(June) To celebrate the 30th anniversary of its inception in 1981, Blue Note New York organized the inaugural Blue Note Jazz Festival in 2011. The festival showcased the upper of upper echelons of jazz and pop musicians in the very best small-to-medium venues in the city. Performers included the likes of Bobby McFerrin, Chaka Khan, Dave Brubeck. Nancy Wilson, Chris Botti, and Madeleine Peyroux. Venues included the world famous Blue …more…

(August) Charlie Parker was one of the most innovative and influential musicians in jazz history. His legacy has persisted throughout the many developments that jazz has undergone over seven decades. This legacy is celebrated every year in New York City (where Parker lived and performed for much of his life) with the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. The esteem in which Parker is held in the jazz community at large is reflected in the festival’s calendar each year; the most important musicians in jazz (from young lions to elder statesmen) turn out to perform and pay their respects. ...more...

One of the most important modern monuments to the American jazz legacy, the non-profit Jazz at Lincoln Center arrived at its Columbus Circle home in 2004 with the state-of-the-art Frederick P. Rose Hall. It has been a cornerstone of the New York City jazz and arts scene ever since. JaLC has fostered the love of jazz among youth and young adults …more…

(NOTE: As of May 2012, the Gallery is looking for a new location.)

A not-for-profit venue serving as a launching pad for the youngest and brightest jazz musicians, The Jazz Gallery began in 1995 as a performance space primarily for music thematically paired with visual mediums. In 2000, it switched entirely to a performance space focusing on emerging professional jazz musicians.

This …more…

(January) New York Winter Jazz Fest takes over the town for two days every January, showcasing the finest local and international talent to be found, and performed in several historic NYC venues. The festival takes place in conjunction with the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) conference, which gives the artists in the festival the opportunity to be seen and heard by thousands of arts professionals in an NYC-club environment. …more…

(June) The newest jazz festival in New York, the Undead JazzFest is focused on what is most current in the New York jazz scene. Over two days in mid-June, three venues in downtown Manhattan are overrun with groups (over 30 in all) representing a wide spectrum of musical styles and backgrounds. All three of the venues (Le Poisson Rouge, Sullivan Hall and Kenny’s Castaways) are in close proximity to one another, creating a festival ground of sorts over a block of Manhattan’s West Village. ...more...

(June) New York has long been a nexus for musicians seeking to push the boundaries of musical expression; ever since the “New Jazz” of the 1950s, open-minded musicians have been flocking here to tap into this fertile creative community. The Vision Festival, in its 16th year as of 2011, creates a focus for this community, offering a forum to musicians from New York and beyond whose work falls outside or between commonly accepted boundaries of genre and style. ...more...