The NYC WINTER JAZZFEST turns 10 years old in 2014.  In celebration of this milestone Winter Jazzfest is expanding to five nights from January 7th through January 11th.  The festival will be presented in 9 different venues and will feature over 90 different groups including over 400 musicians.  Winter Jazzfest upholds the continued mission to showcase top quality jazz to industry professionals, avid jazz fans, and new audiences.
Winter Jazzfest was established in 2005 with the goal of introducing underexposed artists – those that impacted the jazz scene of that period — to professional presenters attending the Arts Presenters Conference (APAP). At that time, jazz groups were underrepresented, although they were (and remain) culturally essential to the continued development and future of the music and audiences.  Winter Jazzfest is pleased to continue our mission of offering a forum for presenters and music enthusiasts to experience and support the future of jazz.

In its ten years of existence, Winter Jazzfest has showcased artists including Lawrence D. “Butch” Morris, The Bad Plus, David Murray, Jason Moran, Meshell Ndegeocello, John Medeski, Nels Cline, Marc Ribot, Don Byron, Dave Douglas, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Nicholas Payton and artists that have gone on to perform in concert halls, performing arts centers, festivals and prominent clubs around the world such as Vijay Iyer, Anat Cohen, Robert Glasper, JD Allen, Gretchen Parlato, Jenny Scheinman, Jonathan Batiste, Kneebody, So Percussion, Darcy James Argue, Ambrose Akinmusire, Amir Elsaffar, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Mary Halvorson, and hundreds more that, today, thrive in a richer and more energized music scene.

In this 10th Anniversary Year, Winter Jazzfest is pleased to welcome back artists that performed in past seasons, including a special piano duo show at The Town Hall with Robert Glasper and Jason Moran as part of the Blue Note 75th Anniversary series.  Another highlighted returning artist is drummer Bobby Previte, performing TERMINALS with fellow Winter Jazzfest alums Nels Cline, John Medeski and So Percussion (just announced).  The Revive Big Band returns to Winter Jazzfest, this time performing a preview of a show they will perform at Central Park SummerStage in Summer 2014 featuring the music of Blue Note Records.  Other returning groups performing on the two-day multi-venue Winter Jazzfest Marathon include Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, Mary Halvorson, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Darcy James Argue, Keren Ann, Burnt Sugar, Don Byron, Elliott Sharp, 3rd Eye 4tet: McPherson, Waits, Burton, Hurt (a new formation of Aethereal Base and reunion of Cause & Effect), Gretchen Parlato and many others.

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