2 nights of memorable music with timeless classics at Northwest Jazz Festival

Fri, Aug 16th 2024 11:00 am

Returning to Center Street Aug. 23-24

Submitted by the Northwest Jazz Festival Board

The largest outdoor jazz festival in Western New York returns to Center Street in Lewiston on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24, with the 2024 Northwest Jazz Festival. Get ready for an unprecedented celebration of the “Great American Songbook” on the Main Stage during the two days of the festival.

On Friday evening, the celebration kicks-off with the Pete Malinverni Trio, emerging jazz vocalist star Anaïs Reno, and special guest renowned jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein. On Saturday, Jazz at the Ballroom, one of the nation’s foremost organizations sustaining the legacy of the “Great American Songbook,” will feature an all-star ensemble presenting three meticulously curated programs: “Get Out of Town,” “Flying High” and “Accentuate the Positive.” This uniquely special and one-of-a-kind celebration is a presentation you won’t find at any other festival this year!

The two-day festival runs from 5-10:30 p.m. Friday, and again from noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday. The historic village will come alive with live music, food/beverage vendors, a jewelry tent and more surprises, with five stages throughout the grounds.

Pete Malinverni

Anaïs Reno

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The festival is free to attend (no coolers or carry-ins). A limited number of tickets are available for preferred seating at the Main Stage – best for up-close viewing, beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets, at $25 each, are available online at www.lewistonJazz.com or at the festival (limited basis, cash only).

Patrons are encouraged to support the vendors, with seating throughout the festival grounds. Guests can bring their own lawn chair.

Jazz Festival Board Chairwoman Carol Calato said she looks forward to the crowd of jazz enthusiasts: "We invite you to enjoy the talented musicians, great food, cold beverages and the authentic charm of this beautiful village. The annual jazz festival is a highlight for many! We are honored to host over 100 musicians on five stages for your entertainment. The festival has an over two-decade tradition of bringing free music to the community. Please support the vendors, and consider donating or becoming a sponsor to ensure the future of the festival.”

In addition to the Main Stage, the festival highlights musicians from Western New York and throughout the country. Swing Buffalo will present Friday Night Dance with the Anderson Big Band at the Center Street Stage on Friday night. Local vocal group Harmonia Vocal Ensemble will perform Saturday, as will local favorite Janice Mitchell and Jim Beishline Trio.

Jazz Festival Music Director Tony Zambito said, “We are thrilled to bring to the festival this one-of-a-kind celebration of the ‘Great American Songbook’ that will offer an experience you won’t find at any other festival. In addition, we are equally excited to showcase exceptional local and regional talent that highlights the vibrant and diverse jazz community that thrives in our region.”

The Main Stage will feature hometown favorite Pete Malinverni. Since leaving his hometown of Lewiston, Pete has become a prominent figure in New York City’s jazz community. He has consistently honed his craft, exploring the rich repertoire of the “Great American Songbook,” including compositions by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and Leonard Bernstein, alongside his original works.

Alongside selections from the “Great American Songbook,” Malinverni also draws inspiration from a variety of sources, offering a sincere reflection of his identity as both an artist and an advocate of spreading joy through music.

Join us for an evening of welcoming him home and enjoying Pete's incredibly entertaining jazz.

Saturday evening will continue with a creative program by the Jazz at the Ballroom organization, which has presented special programs on the “Great American Songbook” at the country’s most respected venues (Kennedy Center, Skirball Cultural Center, Lobero Theatre, and at New York City’s famed Birdland). Jazz at the Ballroom will feature a lineup of rising stars led by the extraordinary jazz pianist Konrad Paszkudzki and rising star pianist/vocalist Champian Fulton.

Champian Fulton

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The ensemble will also feature bassist Dylan Shamat, vocalist Olivia Chindamo, vocalist Vanessa Perea, vocalist Wyatt Michael, trombonist Rob Edwards and saxophonist Adrian Cunningham.

The festival’s “Great American Songbook” celebration will end with a grand finale presented by the Jazz at the Ballroom all-star ensemble at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Look for the silver lining, walk on the sunny side of the street, and dance cheek to cheek with a swinging lineup Inspired by Bing Crosby’s 1944 hit “Accentuate the Positive.” The grand finale will be a night of memorable music that helped people through the ups and downs of the 1920s to 1940s. These timeless classics will live on forever.

The festival is free to attend, made possible by the support of sponsors and donors.

The presenting sponsor is Northwest Bank, with Modern Disposal Services, Sevenson Environmental and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission serving as stage sponsors. A full sponsor listing is available online.

For additional information, visit www.LewistonJazz.com.

“Accentuate the Positive”

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Center Street closing for event

To accommodate the Northwest Jazz Festival, Center Street will close, from Fourth to Seventh streets, at 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23. The cross streets at Fourth and Seventh streets will remain open (both north and south).

Center Street will reopen at approximately 4 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 25.
Fifth Street will be closed at Ridge Street to Plain Street during these same hours.

Please be sure to make any necessary arrangements for delivery trucks during these hours, as vehicles that do not have a Jazz Festival permit will not be allowed on Center Street while it is closed for set up. Only permitted vendor/festival vehicles will be allowed on Center Street for setup/cleanup.