Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival Line-up Announced

Photograph by Andrzej Pilarczyk

The schedule of bands and musicians for the 13th annual Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival has been announced, featuring five acts performing throughout the day on Saturday, September 6. The free fest is slated to run from 1-9pm at Jennings Landing in Albany’s Corning Preserve, capped off with a fireworks display.

UPDATE, 9/5/14: Due to the weather forecast, the festival has been moved to the rainsite – the Corning Preserve Boat Launch under the i-787 overpass.

Here’s the line-up of performers for the 2014 Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival:

MARIA ZEMANTAUSKI
1-1:45pm
The Local 518 musician is one of the premier female flamenco-style guitarists and composers, pushing the boundaries of six string beyond traditional fretwork.

MICHAEL BENEDICT JAZZ VIBES
2:15-3:15pm
Local 518 vibraphonist-drummer Michael Benedict leads his band through a genre-melding mix of Brazilian, bossa nova and straight-ahead jazz sounds.

PROFESSOR CUNNINGHAM AND HIS OLD SCHOOL
3:45–4:45pm
Led by the young Australian reedman, the NYC-based band digs deep into the classic New Orleans repertoire, stretching from Sidney Bechet to Fats Domino.

CATHERINE RUSSELL
5:15–6:15pm
The Wall Street Journal calls her “one of the outstanding singers of our time,” and whether she’s singing jazz, blues, swing, R&B or standards, Catherine Russell’s powerhouse is always in command. She’ll be accompanied by guitarist Mark Munisteri, pianist Mark Shane, bassist Tal Ronen and drummer Mark McLean.

THE JACK DeJOHNETTE TRIO
6:45–8:30pm
Unquestionably one of the greatest living jazz drummers, Woodstock’s Jack DeJohnette has been pushing the beat (and the musical envelope) for a half-century, and he’s still going strong. His trio will also feature saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and bassist Matt Garrison.

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING REAL GOOD FOR FREE EVENTS FOR 2014:

VARIOUS DAYS
Hudson Music Festival @ various locations, Hudson, 8/8-10/14
Freedom Park Concert Series @ Freedom Park, Scotia, 7pm various days
Jazz at the Lake @ Shepard Park, Lake George, 9/13-14/14
MONDAYS
The Look Up! Concert Series @ Johnny’s balcony, Schenectady, 5:30pm Mondays
Dana Park Concert Series @ Dana Park, Albany, 7pm Mondays
Pine Hills Summer Concert Series @ Elks Lodge lawn, Albany, 7pm Mondays
Rotterdam Summer Concert Series @ Rotterdam Senior Citizens Center, Rotterdam, 7pm Mondays
TUESDAYS
Tuesday Nights in the Park @ Cook Park, Colonie, 6pm Tuesdays
Summer Concert Series @ the Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, 6pm Tuesdays
Music in the Park @ Onderdonk Park, East Greenbush, 6pm Tuesdays
Tuesday Nights in Brunswick @ Brunswick Family Community Center grounds, Brunswick, 6:30pm Tuesdays
Music in the Park @ Town Park, Stony Creek, 7pm Tuesdays
Music & Dance Films @ PS21, Chatham, 8:30pm Tuesdays
WEDNESDAYS
Made in the Shade of The Egg @ the Empire State Plaza, Albany, 12noon Wednesdays
Rockin’ On the River @ the Green Island Bridge Parking Lot, Troy, 5pm Wednesdays
Green Island Gazebo Concerts @ River Park, Green Island, 6pm Wednesdays
Music in the Park @ the North End Firehouse, Rensselaer, 6pm Wednesday
Concerts at Windsor Lake @ Windsor Lake, North Adams, 6:30pm Wednesdays
Summer Music Series @ East Greenbush Community Library, East Greenbush, 7pm Wednesdays
Evenings On the Green @ Bethlehem Public Library, Delmar, 7pm Wednesdays
Performing Arts Family Series @ Clifton Common, Clifton Park, 7pm Wednesdays
Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series @ Shepard Park, Lake George, 7:30pm Wednesdays
THURSDAYS
Jazz On Jay @ Jay Street, Schenectady, 12noon Thursdays
Alive at Five @ Jennings Landing, Albany, 5pm Thursdays
Concerts in the Park @ Wiswall Park, Ballston Spa, 6pm Thursdays
Evenings on the Green Concert Series @ Coeymans Landing Park, Ravena, 6pm Thursdays
Thursday Night Concerts @ the Crossings at Colonie, Loudonville, 6:30pm Thursdays
Schaghticoke Summer Concerts @ Schaghticoke Town Hall Lawn, Melrose, 6:30pm Thursdays
Music in the Park @ Dutchmans Landing, Catskill, 7pm Thursdays
FRIDAYS
Canal Square Concert Series @ Canal Square, Cohoes, 6pm Fridays
Garage Bands in the Garage @ Albany Public Library, Albany, 6pm select Fridays
UpBeat On the Roof @ Skidmore College’s Tang Museum, Saratoga Springs, 7pm Fridays
Athens Summer Concert Series @ Riverfront Park, Athens, 7pm Fridays
Music at Sunset @ Greenport Town Park, Hudson, 7pm Fridays
Concerts in the Courtyard @ the County Courtyard, Schoharie, 7pm Fridays
SATURDAYS
Powers Park Concert Series @ Powers Park, Troy, 6pm Saturdays
Riverlink Concerts @ Riverlink Park, Amsterdam, 7pm Saturdays
SUNDAYS
North Greenbush Summer Concert Series @ Town Hall lawn, Wynantskill, 6pm Sunday
Music in the Park @ Riverfront Park, Coxsackie, 6pm Sundays
Music Haven Concert Series @ Central Park’s Music Haven, Schenectady, 7pm Sundays
Performing Arts On the Common @ Clifton Common, Clifton Park, 7pm Sundays