Jazz Festival of the year? Check out the lineup for Jazz Fest 2021
Live Jazz NYC: Downtown Jamaica Jazz Fest 2021 has arrived
For those who've been paying attention, we've been covering the best Jazz artists for a while now, and when we spot an opportunity to promote the Jazz greats among us, we go for it. With us being a Jamaica Queens based blog, the perfect opportunity is when these talents come to our backyard. Jazz Fest 2021 will touch down at Jamaica Performing Arts Center next month and it will feature a diverse lineup of Jazz Singers, Saxophonists, vibraphonists and more.
Downtown Jamaica Jazz Festival has paid tribute to Jazz legends like the late great Milford Graves over the years, while also providing a platform for some of the most prominent emerging artists. This year's lineup -- curated by The Jazz Gallery's Rio Sakairi -- is one of it's strongest yet. The two day festival features names like Joel Ross, who released his Blue Note debut album KingMaker to eruptive critical acclaim. It will also bring back acclaimed performers like Melissa Aldana, who's exciting performance was an audience favorite of JCAL's 2nd Thursday Night Jazz.The headliner of Downtown Jamaica Jazz Fest 2021 s none other than Grammy Nominated Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. The son of legendary Jazz artists John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane, Ravi is a highly regarded bandleader, and composer.If you've been Google'n "Live Music near me" for the past few months unsuccessfully like we have, the wait is up. This event is the perfect blend of upcoming artists and famous Jazz musicians, and you can attend for free.
About the ArtistsSamara Joy - With a voice as smooth as velvet, SAMARA JOY’s star seems to rise with each performance. Following her winning the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, she is currently recording her debut recording, which will feature Samara backed by the Pasquale Grasso Trio.Godwin Louis - Godwin Louis is an alto saxophonist, was born in Harlem, New York and began playing saxophone at age nine.alto saxophonist, was born in Harlem, New York and began playing saxophone at age nine. He has performed as a bandleader, sideman, guest soloist and has conducted clinics and master classes worldwide.Becca Stevens - Grammy-nominated, Brooklyn based and North Carolina bred Becca Stevens has established an outstanding career blending her effortless vocal talent with exquisite compositions that draw inspiration from pop, jazz, indie-rock, and traditional Appalachian folk music.Miguel Zenón - Widely considered as one of the most groundbreaking and influential saxophonists of his generation, Miguel Zenón has also developed a unique voice as a composer and as a conceptualist, concentrating his efforts on perfecting a fine mix between Latin American Folkloric Music and Jazz.Joel Ross - For the past several years, Joel Ross has been refining an expression that’s true to his sound and his generation. In 2017, he became one of the youngest artists to receive a coveted Residency Commission from The Jazz Gallery.Melissa Aldana - Inspired by the life and works of Frida Kahlo, Aldana creates a parallel between her experiences as a female saxophone player in a male-dominated community, and Kahlo’s experiences as a female visual artist working to assert herself in a landscape dominated by men.Sachal Vasandani - Sachal Vasandani’s deeply creative approach to improvisation across lyrics, melodic changes and time signatures is always soulful, and he has come to be regarded as one of the eminent vocal improvisers of his generation. Ravi Coltrane - Ravi Coltrane is a critically acclaimed Grammy nominated saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. In the course of a twenty plus year career, Mr. Coltrane has worked as a sideman to many, recorded noteworthy albums for himself and others and founded a prominent independent record label, RKM.
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