In partnership with

🚀 Boundary-Pushers

Artists experimenting, innovating, and stretching jazz forward

This week’s Boundary Pushers spotlight spans the full spectrum of innovation, from Afro-Cuban visionaries to fearless trumpet experimenters. At Dizzy’s, Omar Sosa brings global color and spiritual fire to Jazz at Lincoln Center, while the MFM Unity Ensemble at the Cutting Room unites Joe Lovano’s saxophone mastery with Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin brilliance. Eric Person takes the Django stage with his inventive quartet, and in Brooklyn, Jerome Sabbagh pairs with Peter Washington and Otis Brown III for a modern straight-ahead twist. Up in Boston, Arturo Sandoval continues to push the trumpet’s limits at Scullers, while Culture Lab LIC hosts drummer Brian Woodruff’s sextet in a community setting. Meanwhile, the Festival of New Trumpet Music unfolds across the Jazz Gallery, Nublu, and Bryant Park, spotlighting bold voices like Dave Douglas, Alexandra Ridout, and Steven Bernstein. Together, these shows remind us that jazz’s future is as daring as its past is rich.

Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.

Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.

Join for free today!

🎷 Keepers of the Flame

Masters and modern torchbearers carrying the jazz tradition forward

This weekend’s Keepers of the Flame lineup honors the artists who embody swing, bebop, and classic jazz at its finest. The hallowed rooms are alive: Bill Charlap Trio at the Village Vanguard delivers timeless piano mastery, while the rare pairing of Christian McBride & Brad Mehldau at the Blue Note brings two Grammy winners together in intimate dialogue. At Smoke, drummer Joe Farnsworth and pianist Emmet Cohen drive the quintet with straight-ahead fire. Catherine Russell, a Grammy winner celebrated for her dazzling command of the Great American Songbook, fills Birdland with the soulful echoes of jazz history. Beyond Manhattan, traditions carry forward with Nat Adderley Jr. Trio in New Jersey — heir to one of jazz’s most storied families and a celebrated arranger in his own right — and Peter Bernstein Quartet at the Side Door in Connecticut, keeping guitar tradition alive. Festival stages also light up, with Terell Stafford Sextet leading the Greenwich Jazz Festival at Central Park’s Great Lawn. Across the clubs, churches, and parks, the artistry this weekend proves the flame of classic jazz is not only alive but burning brighter than ever.

✊ Voices of Resistance

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

This week’s Voices of Resistance programs channel the power of jazz as community, commentary, and spiritual force. In Harlem, the Jazz Series at Mt. Morris Ascension spotlights trombonist Steve Swell’s uncompromising artistry, while the inGardens Festival at Children’s Magical Garden gathers William Hooker, Ahmed Abdullah, Anne Waldman, and more for two days of radical improvisation and poetry in a grassroots setting. Beyond New York, the Yellowjackets bring their decades of fusion-driven resilience to Keystone Korner Baltimore, a reminder of the band’s ability to evolve with the times. At the intimate level, saxophonist Luther Allison leads his quintet at Close Up, vocalist Nadine Simmons brings soulful presence to Madame George, and guitarist Dave Stryker’s quartet at Smalls grounds modern jazz in blues-drenched urgency. Rounding out the week, Will Terrill and Willerm Delisfort light up Cellar Dog with rhythm-forward sets that speak directly to perseverance and renewal.

FESTIVALS

This weekend offers a vibrant mix of festival stages across the region, where jazz spills from parks, gardens, and outdoor lawns into the heart of the community. Harlem’s Jazz in the Park at Ralph Ellison Park celebrates local legacy with a free family concert, while the Festival of New Trumpet Music stretches from Bryant Park to Jazz Gallery and Nublu, spotlighting bold new brass voices curated by Dave Douglas. The inGardens Festival transforms a Lower East Side community garden into a haven of improvisation and poetry, and the Greenwich Jazz Festival brings trumpeter Terell Stafford’s sextet to Central Park’s Great Lawn. In Queens, Culture Lab LIC continues its free Sunset Jazz series, and in Tarrytown, Jazz Forum’s Hammond Organ Weekend fires up the B-3 with Brian Charette, Mike LeDonne, and more. Brooklyn hosts the return of the Fort Greene Park Jazz Festival, while Westchester welcomes the Montebello Jazz Festival, featuring The Klezmatics, Bill O’Connell Quartet with Craig Handy, and 3D Rhythm of Life. Together, these festivals capture jazz’s communal spirit—rooted in neighborhoods, but resonating far beyond.

🌳 Jazz in the Park – Ralph Ellison Park

Sep 7 – Harlem A community celebration of Harlem’s jazz legacy in the park named after literary giant Ralph Ellison. Free and family-friendly, this afternoon concert keeps the music rooted in the neighborhood.

🎺 Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT)

Sep 4–8 – Bryant Park, Jazz Gallery, Nublu Founded by Dave Douglas, FONT puts the trumpet at the center of the conversation. From lunchtime Bryant Park sets to adventurous nights at Jazz Gallery and Nublu, the festival showcases both masters and emerging voices redefining brass.

🌱 inGardens Festival (Arts for Art)

Sep 6–7 – Children’s Magical Garden, Lower East Side Avant-garde fire in a grassroots setting: William Hooker, Steve Swell, Ahmed Abdullah, Anne Waldman, and more gather for two days of improvisation, poetry, and resistance. A free-jazz happening blooming in the garden.

🎶 Greenwich Jazz Festival

Sep 7 – Great Lawn, Central Park The centerpiece is trumpeter Terell Stafford Sextet, bringing hard bop energy to one of the city’s most iconic outdoor stages. A rare chance to hear world-class jazz in the heart of Central Park under open skies.

🌇 Sunset Jazz – Culture Lab LIC

Sep 5 – Long Island City Culture Lab’s outdoor jazz series continues with drummer Brian Woodruff Sextet, offering free community concerts at the intersection of neighborhood gathering and top-tier artistry.

🎹 Hammond Organ Weekend – Jazz Forum Arts

Sep 5–7 – Tarrytown, NY A weekend-long groove-fest spotlighting the mighty Hammond B-3. Brian Charette, Mike LeDonne, Leonieke Scheuble, and more bring blues-drenched soul-jazz to one of the region’s most intimate clubs.

🥁 Fort Greene Park Jazz Festival

Sep 6 – Brooklyn A Brooklyn tradition returns: free jazz in the park featuring neighborhood talent and seasoned pros. A relaxed, family-friendly celebration of community and sound.

🎵 Montebello Jazz Festival

Sep 7 – Westchester County, NY This free suburban festival packs a punch: The Klezmatics, Bill O’Connell Quartet (w/ Craig Handy), and 3D Rhythm of Life bring diverse sounds to Village Hall. A gem for jazz lovers just north of the city.

📅 Coming Soon

Montclair Jazz Festival (Grand Finale Block Party) – Sept 14 – NJ’s premier jazz celebration, shutting down Bloomfield Ave with multiple stages, food, and community energy. MORE INFO

White Plains Jazz Fest – Sept 10–14 – Multi-day festival with local and international talent, ending in a free outdoor stage on Mamaroneck Ave. MORE INFO

Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival – Sept 19–21 – A powerhouse weekend with Dianne Reeves, Gregory Porter, and jazz-meets-R&B fusions in the heart of Pittsburgh. MORE INFO

🎯 MUST SEE NEXT WEEK

Next week the spotlight shifts to a rich mix of master musicians, rising stars, and festival stages that demand attention. Roberta Gambarini (Sept 11–14, Dizzy’s) brings her Grammy-nominated voice and all-star trio to Jazz at Lincoln Center, while David Berkman (Sept 12–13, Mezzrow) offers inventive, bop-rooted piano with his trio. At Smalls, drummer Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead (Sept 12–13) blend gospel, funk, and swing with a modern edge. Festival season also peaks: the White Plains Jazz Fest features Kurt Elling (Sept 12) with Joey Calderazzo and Kenny Barron (Sept 13) with his stellar trio, while Chembo Corniel closes the festival Sept 14 with his Latin Jazz Quintet. Across the river, the Montclair Jazz Festival (Sept 13) heats up with alto sax firebrand Lakecia Benjamin, Venezuelan percussion master Luisito Quintero and the dazzling vocalist Jazzmeia Horn bring star power and urgency to New Jersey’s biggest block party. While in Baltimore, Nicole Henry (Sept 13, Keystone Korner Baltimore) delivers her award-winning vocals with a world-class band. For those craving the unexpected, trumpeter Seiki Yukimoto’s Soulbleed (Sept 13, Nublu) reunites with an East-meets-West ensemble for a genre-defying, Don Cherry-inspired set. Together, these shows promise a week where classic tradition, cutting-edge innovation, and festival celebration all converge. MORE SPOTLIGHTS

How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential

Institutional investors back startups to unlock outsized returns. Regular investors have to wait. But not anymore. Thanks to regulatory updates, some companies are doing things differently.

Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 regular people invested an average of $2,730. Today? They got a 400X buyout offer from the company, as Revolut’s valuation increased 89,900% in the same timeframe.

No wonder 10K+ everyday people are taking the chance on Pacaso.

Founded by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso’s co-ownership tech reshapes the $1.3T vacation home market. They’ve earned $110M+ in gross profit to date, including 41% YoY growth in 2024 alone. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

The same institutional investors behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay backed Pacaso. And you can join them. But not for long. Pacaso’s investment opportunity ends September 18.

Invest While You Still Can

_{Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.}