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Joey DeFrancesco will headline Jazz Festival Sunday in Lewiston. (Photo provided by Northwest Lewiston Jazz Festival)
Joey DeFrancesco will headline Jazz Festival Sunday in Lewiston. (Photo provided by Northwest Lewiston Jazz Festival)

Northwest Jazz Festival announces headliners

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Tue, Apr 5th 2022 12:25 pm

Historic Lewiston event, celebrating 20 years in 2022, returns after a two-year hiatus

After an unexpected two-year hiatus, the Northwest Jazz Festival returns to historic Lewiston Aug. 26-27. The event will highlight local, international and North American jazz artists including Sally Terrell, John di Martino, Stacey Kent, Corrine Mammana, Allison Au, Emmet Cohen and Joey DeFrancesco.

The two-day festival brings live music to Center Street with a select representation of the region's finest food and beverage vendors, local wineries, distilleries and breweries.

Jazz started to return last year, when local musicians were hired to perform in Lewiston. For 2022, the board of directors will celebrate the festival’s 20-year anniversary – alongside presenting sponsor Northwest Bank and a collection of supportive businesses and organizations – with a lineup curated by music director Tony Zambito.

“The headliners this year are all incredibly shining stars in the jazz world who have demonstrated creative resourcefulness in overcoming the pandemic,” Zambito said. “We are excited to have Grammy nominees and a Juno Award winner on the main stage this year.

“This year, we will celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary and we could not be happier to welcome Joey DeFrancesco back to the Niagara Falls region, where his father, Papa John, cemented the DeFrancesco legacy. In addition, we welcome back jazz vocalist Sally Terrell, who is also from this area and has a fabulous new album being released with jazz pianist extraordinaire John di Martino.

“We are excited to share that we will have a rare appearance and debut performance by Grammy nominee and jazz vocalist Stacy Kent. If anyone embodied perseverance during the pandemic, it was Emmet Cohen, and we are excited to have him and the trio perform. Having Juno Award winner the Allison Au Quartet from Canada is a chance to welcome our Canadian fans back to the festival. We are also delighted to have the opportunity to showcase an up-and-coming jazz vocalist, Corinne Mammana.”

Stacey Kent will headline Jazz Festival Saturday in Lewiston. (Photo provided by Northwest Lewiston Jazz Festival)

••••••••

The main stage, at Center and Fourth streets, will welcome:

•Friday, Aug. 26

√ Jazz vocalist/pianist Sally Terrell with acclaimed jazz pianist/arranger John di Martino

√ Grammy nominated jazz vocalist Stacey Kent in a regional debut performance

•Saturday, Aug. 27

√ Acclaimed jazz vocalist Corinne Mammana

√ Juno Award-winning the Allison Au Quartet

√ 2019 American Pianist Award Winner and “Live from Emmet’s Place” Emmet Cohen Trio

√ 5-time Grammy nominee and Downbeat Critic’s Poll No. 1 jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco

Organizers said, “Each year, the festival relies on the support of donors and sponsors to remain the largest free jazz festival in the region, alongside hosting an annual fundraiser in the spring.”

Board Chairwoman Carol Calato said, “We are grateful for the overwhelming support we have already received from the generosity of sponsors to make sure a 2022 event takes place. We are hard at work on the anniversary celebration and plan to give you another two days of spectacular entertainment featuring international stars as well as some of our own local super talents. It is clear that everyone loves and misses the Jazz Festival and wants it to continue to be a success.”

A Jazz Festival fundraiser will be held from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at the Brickyard Brewing Company on Center Street in Lewiston. The event will feature music by the Stu Weissman Trio, Saranaide and the Buffalo Dolls. Tickets for the fundraiser are available at the festival website at this link: 2022 Jazz Festival Fundraiser.

Organizers said, “Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets even if they are unable to attend the jazz fundraiser event, to help contribute to the fundraising undertaken by the festival.”

For more information, visit https://www.lewistonjazz.com/.

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