The 2020 JazzFest White Plains festival returns for its ninth year this September as a virtual event for the safety of performers and their fans.
The four-day celebration of jazz music and culture sponsored by Bank of America runs from Sept. 8 to 11 on Facebook Live and Zoom. The seven virtual
events will feature performances and talks by several jazz stars in Westchester County and New York City, including eight time Grammy Award nominee
and composer Bobby Sanabria; singer Alexis Cole; and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr., who played on vocalist Kurt Elling’s Grammy-winning album “Dedicated to
You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman.”
ArtsWestchester, the city of White Plains and the White Plains Business Improvement District will present this season’s festival as a series of stimulating
live-streamed programs. Programs will include thought-provoking discussions, energetic performances and educational demonstrations. The events range from a panel discussion on “Jazz Education in Westchester” to an all-originals set by the Isabella Mendes and Flavio Lira Duo, whose work is rooted in Brazilian jazz and bossa nova.
“No other slogan is as dear to performers’ hearts than ‘The show must go on.’ In that spirit we decided to continue our annual jazz festival virtually with the
hope of entertaining those sheltering at home, celebrating our rich local jazz history and showcasing the amazing talent in our community,” said Janet Langsam, CEO of ArtsWestchester. “Our Jazz’s Rising Stars program, for example, will feature four of the most sought-after young jazz musicians in the United States—Veronica Swift, Connie Han, Matthew Whitaker, and Alicia Olatuja.”
White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach added, “I am so pleased that this unique event will continue this year. Recreation & Parks Commissioner Wayne Bass, Arts-
Westchester and the BID, have worked hard to create the program for this year’s virtual event and it promises to be interesting and fun! I urge everyone to join
in and be a part of White Plains JazzFest 2020!”
Other JazzFest highlights include a Sept. 10 Jazz at the Intersections program featuring artists pushing the boundaries of jazz by engaging musical traditions
alongside and outside the genre. Live demonstrations by Amir El-Saffar, Pablo Mayor and Jomion & the Uklos along with a moderated discussion will introduce audiences to the world of jazz fusion.
Additionally, Westchester Jazz: Then and Now is a Sept. 8 panel discussion with performers who have deep roots and ties to Westchester. Saxophonist Art
Bennett, pianist Kathryn Farmer, trumpeter Kenny Lee and bassist Rocky Middelton will perform and discuss the history and development of jazz in Westchester.
The virtual JazzFest events are scheduled for noon, the afternoon and evening. The events are free but registration to attend is required. (Submitted)
