“Harmonies Across Horizons: The 13th Annual Blue Note Jazz Festival and The Black Radio Experience”
The 13th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival is set to captivate New York audiences from June 1st to July 7th, boasting a stellar lineup featuring some of the brightest stars in the music world. Leading the charge are luminaries such as Wynton Marsalis, Andra Day, Corinne Bailey Rae, Yo La Tengo with the Sun Ra Arkestra, Stanley Clarke, Yussef Dayes, Soulive, and The Soul Rebels featuring Ghostface Killah. Spread across renowned venues including the Blue Note Jazz Club, Sony Hall, SummerStage in Central Park, Town Hall, Brooklyn Bowl, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, this festival promises an unparalleled musical journey through the heart of jazz.
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Note Jazz
This year’s edition takes on a distinctly global flavor with artists hailing from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Niger, and Brazil. Embracing the progressive edge of jazz, performers like Dayes, Julius Rodriguez, and the Ezra Collective promise to push boundaries and defy conventions. Among the myriad highlights, audiences can look forward to performances by Paula Cole, Victor Wooten, the legendary 80-year-old Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke, Antibalas with Hailu Mergia, Ozomatli, Os Mutantes, and Bill Bruford.
For Alex Kurland, the Director of Programming at Blue Note, the return of Wynton Marsalis for 12 shows over six nights holds particular significance. Marsalis, absent from the club as a bandleader since 1991, marks his triumphant return, promising an unforgettable experience for jazz enthusiasts. Following Marsalis’s residency, Ghostface Killah and The Soul Rebels will take the stage for six electrifying shows of their own.
“Soulive’s residency at Blue Note across two weekends is a programming highlight,” Kurland reveals. “Anytime Eric Krasno graces the Blue Note stage is a rare privilege. Meanwhile, Sony Hall promises an unending showcase of musical virtuosity, featuring a lineup of superhero-level talent.”
In addition to the New York festivities, Kurland is immersed in organizing The Black Radio Experience, a boutique iteration of the Blue Note Jazz Festival curated by pianist Robert Glasper. Set to take place from August 30th to September 1st at the Heritage Resort and Spa in Napa, this event offers a more intimate setting compared to previous editions at Silverado Resort and Charles Krug Winery. Past Napa events have seen stellar appearances by the likes of De La Soul, Mary J. Blige, Dave Chappelle, and Snoop Dogg, promising an unforgettable fusion of jazz and contemporary music.
With its diverse lineup, global influences, and commitment to pushing the boundaries of jazz, the Blue Note Jazz Festival continues to reign as a premier event in the world of music, offering an immersive experience for audiences and artists alike.
