Lineup with set times is available.

An article in Friday’s Saratogian explained that the US World Cup Match will be televised at the festival.

Jazz aficionados torn by their love of soccer need not be concerned about attending the 33rd annual Freihofer’s Jazz Festival on Saturday and missing out on the World Cup match between the U.S. team and Ghana.

Due to the public’s tremendous interest in the match, Saratoga Performing Arts Center will stream the match live during the Jazz Festival on four large screen TVs in the Hall of Springs’ indoor/outdoor Jazz Bar.

He’ll be on WGBH 89.7 in Boston, MA with Eric Jackson on Wednesday June 2nd at 9pm. You can listen online at http://www.wgbh.org/897/.

And then on WTCC 90.7 in Springfield, MA with Rodney Malloy on Thursday June 3rd at 11am. You can listen online @ http://www.wtccfm.org/.

Veteran festival goers will be pleased to hear that:

… men’s and women’s bathrooms under and to the left of the theater have been completely renovated for the upcoming concert season. The bathrooms were always there but had deteriorated over the years. Funding for their restyoration came from state Parks, Nigro said, and the improved bathrooms features an exterior concrete patio area for people to lounge about.

– http://blog.timesunion.com/saratogaseen/spac-stack-on-hold/4793/

Ahmad’s wikipedia entry calls him “an acclaimed virtuoso jazz pianist and keyboardist, composer, and innovative trio leader” and “one of Miles Davis’s favorite pianists.”

His Official Site includes a discography and list of tour dates.

In the past five years, Ahmad has released several albums, including:

• 2010’s A Quiet Time with James Cammack on bass, Kenny Washington on drums, and Manolo Badrena on precussion.
• 2008’s It’s Magic with James Cammack on bass, Idris Muhammad on drums, and Manolo Badrena on percussion.
• 2005’s After Fajr with James Cammack on bass and Idris Muhammad on drums.

Check out this video of Ahmad performing in 2005, accompanied by drums legend Idris Muhammad and James Cammack on bass.

This year’s program will offer performances by acclaimed jazz bassist and 2009 Thelonious Monk Award winner Ben Williams on Saturday May 22, and jazz vocalist Sachal Vasandani on Thursday June 3.

Tickets for SPAC’s Extended Season performances are $25 each. Tickets can be ordered online.

Her recent project, titled Dept. of Good and Evil, features drummer and husband Bobby Rae and bassist Maeve Royce. According to Rachel’s Wikipedia article the trio’s “ideas for transforming modern pop songs into jazz masterpieces … have thrust this group into the forefront of modern jazz.” Their self-titled 2007 release can be purchased from Amazon as a CD.

Additionally, her 2005 solo release, Grace can be purchased from Amazon as a CD.

Her Official Site includes a biography and discography.