Jazz in July at the 92nd Street Y is one of New York City’s hottest summer jazz festivals. Jazz in July presents many different visions of America’s music.
The Jazz Age of the 1920s and 30s defined American culture. Jazz is global now, but though New Orleans jazz, Brazilian choro, and Jewish klezmer developed independently, they all swing. Explain that!
Jazz in July 2024
Jazz in July is a hot summer jazz festival at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan’s Upper East Side; from July 17-27, 2024 at 7:30pm. From $25.
It’s presented both in-person and streaming online for 72 hours after the show, so you don’t have to miss a beat.
Kenny, Benny & Bop!
![Jazz in July, Aaron Diehl (Maria Jarzyna/92NY)](https://www.newyorklatinculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Jazz-in-July-Aaron-Diehl-in-2019-copyright-Maria-Jarzyna-courtesy-92NY-1200x675-1-1024x576.jpg)
The Jazz in July 2024 jazz festival opens with five pianists in one- and two-piano sets featuring NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron, Benny Green, Helen Sung, Joe Block, and Aaron Diehl; at the 92nd Street Y, New York, and online; on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 7:30pm. From $25. 92ny.org
If you like jazz piano, you will love this show. Two-piano sets are really fun. This is jazz, so the artists will be improvising, and riffing off each other. One piano can make a very full sound. Two pianos bopping can be absolutely celestial.
Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet
![Jazz in July Isaiah Thompson (Lawrence Sumulong/92NY)](https://www.newyorklatinculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Jazz-in-July-Isaiah-Thompson-courtesy-Lawrence-Sumulong-92NY-1200x675-1-1024x576.jpg)
The Jazz in July 2024 jazz festival presents 2023 American Pianists Award-winner, the Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet; at the 92nd Street Y, New York, and online; on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 7:30pm. From $25. 92ny.org
Isaiah J. Thompson is a young pianist with a bright future in gospel and soul-influence jazz. Just when you think they don’t make don’t make them like that anymore, along comes an artist like Thompson. The pianist in the John Pizzarelli Trio is already playing with a who is who list of jazz greats. If you go to this show, you can say you saw Thompson back in the day when he was just starting out.
Singers and the Song: Marilyn Maye, Catherine Russell, and Ekep Nkwelle
The Jazz in July 2024 jazz festival presents three generations of jazz vocalists with Marilyn Maye, Catherine Russell, and Ekep Nkwelle backed by the Aaron Diehl Trio; at the 92nd Street Y, New York, and online; on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 7:30pm. From $25. 92ny.org 🇺🇸 🇨🇲
Marilyn Maye has been singing jazz for around 80 years now, with artists like Charlie Parker and Count Basie. National Public Radio (NPR) called her “one of our greatest living songbook singers.” The American Songbook is special because though it leans into pop music, much of the Songbook started as jazz.
Catherine Russell is Grammy-winning jazz royalty. The daughter of Louis Armstrong’s pianist and music director has jazz in her blood.
Ekep Nkwelle is a Cameroonian American jazz vocalist who was a finalist in the esteemed Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Her Cameroonian heritage is interesting because Cameroon is a Central African country next to West Africa. A lot of Caribbean culture comes from that region, and New Orleans’ Caribbean culture created jazz.
Etienne Charles and Creole Soul
![Jazz in July Etienne Charles (92NY)](https://www.newyorklatinculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Jazz-in-July-Etienne-Charles-blue-courtesy-92NY-1200x675-1-1024x576.jpg)
The Jazz in July 2024 jazz festival presents the Calypso rhythms of Julliard-trained Trinidadian trumpeter Etienne Charles and Creole Soul; at the 92nd Street Y, New York, and online; on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 7:30pm. From $25. 92ny.org 🇹🇹
Etienne Charles is originally from Trinidad, the home of calypso and soca, and the Mother of Caribbean Carnival. Trinidad’s Indian and Chinese influences make it one of the most diverse Caribbean countries. Jazz sounds a little different everywhere that it is played. Charles’ sound has that Antillean Creole Swing in it. It’s that Carnival vibe!
Preludes: Adam Birnbaum, Jeb Patton, and Aaron Diehl
The Jazz in July 2024 jazz festival explores the classical influence of jazz with Adam Birnbaum, Jeb Patton, and Aaron Diehl; at the 92nd Street Y, New York, and online; on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 7:30pm. From $25. 92ny.org 🇺🇸
Classical music and jazz are two sides of the same coin. The virtuosity of many jazz musicians comes from a lot of classical training. In a way, jazz is the American classical music. It is now accepted as the American opera. Hearing an artist flow back and forth between jazz and classical traditions is sweet like a popsicle on a hot summer day.
Tyshawn Sorey Trio and Warren Wolf
![Jazz in July Tyshawn Sorey (92NY)](https://www.newyorklatinculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Jazz-in-July-Tyshawn-Sorey-courtesy-92NY-1200x675-1-1024x576.jpg)
The Jazz in July 2024 jazz festival has composer and multi-instrumentalist Tyshawn Sorey reimagining the American Songbook with Aaron Diehl on piano, Warren Wolf on vibes; at the 92nd Street Y, New York, and online; on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 7:30pm. From $25. 92ny.org 🇺🇸
Jazz in July
The Festival has a piano focus after the first artistic directors Dick Hyman and Bill Charlap. An interesting thing about the piano is that though it plays melodies, it is a percussion instrument.