WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Pablo Mayor | Downtown Music at Grace Church | Noon
Pablo Mayor is one of the leading contemporary voices of Colombian music outside its borders. His fresh approach to the piano combines his formal studies in jazz arranging with a deep knowledge of Colombian rhythm, salsa, and Cuban charanga.
Art Bennett | Court Street Farmers Market | 12:30 – 2:30pm
Saxophonist Art Bennett was born and raised in White Plains, where he first began studying jazz. Active in the “Loft Jazz” movement of the 1970s in New York City, he has performed with greats Lonnie Smith, Rashied Ali, Roy Brooks, William Parker, and many others.

Downtown White Plains Jazz Stroll

Albert Rivera | Mediterraneo, White Plains | 6pm
Contemporary, smooth, and eclectic – three words that just begin to describe Albert Rivera, “a modern Jazz Messenger” with one of the most exciting and sought-after saxophone sounds in today’s jazz scene.
Alexis Cole | Morton’s Steak House | 7pm
Award-winning jazz vocalist Alexis Cole may be the most talented singer to ever hold a top-secret military clearance. A dozen albums into her critically acclaimed career, she may also be the best-kept secret in jazz, a status that’s certain to change as more people are discovering her for themselves.
Emedin Rivera and Tropical Turbulence | Sofrito | 8pm
Emedin has a unique ability to incorporate and blend Latin, Caribbean and African influences into a vast array of musical styles. A five-time Emmy award winner, he is known for developing his own system of playing drums and congas simultaneously, which he calls a “Percussion Kit.”
Gil Parris | Ron Blacks Beer Hall | 9:00pm
Grammy-Nominated guitar virtuoso Gil Parris, is known for his special blend of Blues, Jazz, Rock and Smooth Jazz. He has recorded and toured both as a solo artist and sideman with major artists like Dr.John, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Diane Schuur, David Mann, Billy Vera, Bobby Caldwell, Toni Braxton to name just a few.

*all performances subject to change without notice

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

Carl Viggiani | Jazz & Java | White Plains Public Library | 7:30-9:30am
Start your morning at the Library’s Everyday Healthy Café with jazz duo HRIDAYA. Pianist and composer Carl Viggiani and drummer Jon Doty present a program of original compositions and improvisations that are influenced by Zen meditation practice. 
The Burr Johnson Band | The Galleria at White Plains | 12:15pm
A lively trio of guitar, bass, and drums, the Burr Johnson Band is best known for fusing jazz, funk, blues, and rock into fun and highly-energetic performances. They have played at the Montreux Jazz festival and have opened for artists including Ray Charles, BB King, Spyro Gyra and others.

Two Set Evening of Jazz

($20 each set or $35 combo ticket for both)
The Emmet Cohen Trio | ArtsWestchester | 7pm
Emmet Cohen, Piano; Yasushi Nakamra, Bass; and Bryan Carter, Drums
Recognized as a prodigy who began playing at age three, multifaceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen has emerged as one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music. DownBeat Magazine observed that his “nimble touch, measured stride and warm harmonic vocabulary indicate he’s above any convoluted technical showmanship.” Christian McBride has referred to him as “one of the most dynamic young musicians on the scene today.” He has already shared the bandstand with Joshua Redman, Patti Austin, Maceo Parker, Billy Hart, Anat Cohen, Christian McBride and others.

Veronica Swift with The Emmet Cohen Trio| ArtsWestchester | 8:30pm
Veronica Swift, a 2015 winner of the Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition, is one of the top young singers in jazz today. The 23-year old has been gaining attention throughout the jazz world, performing every Saturday night at New York City’s famed Birdland Jazz Club, where she was also recently featured as a special guest with John Pizzarelli. In addition to performing the Great American Songbook and Bebop and Vocalese classics, Veronica is also a passionate devotee of 20s and 30s music and has sung with Vince Giordano, Terry Waldo, and Drew Nugent. For this performance, she will be joined by the Emmet Cohen Trio.

*all performances subject to change without notice

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Carl Viggiani | Jazz & Java | White Plains Public Library | 7:30-9:30am
Start your morning at the Library’s Everyday Healthy Café with jazz duo HRIDAYA. Pianist and composer Carl Viggiani and drummer Jon Doty present a program of original compositions and improvisations that are influenced by Zen meditation practice. 
Rocky Middleton Jazz Ensemble | White Plains Plaza at One North Broadway | 5pm
Enjoy a performance by this sextet led by world-travelled ambassador of music and bass player Rocky Middleton.
The Rudresh Mahanthappa Trio | ArtsWestchester | 8pm | $25
Named alto saxophonist of the year for six years running, Downbeat Magazine’s International Critics’ Polls, Rudresh Mahanthappa is widely known as one of the premier voices in jazz of the 21st century. Enjoy an evening of music alive with rhythmic urgency, steeped in the lineage of jazz saxophone and responsive to traditions and practices of the wider musical world. Performance will feature Rudresh Mahanthappa on sax, Francois Moutin on bass and Jonathan Blake on drums.

Jazz Jam | ArtsWestchester | 10pm – Midnight | $5
Join in a Jazz Jam led by Jake Robinson from the Music Conservatory of Westchester, Ed Palermo at Hoff-Barthelson Music School, and faculty from SUNY Purchase.

*all lineups subject to change without notice

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Brian Carter | Court Street Farmer’s Market | 11am – 1pm
Brian Carter is known throughout the Westchester music scene. A professional drummer since 1976, with affiliations with Bob Baldwin, Gil Paris, Bernie Williams, Eddie Henderson, Jack Dijonette, Wali Ali, Nico Morelli and the late Didier Lockwood. Brian now is introducing 424 Studios, a recording studio with warmth and “The Listening Room” with a vinyl collection of over 1400 records.
Hands On Jazz for Families | White Plains Public Library | 2 – 4pm
Join teachers from The Music Conservatory of Westchester at the White Plains Public Library for a participatory event. After a short set featuring classic Jazz standards, the teachers will be available to help young people try the instruments they are playing. Extra instruments for people to use will be available. This is your chance to make the music you’ll hear all week at White Plains Jazz Fest and interact with professional musicians. ~Supported by Sam Ash Music Corp.
Arturo O’Farrill Sextet | White Plains Performing Arts Center | 8pm | $24-$44
ARTURO O’FARRILL, pianist, composer, educator, and founder and Artistic Director of the nonprofit Afro Latin Jazz Alliance was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City.  A multi-Grammy award winner in the Best Latin Jazz Album category (2009/20015/2016), O’Farrill is widely recognized as one of the most important figures in Latin Jazz today. Most recently, he was awarded a 2018 Grammy in Best Instrumental Composition for his “Three Revolutions” from the album “Familia – Tribute to Chico and Bebo.” As a solo performer, he has performed with a wide spectrum of artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis, and Harry Belafonte. His Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra and Boss Level Sextet have performed throughout the U.S., Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
*lineup subject to change without notice

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

White Plains Jazz & Food Festival

Mamaroneck Avenue at Main Street
Noon – 5:30pm | FREE
Pete Malinverni & the SUNY Purchase Jazz All-Stars | Noon – 12:45pm
Jay Hoggard Quartet | 1:05 – 1:50pm
The music of vibraphonist and composer Jay Hoggard is positive, spiritual and uplifting. He masterfully draws on a traditional and contemporary musical vocabulary to develop new directions for the vibraphone. Hoggard was born and raised in Mt. Vernon, New York.
Samba New York! | 2:10 – 3pm
An internationally recognized samba company, Samba New York! has helped to change the culture of New York City and beyond through the joyful music and dance of Brazil.
Lakecia Benjamin & Soulsquad | 3:30 – 4:10pm
Charismatic and dynamic saxophonist/bandleader Lakecia Benjamin’s electric stage presence and fiery sax work, has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, The Roots, Macy Gray and many others. She brings the soul and funk up to a feverish pitch that’s guaranteed to keep crowds dancing day or night.
Marquis Hill Blacktet | 4:30-5:30pm
Chicago native trumpeter and composer Marquis Hill is widely recognized as one of the preeminent voices on the instrument of his generation. Winner of the 2014 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition, Hill has described as “a dauntingly skilled trumpeter” (New York Times) whose “music crystallizes the hard-hitting, hard-swinging spirit of Chicago jazz” (Chicago Tribune).
Plus, JazzFest is pleased to welcome Feeding Westchester’s Empty Bowls event (sponsored by Stop & Shop) to downtown White Plains from noon – 5:30pm to help raise awareness for Hunger Action Month.  Stop by their booth to learn more about their services and programs and to select your very own hand-made artisan bowl.
Do you have an old instrument that you haven’t used? An instrument swap tent will be on site at the festival if you’d like to trade one old instrument for another.

*lineup subject to change without notice

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS
Alex Lounge Bar & Grill * Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza * Buffalo Wild Wings * Gaucho Burger Company * Hastings Tea & Coffee Lounge