ALBANY — Five incredible acts and a dazzling fireworks display will highlight the 20th Annual Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival as it kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 10.
The all-day free concert starts at noon with the presentation of the Henry Johnson Award at Jennings Landing, followed by music from The Teresa Broadwell Quintet, Charged Particles, Black Tie Brass, Samara Joy and headling act, The Soul Rebels.
The Teresa Broadwell Quintet is to take the stage at 12:30, performing energetic small-combo swing and jazz. Broadwell plays jazz fiddle in a style influenced by the great Stuff Smith and sings lively bop, swing, and jump drawn from a wide range of straight-ahead jazz artists. The group features the great Leo Russo on sax, dean of the Albany jazz community, whose resume includes tenures with Woody Herman, Bobby Sherwood and many other mainstays of the jazz world.
Capital District jazz veterans Mike Novakowski on guitar, Pete Toigo on bass and Cliff Brucker on drums provide a powerful and compelling rhythm section that keeps the music moving forward.
At 2 p.m., Charged Particles will feature a stylistic blends of traditions. The group showcases three of the country’s virtuosos in the acoustic and electric jazz arena. Murray Low is a keyboard wizard with dazzling Latin-jazz technique and imaginative improvisational skills. Aaron Germain is an inventive and sophisticated acoustic and electric bassist. Along with fiery drummer Jon Krosnick, these players are making some of the most electrifying jazz in the country today.
The trio’s funky Latin jazz repertoire, blending in elements of classical music, mixes complex orchestration with freewheeling improvisation. The band brings a similar approach to playing their own arrangements of jazz standards, each played with a new twist.
Black Tie Brass is a horn-driven jazz/funk band from New York City, and is scheduled to perform at 3:30 p.m.. The group combines the presence of a New Orleans brass band with the sound of a funk band to create a musically invigorating experience.
Samara Joy makes her case to join the likes of Sarah, Ella, and Billie as the next mononymous jazz singing sensation recorded by Verve Records. Her voice, rich and velvety yet precociously refined, has already earned her fans like Anita Baker and Regina King, appearances on the TODAY Show and millions of likes on TikTok — cementing her status as perhaps the first Gen Z jazz singing star. She’s to hit the stage at 5 p.m.
The Soul Rebels, an eight-man troup that locks into an unspoken groove, will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. They rotate genres like your favorite playlist shifting from funk, jazz and R&B to hip-hop, pop and beyond with fire, focus and fluidity.
Since its debut in 2002, the City of Albany Jazz Festival has featured an eclectic array of all-time musical greats, critically acclaimed up-and-coming artists and local favorites. Great food, beverages and vendors make the Jazz Festival an event for all ages and admission is free.
The City of Albany’s Riverfront Jazz Festival will celebrate its 20th year by continuing its partnership with Zero Waste Capital District, a volunteer coalition. With the combined efforts of the City of Albany Sustainability Department, Zero Waste Capital District and City of Albany Department of General Services teams we hope to make this the most environmentally friendly festival in the area! Representatives will also be on-site to give helpful tips to festival attendees on how to compost and recycle at home.
For more information on the Jazz Festival, call 518-434-2032 or visit www.albanyevents.org.
