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🚀 Boundary-Pushers

Artists experimenting, innovating, and stretching jazz forward

The Boundary Pushers light up the NYC scene this week with bold experiments and genre-defying artistry. At The Stone, Trevor Dunn pushes the edges of sound with his avant-garde bass explorations (Aug 27–30), while pianist Axel Tosca brings Afro-Cuban fire to Zinc Bar (Aug 28). Trumpeter Bill Warfield adds a funky, fusion-driven punch to the same stage the next night (Aug 29), and guitar hero Mike Stern delivers his trademark electric intensity at Drom (Aug 28). Vocalists also take the spotlight—April Varner (Mezzrow, Aug 31) fearlessly improvises with modern flair, Alyson Murray (Mezzrow, Aug 31) blends jazz with soulful R&B, and Vivian Sessoms (Club Room, Aug 29) bridges jazz, soul, and groove. Big sounds arrive with the JC Hopkins Biggish Band at (Django, Aug 29), followed by the bold crooning of Richard Cortez (Django, Aug 30). Rounding out the weekend, Miss Maybell & Her Ragged Jazz Band transport audiences back to the speakeasy era at the Flatiron Room (Aug 30). Together, these artists stretch jazz’s language into daring new directions while honoring its roots.

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🎷 Keepers of the Flame

Masters and modern torchbearers carrying the jazz tradition forward

The city’s most revered artists keep the tradition alive this week with sets steeped in swing, bebop, and hard bop fire. At Smoke, saxophone legend David Murray (Aug 27–31) brings his trademark power and improvisational depth, while clarinetist/tenor man Ken Peplowski swings Birdland with classic elegance (Aug 27–30). Over at Birdland Theater, the David DeJesus Boptet (Aug 29–31) pays homage to the bop tradition with a fresh, modern spark. Bass titan John Patitucci leads his trio at Dizzy’s (Aug 29–31), offering virtuosity anchored in groove and grace. Blue Note hosts trumpet great Arturo Sandoval (Aug 27–31), whose fiery energy blends Cuban roots with jazz mastery, while Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet (Village Vanguard, Aug 27–31) delivers a week of saxophone brilliance in the most storied jazz room in the world. Pianist Michael Weiss (Mezzrow, Aug 29–30) keeps the straight-ahead flame burning with elegance, as vocalists Marianne Solivan (Aman NY, Aug 28) and Paul Jost (Jazz Vespers @ Saint Peter’s, Aug 31) remind us of jazz’s power to tell stories with swing, warmth, and soul. At Smalls, both pianist Marta Sanchez (Aug 28) and guitarist Rodney Jones (Aug 31) showcase their masterful craft, while bassist Brandi Disterheft (Aug 29–30) adds her own vibrant voice to the mix. These shows embody the enduring heart of the tradition.

✊ Voices of Resistance

Artists channeling jazz’s spirit of resilience, protest, and community

This week’s “Voices of Resistance” channel the spirit of jazz as a music of resilience, activism, and cultural pride. In Harlem, percussionist Warren Smith (Harlem Jazz Boxx, Aug 29) draws on a lifetime of artistry connected to the Black Arts Movement, while trumpeter Wayne Tucker (Café Erzulie, Aug 28) blends jazz, soul, and social consciousness. The Mingus Big Band (Kupferberg Center, Aug 28) keeps Charles Mingus’ politically charged legacy alive with ferocious ensemble power, and Grammy-winner Samara Joy (Close Up NY, Aug 31) elevates tradition into a beacon for the next generation. Newark’s own Carrie Jackson (Aug 30–31) appears at Bethany Baptist Church and at 214 Robbinsville NJ - infuses gospel energy into jazz vocals, lifting audiences with spirit and swing, while pianist/composer Roberta Piket joins forces with Lance Bryant, Pete McCann, David Kingsnorth, and Billy Mintz at Bar Bayeux (Aug 30) for modern jazz that speaks truth through sound. Together, these artists affirm jazz’s role not just as music, but as testimony, resistance, and renewal.

🏙 Community & Regional Gems

Beyond the major stages, the region hums with intimate concerts and neighborhood treasures that keep the music close to the people. Violinist Meg Okura (Saint Peter’s Church, Aug 28) brings global textures to the beloved Jazz on the Plaza series, while trumpet great Eddie Henderson (New Rochelle, Aug 28) graces Jazz Under the Stars in New Rochelle with brilliance under the night sky. The following evening, saxophonist Vincent Herring (Tarrytown, Aug 29) lights up Pierson Park with hard-bop fire. Upstate, guitarist Dave Stryker (Caffè Lena, Aug 28) delivers soulful swing in Saratoga’s historic listening room, and the Alex Smith & Jesse Lewis Organ Trio (Elks Lodge, Aug 28) bring B3 grooves to a neighborhood hang. Westchester’s Beanrunner Café hosts Gerry Malkin’s Quintet (Aug 30), while Tavern on George in New Jersey showcases the Illan Eisenzweig Band (Aug 28). These concerts highlight the lifeblood of the scene—small rooms, outdoor stages, and community spaces where jazz thrives as a living, breathing art./

FESTIVALS

Festival energy spreads across the metro, from Manhattan parks to Bridgeport’s downtown. Bryant Park’s Piano Series (Aug 27–29) features pianist Larry Ham at lunchtime, offering open-air sets that turn Midtown into a jazz oasis. Harlem’s Ralph Ellison Park hosts Jazz in the Park (Aug 31, 2pm), a community celebration honoring Harlem’s enduring jazz legacy with free music in the neighborhood. Across the Sound, the Bridgeport Jazz Festival (Aug 30) transforms McLevy Green into an all-day block party of live music, vendors, and community spirit. Whether it’s a casual afternoon set on the grass, a neighborhood gathering, or a full festival stage, these events remind us that jazz isn’t just in the clubs—it’s in the streets, parks, and plazas, connecting people to the music in the open air.

🎯 MUST SEE NEXT WEEK

Next week’s jazz calendar is brimming with powerhouse performances and fresh talent. At the Blue Note (Sept 2–7), bassist Christian McBride and pianist Brad Mehldau join forces in an extraordinary duo, showcasing the art of piano-bass interplay at the highest level. Over at Jazz at Lincoln Center (Sept 4–7), globally acclaimed pianist Omar Sosa fuses Afro-Cuban, Latin, and world rhythms into a boundary-pushing celebration of sound and spirit. Rising star Brandon Goldberg (Sept 5, Jazz Forum Arts) and Hammond B3 innovator Brian Charette (Sept 6, Jazz Forum Arts) bring their inventive trios to Westchester, while fusion legends Yellowjackets light up Keystone Korner in Baltimore (Sept 6–7) with their GRAMMY-winning mix of jazz, funk, and R&B. Together, these performances mark the week as a must-catch stretch for jazz lovers across the region. MORE SPOTLIGHTS