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2020 Festival Cancelled

Folks, today we have sad news: The 2020 Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Fest has been cancelled. I have pasted the announcement from SPAC and Absolutely Live Entertainment below.

We look forward to the 2021 festival, which is scheduled for June 26th and 27th next year.

Dear friends and fellow lovers of Jazz,

Over the last few months, we have suffered the pain of loss of so many great musicians to the coronavirus. But nothing has truly prepared us for today, as we are forced to announce the cancellation of the 2020 Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Fest.

Many of you have been with us since the beginning. And every year we take such great joy in seeing you reunite with friends and family, we watch as you race to your coveted spots, and we join you in communion with some of the greatest music-making in the world. Your presence and passion for our jazz festival has fueled and inspired us for the past 42 years and makes us hopeful for the years to come. But today, taking actions to ensure your health and safety, as well as that of the musicians and the community, must come first.

We look forward to reuniting with the festival family in 2021. However, your support will be critical to our ability to fully resume in the future.  If you are able, please consider donating all or a portion of your tickets back to SPAC. If that is not possible, you can also keep your same tickets and seats for the 2021 festival (June 26-27, 2021); request a gift certificate; or receive a full refund.

With your support, we will donate two tickets to first responders and local health care workers for performances during our 2021 season for every ticketholder who chooses to convert all or a minimum of $25 of their ticket purchase into a tax deductible donation.

In the meanwhile, though it won’t be the same as sitting under the pines, we hope you will join us – as we partner with the legendary Caffé Lena – for a virtual jazz festival, planned for the same weekend of June 27-28. Stay tuned for more announcements on these live streamed “Jazz Fest Stay Home Sessions” by keeping an eye on your email inbox, and following SPAC on social media.

With eternal gratitude for your support and your deep love of music,

Elizabeth Sobol
President & CEO, SPAC

Danny Melnick
President, Absolutely Live Entertainment

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2020 Lineup Announcement!

It’s everyone’s favorite day of winter: the day that the Festival schedule is announced!

You can see the full lineup on our 2020 Lineup page.

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2020 Lineup Coming Next Week!

We expect the 2020 lineup to be announced in full on January 26. You can always view our 2020 Lineup Page to find the latest information!

So far a three artists have leaked:

  • Isaac Delgrado and his Afro Cuban big band (Saturday)
  • Tiempo Libre (Sunday)
  • The Brubeck Brothers (Sunday): Dave’s sons Chris (trombone/bass) and Dan (drums) will bring their multimedia show to the festival, with Saratoga Springs’ own Chuck Lamb on piano along with Mike DeMicco on guitar

The 2020 Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival will take place on Saturday June 27th and Sunday June 28th, 2020 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY USA.

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Who Were Your Favorite 2019 Performers?

Who Were Your Favorite 2019 Performers? (Vote up to 4.)

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2019 Lineup Announced!

Ticket sales begin on Febubary 15 at 10am EST at spac.org/tickets!

Saturday June 29th

Amphitheater

  • 9:20 – 11:00 ~ George Benson
  • 7:40 – 8:50 ~ Los Van Van 50th Anniversary
  • 6:00 – 7:10 ~ Kandace Springs*
  • 4:40 – 5:40 ~ James Carter Organ Trio
  • 3:20 – 4:20 ~ Mercy Project*:  Jon Cowherd, Brian Blade, John Patitucci, Steve Cardenas
  • 2:00 – 3:00 ~ Donna Grantis*
  • 12:45 – 1:25 ~ Saratoga Springs High School Jazz Band

Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage (new Gazebo Stage)

  • 5:25 – 6:30 ~ Antonio Sanchez & Migration*
  • 4:00 – 5:00 ~ Lionel Loueke & Raul Midon*
  • 2:40 – 3:40 ~ Veronica Swift with The Emmet Cohen Trio*
  • 1:20 – 2:20 ~ Black Art Jazz Collective* featuring Jeremy Pelt, Wayne Escoffery, James Burton III, Xavier Davis, Vicente Archer, and Carl Allen
  • 12:00 – 1:00 ~ Joe Locke’s Subtle Disguise* with special guest Raul Midon
Sunday June 30th

Amphitheater

  • 7:05 – 8:30 ~ Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
  • 5:20 – 6:35 ~ Norah Jones*
  • 3:40 – 4:55 ~ Django Festival All-Stars with special guests Edmar Castaneda and Grace Kelly
  • 2:20 – 3:20 ~ Joshua Redman Quartet with Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers, and Gregory Hutchinson
  • 1:00 – 2:00 ~ Joey DeFrancesco Trio* featuring Billy Hart
  • 11:45 – 12:25 ~ Shaker High School Jazz Ensemble

Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage (new Gazebo Stage)

  • 5:35 – 6:40 ~ Ruthie Foster*
  • 4:10 – 5:10 ~ Allison Miller Boom Tic Boom* featuring Jenny Scheinman, Carmen Staff, Kirk Knuffke, Ben Goldberg and Todd Sickafoose
  • 2:45 – 3:45 ~ Cha Wa*
  • 1:25 – 2:25 ~ Youn Sun Nah*
  • 12:05 – 1:05 ~ Joel Harrison’s Angel Band* featuring Jon Cowherd, Jaleel Shaw, Stephan Crump, Brian Blade, and others
  • 11:00 – 11:45 ~ Kansas Smitty’s House Band*

* indicates festival debut!

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Who Was Your Favorite 2018 Performer?

Who Was Your Favorite 2018 Performer? (Vote up to 4.)

  • Gregory Porter (Sunday Main Stage) (15%, 26 Votes)
  • Herbie Hancock (Saturday Main Stage) (12%, 21 Votes)
  • Chris Botti (Saturday Main Stage) (10%, 17 Votes)
  • TEN: Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding, Nicholas Payton (Sunday Main Stage) (10%, 17 Votes)
  • Mavis Staples (Sunday Main Stage) (9%, 15 Votes)
  • Jon Batiste with The Dap-Kings (Sunday Main Stage) (8%, 14 Votes)
  • Joey Alexander (Saturday Main Stage) (6%, 11 Votes)
  • Lean on Me (Saturday Main Stage) (6%, 11 Votes)
  • Mark Whitfield, Ben Allison, Billy Drummond (Sunday Gazebo) (6%, 10 Votes)
  • Sammy Miller & The Congregation (Sunday Gazebo) (5%, 8 Votes)
  • Christian Sands Trio (Saturday Gazebo) (3%, 5 Votes)
  • Anat Cohen Tentet (Saturday Main Stage) (2%, 4 Votes)
  • Lakecia Benjamin and SoulSquad (Saturday Gazebo) (2%, 3 Votes)
  • Alfredo Rodriguez & Pedrito Martinez Duo (Saturday Gazebo) (1%, 2 Votes)
  • The Jazz Passengers 30th Anniversary (Sunday Gazebo) (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Jane Bunnett & Maqueque (Sunday Gazebo) (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Scott Sharrard & The Brickyard Band (Sunday Gazebo) (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Keyon Harrold (Saturday Gazebo) (1%, 1 Votes)
  • Jazzmeia Horn & Shannon Powell (Saturday Gazebo) (1%, 1 Votes)
  • Deva Mahal (Sunday Gazebo) (1%, 1 Votes)
  • New Orleans @ 300 (Saturday Gazebo) (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 59

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Times Union: Major changes for Jazz Festival

Here is an article from the Times Union newspaper talking about the festival and some of the changes for this year:
https://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/article/Major-changes-for-Jazz-Festival-13010787.php.

Here are some of the big changes mentioned in the article:

A key to Melnick’s revision was the new stage at the rear of the SPAC grounds that debuted last year. Before it was a small gazebo stage. Now it’s a genuine second stage. It’s dubbed the Charles R. Wood Jazz Discovery Stage (funds for it came from the Charles R. Wood Foundation in Glens Falls). It’s much larger.

“I can book some good groups on this stage. I can book some different names. I can book, physically, some bigger groups. I want to be able to pump it up and do more,” he said.

Performances at that stage will start at 11 a.m. The amphitheater will start at 3 p.m. There will be some overlapping of the stages, but the competition will be reduced. Artists will garner more individual attention. The arts and crafts tent in the rear will be moved to accommodate a larger audience at the second stage.

In another major twist, people who want to camp out early on the main lawn, or sit in an amphitheater seat, will be entertained. Melnick is bringing in Todd Barkan, a renowned jazz producer and NEA Jazz Master, who will be on the mainstage acting as a DJ, spinning classic jazz albums by greats who appeared during the festival’s early years and sharing anecdotes. That will start as people are filing in at 10 a.m. and run until about 1:30 p.m.

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Which 2018 Performers Are You Most Looking Forward To?

Which 2018 Performers Are You Most Looking Forward To? (Vote up to 4.)

  • Herbie Hancock (Saturday Main Stage) (19%, 21 Votes)
  • Joey Alexander (Saturday Main Stage) (14%, 15 Votes)
  • Chris Botti (Saturday Main Stage) (14%, 15 Votes)
  • Jon Batiste with The Dap-Kings (Sunday Main Stage) (11%, 12 Votes)
  • Gregory Porter (Sunday Main Stage) (11%, 12 Votes)
  • Anat Cohen Tentet (Saturday Main Stage) (6%, 6 Votes)
  • Mavis Staples (Sunday Main Stage) (6%, 6 Votes)
  • TEN: Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding, Nicholas Payton (Sunday Main Stage) (6%, 6 Votes)
  • Lean on Me (Saturday Main Stage) (5%, 5 Votes)
  • Jazzmeia Horn & Shannon Powell (Saturday Gazebo) (4%, 4 Votes)
  • New Orleans @ 300 (Saturday Gazebo) (3%, 3 Votes)
  • Jane Bunnett & Maqueque (Sunday Gazebo) (1%, 1 Votes)
  • Christian Sands Trio (Saturday Gazebo) (1%, 1 Votes)
  • Sammy Miller & The Congregation (Sunday Gazebo) (1%, 1 Votes)
  • Deva Mahal (Sunday Gazebo) (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Scott Sharrard & The Brickyard Band (Sunday Gazebo) (0%, 0 Votes)
  • The Jazz Passengers 30th Anniversary (Sunday Gazebo) (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Mark Whitfield, Ben Allison, Billy Drummond (Sunday Gazebo) (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Lakecia Benjamin and SoulSquad (Saturday Gazebo) (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Keyon Harrold (Saturday Gazebo) (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Alfredo Rodriguez & Pedrito Martinez Duo (Saturday Gazebo) (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 37

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Danny Melnick on WPYX Wednesday Morning

Festival Producer Danny Melnick will be on WPYX Albany 106.5FM and online – https://pyx106.iheart.com/ – on Wednesday morning, June 6th at 9:30am. It’s a classic rock station but they’re very into the line-up and the festival!

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2018 Lineup News

Checkout our lineup page for the latest lineup announcements.

We expect to announce the entire lineup soon! In the meantime, a few artists have been announced so far: