The Creative Music Series was established by Alex Lemski in January of 2015 to showcase the work of adventurous jazz musicians, a reaction to the apparent lack of invitations being extended to accomplished and even unknown musicians to come play in Boston. Alex brings many years of experience to the Series; his work as a presenter dates back to 1987, when he founded Creative Music Works in Denver, working with the series until 2001.

Performances bring together performers and listeners in intimate venues in the Cambridge / Somerville area (with occasional co-presentations further afield), creating meaningful meetings between touring and local musicians. Immeasurable contributions from Qi Li and Robert Goss in support and even in producing concerts allowed the series to continue with confidence, enhanced recently by two grants from the Cambridge and Somerville Arts Councils.

The pandemic has brought new challenges to presenting live music, and the series has responded with a series of safe, heartening performances in energizing outdoor settings, bringing the music to the public in a whole new way. This is a music that adapts, and so does the series.

Nine years and nearly 100 concerts into the adventure, the CMS has become an integral part of the creative music community of Boston, Massachusetts, and beyond. Here’s to many more years of bringing you this uplifting and inspiring art form!