarantine from his 2nd floor terrace by playing “Amazing Grace” at 5pm for 82 consecutive days. This simple street music ritual created a meaningful escape for artists and neighbors that garnered international attention, and gave birth to the 5PM Porch Music Program that provides quality music lessons and ensemble performance experiences to local kids – whether they can pay or not.  

Founder of the Jazz Passengers and many other bands and projects, Roy is a beloved performer, poet, composer and teacher whose work combines performance and social justice for student musicians, professionals, and local storytellers from around the world. Among his artistic endeavors are collaborations with Elvis Costello, Debbie Harry, Jeff Buckley, Jimmy Scott, Mavis Staples, Corey Harris, Nick Hakim and many others. Roy is deeply committed to diversity, affordability and access to excellent music and arts education. The 5pm Porch Music Program provides Brooklyn teens the opportunity to create and perform original music and poetry alongside world-class musicians.