JazzFest White Plains is back with a stellar lineup of in-person p rograms. For its eleventh year\, the festival remains true to its roots\, p resenting jazz from an outstanding roster that features musicians of local and national significance. On September 14-18\, you’ll hear some of today’s hottest rising jazz stars.
A partnership between ArtsWestchester\, t he City of White Plains and the White Plains BID\, JazzFest has become a si gnature White Plains event presenting free and affordable jazz experiences to jazz enthusiasts from Westchester and beyond.
FIVE-DAY SCHEDULE OF JAZZFEST EVENTS:
(
artists and schedule subject to change)
12-1:30pm |FR
EE
Jazz at the Farmer’s Market
W
hite Plains Farmers Market\, 59 Court St.
I’RO & The Afro Lat
in Exchange
Pedro Millan is a Puerto Rican/American saxophoni
st with a specialization in woodwinds. Born in Miami\, Florida but raised i
n Trujillo Alto\, Puerto Rico from youth till the age of twelve only to mov
e back to Miami. Pedro completed his Masters Degree from the Prins Claus Co
nservatory at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands a
nd has played around the world with people like John Clayton\, Gordon Goodw
in\, Wayne Bergeron\, Conrad Herwig\, Luis Bonilla\, Michael Mossman\, Eddi
e Palmieri\, Bryan Lynch\, Ignacio Berroa\, Charlie Persip\, David Steinmey
er and many more.
Downtown White Plains Jazz Stroll
Enjoy
an early evening of music\, food and cocktails at various venues in downto
wn White Plains. More details coming soon!
JazzFest Happy Hour
at Fogo de Chão with Nanny Assis Trio
$5 bites at restauran
t bar from 4:30pm-6:30pm
Nanny Assis is a Brazilian- American pe
rcussionist\, singer\,composer\, producer and guitarist Based in NYC Area.
In 2011 and 2017 \, he was the recipient of the prestigious Brazilian Inte
rnational Press Award as “Best Singer of the Year.”
12-1pm |
FREE
François Moutin & Kavita Shah Duo
Downtown Music at Grace\, 33 Church Street\, White Plains.
French ba ss virtuoso François Moutin and adventurous New York-born vocalist Kavita S hah will take listeners on an improvisational journey across both lyric-dri ven and wordless jazz standards and original music.
François Moutin i s a Paris-born virtuosic bassist who received a doctorate in Physics at the age of 24 before choosing to become a professional musician. He was a memb er of the legendary Martial Solal Trio. At 29\, he began co-leading the Qui ntet Moutin with his twin brother Louis\, a project which later evolved int o the Moutin Reunion Quartet. He has performed in every important European jazz festival\, and toured in over 30 countries around the world.
Kav ita Shah is a vocalist\, composer and lifelong New Yorker hailed by NPR for her “amazing dexterity for musical languages.” Like Moutin\, Shah studied languages and literature at Harvard University before pursuing a Master’s i n Jazz at Manhattan School of Music. She was named Downbeat Magazine’s Best Graduate Jazz Vocalist in 2012 and won the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Co mposers Award in 2013
* For the sa fety of all audience\, musicians\, and staff\, proof of vaccination and mas ks are required for entry to Downtown Music concerts. The events will take place in accordance with New York State and local health department guideli nes.
6:30pm
Grace Kelly Concert Reception w
ith Via Garibaldi
White Plains Plaza\, One North Broadway
(Performance & Reception Price: $75pp)
Join us for a one-of-a-kind concert reception with a live performance by Grace Kelly\, an award-winning singer\, saxophonist\, and songwriter. With 13 acclaimed albums\, she rock ed the jazz world with her unique musical journey and her contagious exuber ance on stage. Enjoy a welcome drink and an abundance of canapés provided b y Via Garibaldi\, an authentic Italian restaurant. Co-produced with Doug Panero Presents.
Ticket purchase includes:
• Live performanc
e by Grace Kelly
• Prime viewing on the plaza
• Welcome drink
• Savory canapes and stations inclusive of tax and gratuity
* Th is performance will take place outdoors with advanced ticket purchase requi red for prime viewing. Patrons can also view the performance on the Plaza\, but must bring their own chair. Space is limited and not guaranteed.< /p>
Photo by: Mehdi Hassine
12pm | FREE
Jazz at Noon: <
strong>Miki Hayama & Richie Goods Ensemble
White Plains Publi
c Library Plaza\, 100 Martine Ave.
Jazz-funk bass extraordinaire Rich ie Goods and Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Miki Hayama join forces to prese nt this very special ‘Jazz at Noon’ concert.
Miki Hayama born in Kyot o\, Japan is a Grammy nominated jazz pianist\, arranger and musical directo r\, who lives in NYC. She is the first winner of The Yokohama Jazz Competit ion and has performed and shared the stage with many greats\, including Ken ny Garrett\, Ralph Peterson\, Sean Jones\, Vincent Herring\, Roy Hargrove\, and Greg Osby\, to name a few.
Bassist Richie Goods\, one of the mos t versatile and accomplished bass players on the scene today\, and the youn gest person ever inducted into the Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame\, came to p rominence while touring and recording with the late Mulgrew Miller\, whom h e credits for much of his success.
7 and 9pm
Joey Alexander Trio
ArtsWestchester\, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue
($35/set | $65 for b
oth | 7 & 9pm sets)
Three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated Bali-born pian ist Joey Alexander has accrued a lifetime of accolades. The pianist\, compo ser and bandleader is one of the most emotive and compelling pianist-compos ers active on the scene today—including being the youngest artist ever nomi nated for a GRAMMY® Award in a jazz category\, topping the Billboard Jazz A lbums chart on multiple releases\, earning profiles in The New York Times a nd 60 Minutes\, and most recently being signed to Mack Avenue Records.
< p style="text-align: center\;">* ArtsWestcheste r requires proof of vaccination for entry to the gallery and related events . At this time we require that the public wear face coverings for all in-pe rson programming. Code of Conduct and Covid-19 safety protocols are availab le here.
1-2:30
pm | FREE
A workshop & conversation with Legendary Ja
zz Bassist Buster Williams
Music Conservatory of Westchester\
, 216 Central Avenue
7 & 9pm
The Buster Williams Quartet
“Something More”
ArtsWestchester\, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue
($35/set | $65 for both | 7 & 9pm sets)
Grammy Award-winning bassist Buster Williams is a jazz legend whose playing knows no limits. He has per formed\, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Miles Davis\, H erbie Hancock\, Art Blakey\, Betty Carter\, Branford and Wynton Marsalis an d many others. Williams tours frequently with his group Something More.
The Buster Williams Quartet “Something More” features Buster Willaim s (bass)\, Steve Wilson (saxophone)\, Lenny White (drums) and George Collig an (piano/keyboard).
This concert is m ade possible in part with support from Mid Atlantic Arts.
* ArtsWestchester requires proof of vaccinatio n for entry to the gallery and related events. At this time we require that the public wear face coverings for all in-person programming. Code of Cond uct and Covid-19 safety protocols are available here.
12:30-6:
45pm | FREE TO THE PUBLIC
White Plains Jazz & Food Festival
Mamaroneck Ave. (between
Main St. and Martine Ave.)
** rain or shine **
12:
30-1:15pm
Westchester Center for Jazz & Contemporary
Music
The Westchester Center for Jazz & Contemporary Music pr
ovides opportunities for musicians of diverse backgrounds\, abilities and a
ges to develop their skills in jazz and other related musical forms. This p
erformance features a selection of the Center’s top student musicians and f
aculty.
Albert Rivera Quintet
B
ronx born and raised saxophonist Albert Rivera\, described by NPR’s Owen Mc
Nally as “a modern jazz messenger\,” has been a consistent force on a natio
nal and international level since finalizing his studies at The New School
University’s Jazz and Contemporary Music program. Downbeat Magazine called
him and his band “part of the next wave in this jazz ritual.” Rivera is a r
ecipient of a Chamber Music America award and ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Aw
ard. He is currently Director of Operations at the Litchfield Jazz Camp.
3:05–3:55pm
Carlos Jimenez Mambo Sextet
The Carlos Jimenez Mambo Orchest
ra\, Westchester’s hottest salsa band will get you out of your seat and ont
o the dance floor! Yonkers New York native\, Carlos Jimenez\, is an extraor
dinary flute player and vocalist as well as composer and band leader of Jaz
z\, Latin jazz and Salsa. His family moved from New York to Villalba\, Puer
to Rico when he was six years old and it was there that his musical trainin
g began. Jimenez has performed all over New York state\, across the country
and toured internationally with artists Andy Gonzalez\, Willie Rodriguez\,
Coto Pincheira\, George Delgado\, Bobby Sanabria\, Adela Dalto\, Willie Co
lon\, Jimmy Delgado and many others!
<
strong>4:25–5:15pm
G. Thomas Allen QuartetAward-winning vocalist\, composer and music educator G. Thomas Allen (a
ffectionately known as “Sir Thomas”) was the first male winner of the Sarah
Vaughn International Competition. Allen’s work spans multiple genres: he i
s a former Los Angeles Opera artist and lead vocalist on the GRAMMY Award-n
ominated album Choirmaster (Motown Gospel 2020). Having such a diverse musi
cal background has greatly contributed to Allen’s unique approach to jazz —
finding innovative ways for cross-genre experimentation\, including the ae
sthetics of R&B\, Pop\, Gospel stylizing and operatic inflections\, but alw
ays keeping the music swinging.”
5:45–
6:45pm
Ragan Whiteside and Friends
Flut
ist\, vocalist and songwriter Ragan Whiteside is currently taking the Conte
mporary Jazz world by storm. Whiteside\, originally from Mt. Vernon\, got h
er first taste of music in elementary school\, where she played drums\, pia
no and violin. It was a desire to be in the marching band that put the flut
e in her hand at age eight. With her unique style and soulful vibe\, this t
riple-threat is bringing the flute back into mainstream focus.
< h2 style="text-align: center\;">To Go Menu
JazzFest White Pl
ains is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the su
pport of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
<
/a>This engagement of Buster Williams & Something More is made possible
through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the
National Endowment for the Arts.