It's always wonderful when a sequel is better than the original - and that was certainly the case with the second annual New York Hot Jazz Festival.
The festival was held at the beautiful and historic Players Club, featuring 16 bands, 8 solo pianists, and a couple of jam sessions on two levels, and a tribute to Louis Armstrong and vintage jazz clips on the lower level. Dancers had room to cut the rug, so to speak, and a fabulous time was had by all!
Performers on stage included:
Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
with Catherine RussellKen Peplowski's New Swing
with Marilyn MayeFrank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo
The Hot Sardines
David Otswald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band
with Wycliffe GordonBria Skonberg's BRASS KICKER
Cynthia Sayer & Sparks Fly
Dan Levinson's Gotham SophistiCats
with Molly Ryan, Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton and Andrew NemrProfessor Cunningham's Old School
with Brianna ThomasBaby Soda Jazz Band
The Xylopholks
Emily Asher's Garden Party
Ladybugs
with Kate DavisMike Davis New Wonders
Adrien Chevalier's Hot Club of New York
Scrub Board Serenaders
In the Ragtime and Stride Piano Room:
Jon Weber
Peter Yarin
Mark Shane
Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton
Ehud Asherie
Jesse Gelber
I was thrilled to have my report and photos of the festival chosen as the cover story for New Jersey Jazz Society's Jazz Journal July/August issue:
http://www.njjs.org/p/jazzJournal.phpFor more information about upcoming jazz festivals, reach out to:
http://www.nyhotjazzfest.com/
