The Hudson Valley Jazz Festival
Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas, Executive Director, Arts Mid-Hudson
Music festivals are a great way for music lovers to come together and celebrate the power of music, as well as gain exposure to new musicians. Unlike most music festivals that take place at one venue, The 14th Annual Hudson Valley Jazz Festival (August 9 - 13) is held in multiple locations, clubs, cafes, restaurants, performing arts centers and parks, giving audiences even more options and accessibility. Over the years, the series has expanded to Dutchess, Ulster, Orange and upper Westchester counties. You’ll see a blend of well known artists and the region’s deep resource of local talent.
Kicking off the festivities on Wednesday, August 9 at 7:00 p.m., enjoy Taru Alexander, Robert Kopec, Eric Person, and Bill Ware, presented by The Cove located on picturesque Greenwood Lake. This venue provides that great outdoor summer vibe with a comfortable atmosphere and beautiful lakefront views. In Kingston at 7:00 p.m. you could head over to the Front Street Tavern and hear sounds of the 1930’s French jazz scene with Sean Crimmins’ Broken Heartstrings Band.
The programs start a little earlier on Thursday, with Nancy Donnelly/Peter Tomlinson Duo at the Hudson House Distillery in West Park at 6:00 p.m. Looking for an outdoor venue? Bring your chair and take in the music of Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Quartet performing at 6:30 p.m. On The Lawn in Sugar Loaf. Camille Thurman is a master of the saxophone and her vocals have been compared to Ella Fitzgerald.
Starting at 7:00 p.m. listen to a Tribute to Bill Evans with Joe Vincent Tranchina, Bryan Kopchak Neil Alexander, and Robert Kopec. They’ll belt out classic tunes from the legendary American Jazz Pianist at the UpFront Gallery in Port Jervis.
Moving into Friday’s schedule, you can be entertained at two outdoor venues. At 6:30 p.m. at Pierson Park in Tarrytown take in the Vanessa Racci Band. Racci, a singer, producer and voice teacher for over 25 years, has performed at over 70 festivals, events and jazz clubs across the country. Or moving a little later into the evening, The Railroad Green in Warwick will host Jerry Vivino & Friends at 7:30 p.m. Vivino is perhaps best known for playing tenor saxophone with the Basic Cable Band, the house group for the Conan O’Brien Show.
Saturday, the fun starts at noon in Kingston with the Nancy Tierney Trio at Front Street Tavern. Moving to Rave Resar/Mike Jackson Group at 1:00 p.m. at Trails End Taphouse in Greenwood Lake. At 7:00 p.m. choose from David Amram at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, Jeff Ciampa with Chris Pasin Quartet at Lydia’s in Stone Ridge or the Steve Slagle Group with Matt Garrity at Barnstock in Woodstock.
If Sunday jazz is more your style, Billy Stein, Joe Giardullo, and Harvey Sorgen will be at Albert Wisner Library at 2:00 p.m., and The Rick Savage Quartet with Joe Vincent Tranchina, Gandharva Earl Sauls and special guest artist Eliot Zigmund will be at Last Whiskey Bar at 3:00 p.m., both in Warwick. Closing out the weekend will be Bob Shaut and Sax Life at Frank Guido’s Little Italy in Kingston at 6:00 p.m. and The Analog Jazz Orchestra with special guest artist Joe Lovano starting at 7:00 p.m. at The Falcon in Marlboro.
Choose your venue, day and time and fill your weekend with jazz! This program is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.
If you go:
The Hudson Valley Jazz Festival
Various Locations
August 9 - 13, 2023
917-903-4380
www.hudsonvalleyjazzfest.org
