🚀 Boundary-Pushers

Artists experimenting, innovating, and stretching jazz forward

This weekend’s Boundary Pushers spotlight artists stretching the tradition into daring new shapes. Trumpeter Marquis Hill brings his Color Theory project to Smoke, while John Zorn’s New Masada Quartet ignites the Village Vanguard with unbridled downtown energy. At The Stone @ New School, composer Anna Webber builds sonic architecture that challenges and inspires. Pianist Billy Lester, drummer Donald Edwards, trumpeter Matt Cappy, guitarist Andrew Latona, and pianist Marta Sanchez all expand the language of rhythm and harmony in distinct voices. Vocal innovators Nicole Zuraitis and AC Lincoln push the jazz songbook into theatrical, contemporary spaces. Grammy-winner Catherine Russell, flute virtuoso Hubert Laws, and the soulful Lezlie Harrison prove that reinvention and imagination are timeless. And at Dizzy’s, Etienne Charles and his Creole Orchestra honor the genius of Kenny Kirkland’s 70th with music that bridges legacy and innovation.

Etienne Charles Celebrates Kenny Kirkland’s 70th Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Sep 25–28, 9:00pm

This weekend, Dizzy’s honors one of jazz’s most brilliant pianists, Kenny Kirkland, on what would have been his 70th birthday. Revered for his work with Branford Marsalis, Sting, and the Tonight Show Band, Kirkland’s artistry bridged straight-ahead jazz, fusion, and pop with fearless creativity. Trumpeter and bandleader Etienne Charles leads his Creole Orchestra in a four-night tribute, reimagining Kirkland’s groundbreaking compositions and signature collaborations. Expect music that captures the spirit of a pianist whose touch combined explosive power, harmonic daring, and lyrical depth. With a handpicked ensemble of top improvisers, Charles ensures Kirkland’s influence resonates with today’s audiences, celebrating a life cut short but filled with indelible brilliance. A rare chance to revisit the legacy of a true modern master. MORE INFO

🎷 Keepers of the Flame

Masters and modern torchbearers carrying the jazz tradition forward

This weekend’s Keepers of the Flame remind us that tradition is a living force, carried forward with passion and swing. Coltrane Revisited marks its 24th anniversary at Birdland, while guitar greats Duke Robillard & Chris Flory bring blues-soaked elegance to the Birdland Theater. At the Carnegie Club, crooner Steve Maglio and the Stan Rubin Orchestra keep big band standards alive, and the George Gee Swing Orchestra lights up Swing 46 with irresistible dance rhythms. Sinatra devotees can catch Michael Dutra and his 9-piece ensemble at the Blue Note matinee, while clubs like Smalls and the Jazz Gallery master stylists Matt Wilson, Sullivan Fortner, and George Cables. From Bill Charlap’s sparkling trio in Old Lyme to Sherrie Maricle’s powerhouse DIVA Orchestra, Mala Waldron’s soulful lineage, and Joe Farnsworth’s hard-swinging trio, these artists ensure the jazz flame burns bright.

✊ Voices of Resistance

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

The Voices of Resistance this weekend amplify jazz’s power as a force for community, identity, and truth. Trombonist Craig Harris launches the Harlem Jazz Series with his Nightsongs Big Band, followed by pianist-composer Amina Figarova, whose music fuses global influences with pointed expression. In the Bronx, the Gene Golden Tribute Concert celebrates cultural legacy, while at Sistas’ Place, Nat Adderley Jr. carries forward the fire of his family name. The public space becomes a stage with the Legacy of Duke Ellington celebration at Ellington Circle, while at the Middlesex County Jazz Festival, vocalist Antoinette Montague and trombonist Conrad Herwig’s Latin Side All Stars give voice to joy and resilience. Elizabeth Bougerol of the Hot Sardines reclaims swing with fresh urgency, while vocalist Richard Cortez brings queer narrative and bold truth-telling to stages at The Django and Mezzrow.

FESTIVALS

🎪 From midday swing in Bryant Park to avant-garde sounds at the inGardens Festival in the East Village, the city pulses with outdoor and community jazz this weekend. The Kilbourn Concert Series at the Jazz Gallery and Sunset Jazz at Culture Lab LIC offer intimate showcases, while Maureen’s Jazz Cellar in Nyack hosts both the Rockland County Jazz & Blues Society and the Nyack Jazz Festival featuring Hubert Laws. In New Jersey, the Middlesex County Jazz Festival spans Carteret and Metuchen with artists like Lezlie Harrison, Antointette Montague and Sherrie Maricle’s DIVA Jazz Orchestra. Regional highlights include the Northampton Jazz Festival in Massachusetts, the Montco Jazz Fest near Philadelphia, and the Sag Harbor American Music Festival on Long Island, where Cécile McLorin Salvant headlines.

🎷 Jazz Festival & Special Event Listings (This Weekend)

Bryant Park – 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018. 212-768-4242. bryantpark.org . Sep 25, 26: 12:30pm Sue Maskaleris; Sep 29, 30: 12:30pm Charlie Judkins.

Five Spot Jazz – 231 E 9th St, New York, NY 10003. 212-777-7018. fivespotjazz.com . Sep 28: 5:00pm Mike DiRubbo.

First Street Green Community Garden – 33 E 1st St, New York, NY 10003. artsforart.org/ingardens . Sep 27: 2:00pm inGardens Festival ft. Whit Dickey & Rob Brown; John Blum & Cooper-Moore; James Brandon Lewis. Sep 28: 2:00pm inGardens Festival ft. Hans Young Binter Band; Aakash Mittal Trio; Mona Miari; Sam Newsome Trio.

The Jazz Gallery – 1160 Broadway, 5th Fl, New York, NY 10001. jazzgallery.org . Sep 28, 29: 7:00pm Kilbourn Concert Series: Mark Padmore & Paul Lewis.

Culture Lab LIC – 5-25 46th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101. 347-848-0030. culturelablic.org . Sep 26: 8:00pm Sunset Jazz: Lauren Lee Quartet.

Dada Bar – 6047 Myrtle Ave, Queens, NY 11385. 347-422-0411. dadabar.nyc . Sep 28: 10:30pm Music Explorers (Free).

Maureen’s Jazz Cellar – 2 North Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960. 845-535-3143. maureensjazzcellar.com . Sep 26: 7:00pm Rockland County Jazz & Blues Society w/ Dave Stryker Quartet, $35. Sep 27–28: 7:00pm Rockland County Jazz & Blues Society w/ Dave Stryker Quartet, $35. Sep 28: 7:00pm Nyack Jazz Festival w/ Hubert Laws, Gunhild & Idun Carling, Tiania Grubbs Quintet, Souren Baronian’s Taksim & Rockland Youth Jazz Ensemble, $35.

Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center – 46 Washington St, Carteret, NJ 07008. 877-849-2722. carteretpac.com . Sep 26: 7:00pm Middlesex County Jazz Festival: Lezlie Harrison.

Metuchen High School – 400 Grove Ave, Metuchen, NJ 08840. 732-321-8744. metuchenartscouncil.com . Sep 27: 5:30pm Middlesex County Jazz Festival: Sherrie Maricle & The DIVA Jazz Orchestra; AAPI Jazz Collective led by Peter Lin; MHS Jazz Ensemble & Orchestra; Metuchen Dance Center + MHS Jazz Combo.

Northampton Jazz Festival – Northampton, MA. northamptonjazzfest.org . Sep 26–27: Free daytime performances; Headliner evening Sept 27.

Montco Jazz Fest – Montgomery County, PA (Philadelphia region). montcojazzfest.com (via local listing). Through Sep 28.

Sag Harbor American Music Festival – Sag Harbor, NY (Long Island). hamptons.com . Sep 25–28: Includes jazz shows (Cécile McLorin Salvant, Sept 26).

✍🏾 Poetry / Other

Flushing Town Hall – 137-35 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354. 718-463-7700. flushingtownhall.org . Sep 25: 6:00pm Jazz Poetry Open Mic hosted by Sherese Francis.

🌹 Special Event

Marcello Pellitteri | Benefit for the Veronica Pellitteri Memorial Fund Birdland: 315 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036. 212-851-3080. https://www.birdlandjazz.com. Sep 28: 7:00pm

🎯 MUST SEE NEXT WEEK

The week ahead is packed with can’t-miss performances across New York and beyond. At Birdland, pianist Emmet Cohen leads his trio (Oct 1–4), while the Rum House swings with Café Society and the Ricky Alexander Trio (Sep 29–30). Spoken-word powerhouse Aja Monet takes the Blue Note stage (Sep 29–30), and Smalls hosts heavyweight quartets led by Joe Farnsworth, David Gibson, and Steve Nelson (Sep 29–30). Vocal firebrand Veronica Swift makes back-to-back appearances at the Count Basie Center and The Vogel (Sep 30), while Kamasi Washington launches a historic 12-night run at Blue Note LA (Sep 30–Oct 5, 7–12). The weekend brings a diverse slate: Cyrus Chestnut at Jazz at Lincoln Center (Oct 1–4), Jesús “Aguaje” Ramos with the Buena Vista Orchestra (Oct 3), Terri Lyne Carrington reimagining We Insist! at Eastman (Oct 3), Anat Cohen at Columbia’s Miller Theatre (Oct 4), and Bobby Sanabria’s Multiverse Big Band at McCarter Theatre in Princeton (Oct 4)... MORE SPOTLIGHTS

Birdland – 315 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036. 212-581-3080. birdlandjazz.com . Oct 1–4: Emmet Cohen Trio.

Rum House (The) – 228 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036. 646-490-6924. therumhousenyc.com . Sep 29: 9:30pm Café Society; Sep 30: 9:30pm Ricky Alexander Trio.

Blue Note Jazz Club – 131 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012. 212-475-8592. bluenotejazz.com . Sep 29, 30: 1:30pm Aja Monet.

Smalls Jazz Club – 183 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014. 212-252-5091. smallsjazzclub.com . Sep 29: 7:30pm Joe Farnsworth Quartet; Sep 30: 7:30pm David Gibson Quartet; Sep 30: 7:30pm Steve Nelson Quartet.

The Vogel at Count Basie Center for the Arts – 99 Monmouth St, Red Bank, NJ. thebasie.org . Sep 30: 7:30pm Veronica Swift, $40.35.

Blue Note LA – Los Angeles, CA. bluenotejazz.com . Sep 30–Oct 5 & Oct 7–12: Kamasi Washington.

Jazz at Lincoln Center – 10 Columbus Cir, 5th Fl, New York, NY 10019. 212-258-9595. jazz.org/dizzys . Oct 1–4: Cyrus Chestnut Trio.

Kupferberg Center for the Arts – Queens College, Flushing, NY. kupferbergcenter.org . Oct 3: Jesús “Aguaje” Ramos & Buena Vista Orchestra.

Eastman School of Music – Rochester, NY. esm.rochester.edu . Oct 3: Terri Lyne Carrington – We Insist 2025!

Miller Theatre at Columbia University – 2960 Broadway, New York, NY 10027. 212-854-7799. millertheatre.com . Oct 4: Anat Cohen.

McCarter Theatre – 91 University Pl, Princeton, NJ 08540. 609-258-2787. mccarter.org . Oct 4: Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band.

DIRECTORY OF JAZZ BRUNCHES AROUND TOWN