(HUDSON, NY) -- Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House has announced the complete lineup of the 2024 Hudson Jazz Festival, which takes place October 4-6 during the stunning autumn season throughout the bucolic town of Hudson in Upstate New York, this year's Festival celebrates several firsts: a free outdoor block party launching the start of the Festival; a city-wide expansion to several different venues; and a shift from Winter to Fall to take advantage of the region's famous leaf-peeping season.
Having grown in both size and reputation since it first began in 2018, this seventh annual Hudson Jazz Festival presents world class headliners with wide-ranging musical influences and styles in a celebration of music, art, and community.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase not just some of the most exciting jazz artists of today, but the unique beauty of our region during the spectacular fall season,” says Hudson Hall Executive Director Tambra Dillon.
The 2024 Hudson Jazz Festival mainstage lineup at Hudson Hall features “performers that delight audiences with their ability to effortlessly integrate tradition, innovation, and fun!” says Festival Curator Cat Henry.
Cameroonian-American vocalist and two-time Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition finalist Ekep Nkwelle kicks off the festival with an evening dedicated to the indomitable spirit of Ella Fitzgerald; Downbeat magazine’s “25 for The Future” trumpeter Riley Mulherkar headlines the Saturday evening slot; and jazz pianist and “master of melody” (Downbeat) Ethan Iverson closes out the mainstage on Sunday afternoon with his “truly remarkable” trio (Jazzwise). Media personality and host of the popular jazz podcast Artimacy, Keanna Faircloth, joins the festival as host.
New for 2024, the Hudson Jazz Festival expands city-wide with the addition of three new festival venues. Hudson brewery and taphouse Return Brewing hosts the Hudson Jazz Festival Opening Night Party with live music by Phat, Incorporated (October 4), jazz pianist Jesse Fischer at the The Half Moon (October 5), while Wayne Tucker and the Bad Mothas offers festival goers a chance to wind down their weekend in style at Kitty’s Backyard (October 6). The festival vibe permeates throughout town all weekend thanks to popup performances by Bard College Jazz musicians and local jazz artists.
Also new for 2024, the festival begins with a free Community Day on Saturday, September 28. The day includes an outdoor block party, an art exhibition in Hudson Hall’s first floor galleries, and Melanie Charles’ Make Jazz Trill Again (MJTA): Trill Mega Jam. Vocalist/flutist Charles leads a high-energy set featuring an all-star ensemble.Cat Henry adds, “Melanie Charles is an artist that ‘takes us on a journey that embodies the soul of jazz’ (NPR) and a central figure in a vibrant musical community made up of loving, talented, and innovative musicians, poets, DJs, and artists.” Following the set, audiences are invited to participate in a community jam session.
Hudson-based artist Reginald Madison curates the 2024 Hudson Jazz Festival visual arts exhibition at Hudson Hall, opening at Community Day (September 28) with an artists reception. Titled Between the Cracks, the exhibition features his own work alongside Hudson Valley artists Nchota Badila, Lyle Ashton Harris, Francine Hunter McGivern, Shanekia McIntosh, Sedat Pakay (1945-2016), Rando, Kianja Strobert, and Lenox, MA-based artist Jim Youngerman.
"Many things recommend the former whaling town of Hudson, N.Y. besides its river perch, Greek Revivalist architecture and mid-century modern antique stores. Not the least of these is the Hudson Jazz Festival" – Suzanne Lorge, New York City Jazz Record
In February 2018, as part of its reopening season, Hudson Hall introduced the first Hudson Jazz Festival to celebrate one of America’s greatest art forms in its newly restored theater. Curated by jazz pianist Armen Donelian, the inaugural festival was endorsed by Sonny Rollins and featured legendary jazz artists Sheila Jordan and NEA Jazz Master Joanne Brackeen, as well as a hands-on workshop for local middle and high school students. The 2019 and 2020 festivals built on this foundation with music by luminaries including Billy Harper, Cidinho Teixeria, Bobby Sanabria, Amir ElSaffar, and others. The festival’s reputation was cemented in 2022 with curator Cat Henry’s stellar lineup including Jazzmeia Horn, The Baylor Project, and Jimmy Greene; and hit an all -time high in 2023 with sold out performances by Marquis Hill, Aaron Parks and Samantha Rise featuring Meshell Ndegeocello, plus Endea Owens & The Cookout, and more.
In 2020, Hudson Hall added a visual arts exhibition that remained an ongoing element of future jazz festivals. The first exhibition was curated by Reginald Madison, a working artist who is passionate about jazz, featured the work of artists living or working in the area: David Hammons, Bijan Mahmoodi, Reginald Madison, Marlene Marshall, Kris Perry, Richard Sandler, Tschabalala Self, and Kianja Strobert.
Hudson Jazz Festival provides a platform to support jazz artists, unify and connect its diverse community, strengthen the local and regional economy, and improve the lives of area residents.
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