A galaxy of contemporary jazz stars—including saxman Harry Allen, vocalist Freddy Cole, guitarist Gene Bertoncini, pianist Ted Rosenthal, and singer Carol Sloane—will light up the Big Apple with Jazz in July. Proclaimed “one of the city’s great summer traditions” by Bloomberg News, Jazz in July returns to the 92nd Street Y in New York City for its 32nd edition this coming summer.
Pianist Bill Charlap directs the festival which runs from Tuesday, July 19 through Thursday, July 28, at Kaufmann Hall, on the corner of Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, in New York City. All shows start at 8 p.m.
Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now at 92Y.org/JazzinJuly; (212) 415-5500. Prices differ for each event, but range between $52 and $83.75.
Jazz in July opens this year with a Summer Swing Party, a concert modeled after the legendary Jazz at the Philharmonic series, Tuesday, July 19. The octet will be led by Blue Not recording artists Bill Chalap at the keyboard and featuring tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso, baritone saxist Gary Smulyan, alto sax player Chuck Wilson, guitarist Joe Cohen, bassist Todd Coolman and drummer Dennis Mackrell. Swing Era hits such as “Moonglow” and “Four Brothers” will be performed.
Guitarist Gene Bertoncini will be showcased when Jazz Goes to Hollywood on Wednesday, July 20. Gene’s combo—including Jon Gordon, alto sax. Sandy Stewart, vocals, Sean Smith, bass and Lewis Nash, drums— will celebrate songs such as “That’s Entertainment” and “Dancing in the Dark,” just two of the many classic silver-screen tunes penned by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz.
Lionel “Freddy” Cole will pay tribute to his late brother with Unforgettable, The Nat “King” Cole Songbook on Thursday, July 21, and pianist Ted Rosenthal recalls the Kings of Stride, Eubie, Fats & The Lion, on Tuesday, July 26.
Rhode Island-born vocalist Carol Sloane takes center stage with Take the A Train: Billy Strayhorn at 100, on Wednesday, July 27, and Jazz in July climaxes with American Rhapsody, Gershwin, Arlen and the Blues on Thursday, July 28.
