Caffe Lena’s Stay Home Sessions: June 26th to July 2nd

Two of our region’s great music festivals, Freihofer’s Jazz Fest at SPAC and Old Songs Festival at the Altamont Fairgrounds, always land on the same weekend. And more often than we’d like, rain pays an unwelcome visit. But this year, thanks to Covid-19 (oy!), we’ve solved both problems! You can watch both festivals online and you can stay dry in your living room.

Caffe Lena is partnering with SPAC to produce the “Freihofer’s Jazz Fest Stay Home Sessions.” What an amazing honor! The opening sets, by Chuck Lamb & Jorge Gomez, Skidmore Jazz Institute Alumni, and Garland Nelson’s Motown Tribute Ensemble, will take place on Lena’s stage. The headliners, Pedrito Martinez, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, and Jon Batiste, will be joining us from their home studios. This stream will be completely free with no tip jar in sight. You’ll find your Jazz Fest buddies in the chat room and it will really take the edge off missing this beloved summer kick off.  

Four ways to find the “Stay Home Sessions” 

1. Click a photo below to go directly to that broadcast
2. Go to www.CaffeLena.org and click the red box for “Stream Live on YouTube”
3. Go to www.CaffeLena.org and scroll down to click “Watch Our Live Stream”
4. Go to www.YouTube.com/CaffeLena, click Playlists, click Upcoming Livestreams.

Stay Home Sessions:

Friday, June 26
Freihofer’s Jazz Fest Stay Home Sessions:
Pedrito Martinez & Chuck Lamb and Jorge Gomez

Saturday, June 27
Freihofer’s Jazz Fest Stay Home Sessions:
Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn
& Skidmore Jazz Institute Alumni Trio 

Sunday, June 28
Freihofer’s Jazz Fest Stay Home Sessions: Jon Batiste
& Garland Nelson’s “Reflections: A Motown Tribute Ensemble”  

Tuesday, June 30
Local Immigrants and the Impact of COVID-19 – LIVE

Saratoga Immigration Coalition presents a panel discussion about the impact of Covid-19 on low-income immigrants in Saratoga. Speakers are Alberto Matos, Assistant Chaplain with the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, and Joan Odess, Immigrant Services Manager for Saratoga EOC. Terry Diggory moderates.

Wednesday, July 1
Poetry Night with
Joseph Bruchac, D. Colin & Bunkong Tuon – LIVE

An impressive trio of Capital Region poets takes us into July. All three are writers, teachers and prize-winning poets with a powerful stage presence.

Thursday, July 2
Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty
Renee Rosnes, Todd Coolman & Dennis Mackrel

Skidmore’s celebrated Jazz Institute can’t convene this summer for the now-familiar reason, but Skidmore and Caffe Lena are thrilled to give you this evening with three of the Institute’s amazing instructors: bassist Coolman, vocalist/keyboardist Rosnes, and percussionist Dennis Mackrel.

Looking for a way to help the music community through these lean times? One of the provisions of the recently enacted CARES Act enables taxpayers to deduct up to a $300 charitable donation without having to file an itemized return. For those taxpayers who do itemize, it allows a deduction of an amount up to 100% of Adjusted Gross Income. Please remember Caffe Lena in your annual giving. If you would like to discuss a donation, please contact Sarah Craig,  [email protected].