NYC WINTER JAZZFEST CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

Gilles Peterson

Ahhhh Winter Jazz. Annual fixture for me. Deeply curated jazz and beyond.

For me it became the stepping stone of a whole new generation of British musicians taking their first steps into the holy grail that is New York Jazz… and who can forget Ezra Collective in 2019! 

Lakecia Benjamin

The first music festival I ever played as a bandleader was Winter Jazzfest. I opened the night up on the Revive da Live stage hosted by Meghan Stabile. We played for a completely sold-out, soul-changing energetic crowd. Later that night I was able to see Gary Bartz, Ravi Coltrane and Cindy Blackman and jam with my peers, mentors and legends. It was the first time I saw artists, promoters, agents, record labels—the entire music scene in one place celebrating life and our community. These opportunities are important and impactful in a young artist’s career. I give thanks to Winter Jazzfest and to Brice Rosenbloom for all he’s done and doing for the music community. 

Vijay Iyer

Congratulations to Winter Jazzfest on twenty years of growth and evolution. This festival has brought many marginal musical voices to the center, giving us a chance to play to packed houses of music fans, fellow artists, and industry folk. Because of this, over the years the festival has played an influential role in this corner of the music world, setting a new pace for listeners and concert programmers around the world. 

Terri Lyne Carrington

I support Brice and WJF because there is always a plethora of creative music from all sides of jazz. I have many fond memories from the festival but just last year I was invited to curate an evening dedicated to New Standards, and I chose to close the evening by playing with Mary Halvorson, Linda May Han Oh and Kris Davis. These are very powerful women! And I had never played with Mary before, so it was really special. I’m grateful to WJF for incubating this idea, as this unit went on to play more together. Happy 20th Year! 

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Shabaka 

My first memory of Winter Jazzfest is hanging out with Pharoah Sanders backstage at (le) poisson rouge. I was supporting him with Shabaka and the Ancestors and the band hadn’t yet arrived. Nothing particularly exciting happened between us on that occasion. We made small talk, I asked the cursory geeky question about mouthpieces, but on the whole kept my inner fanboy at bay. As the years have passed there have been so many other notable interactions at WJF that have been significant in their meaning yet infused with a casualness borne of the repetition of potent moments found at the festival. Looking forward to being back.

Caroline Davis

I remember playing a set at WJF in 2019 and hustling over to the Bowery Ballroom to catch Georgia Anne Muldrow with Nyeusi. So many friends, old and new, in the room, moving together—there wasn't a questionable moment. It felt like we were all there together stripped down to our most essential form, pure love.

Jason Lindner 

An especially epic event from WJF 2020 was a stacked, literally, 2-of-everything band, I believe organized by Mark Guiliana under his beat music project, with Mark and Nate Smith on double drums, YEAH BOiii COLE and Stu Brooks on basses, BIGYUKI and myself on keys, and Jeff Taylor on vocals, at Nublu, on a 3-tier symmetrical setup, me and Yuki flying our spaceships from the top level, to a completely jam-packed house. That was wild. I remember the early days of WJF, too. When it was in just a handful of venues with LPR as the hub, and Now Vs Now played a set across Bleecker Street in an old music bar. Those early days felt very grassroots and special. 

Sunny Jain 

Wow, hard to believe it’s been 20 years that Winter Jazzfest has been going on. Such a great time in NYC to see and hear many friends and have been especially digging Gilles Peterson’s curation of artists from across the pond. Grateful to have been a part of many installations of WJF with Red Baraat, Wild Wild East, and Tongues in Trees.

Meg Okura 

In the heart of the legendary Knitting Factory during the 2008 Winter Jazzfest, the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble gals were electrified with anticipation before our slot in the epic 9-hour marathon! Post-performance, our excitement soared to new heights as we went up and down those old stairs bouncing between the three floors to catch other incredible artists and jazz icons like Mark Feldman and Dave Douglas, who were holding court in the main room.

Antonio Sanchez 

I’ve had the privilege of performing at WJF a number of times which has quickly become one of New York’s most important music staples. The amount of raw, eclectic talent that this festival constantly showcases is nothing short of amazing and it continuously seems to top itself each year through artistic integrity and trailblazing vision. Established artists and emerging talent are all given a platform which has a huge positive effect on New York’s musical scene. Happy birthday WJF!

Jen Shyu

I'll never forget when I was in the middle of performing Solo Rites: Seven Breaths in 2015 to a full Players Theater house, when I heard a knocking at the side door just near the first row. At that moment onstage, I was telling the audience about the Dragon King of the Sea and spirits, so it was fitting but also freaky to hear knocking just then. I asked the audience, "Do you all hear that?" They confirmed, "Yes!" Suddenly I see Tony Malaby's head pop in from the side door, saying, "Sorry, they told me to come in this way." Naturally, I announced, "It's Tony Malaby, ladies and gentlemen!" It was a hysterical moment of collective cheering as he sheepishly found a seat in the first row. The audience embraced him and the show continued to be magical, as shows tend to go at Winter Jazzfest. Don't miss WJF any year!" 

Arturo O’Farrill

"There is a magic to New York in the winter.  There is a hushed expectancy that is reflected in the steam that comes out of manholes, that emits from your nose and mouth.  Winter Jazzfest is like that, it reflects this potentiality.  As a performer there is the reality of performing with folks you don't usually perform with, for folks you don't usually perform for, in venues that you don't usually perform in.  The whole thing has an air of experimentation and innovation.  This is what this music should always be.  A reminder to explore, a gentle call to forsake warmth and complacency for the chance to experience something new.  Thank you Winter Jazzfest for shaking things up and helping us remember why we got into this in the first place."

Sara Serpa 

One of my fondest memories of Winter Jazzfest is from 2020, right before the pandemic. We played at Zurcher Gallery and the energy in the room was ebullient and contagious. It felt like a reunion of the big global family of jazz musicians, friends and fans. Over the years, WJF has become an annual event I look forward to, whether to share my music or catch up and be inspired with what friends and colleagues are creating. Keep it up, WJF!

Melanie Charles 

At Winter Jazzfest 2023, Make Jazz Trill Again, an integrated jazz and art initiative, ventured through the city, exploring six WJF venues in two unforgettable days. Interviewing eager audience members lining the block, we discovered their musical tastes and anticipated performances, creating a palpable sense of liveliness this city hasn’t felt in years. 

Sarah Elizabeth Charles 

Winter Jazzfest has been a huge part of my New York experience, first as a young student and an early professional and now at this moment in my current creative journey. I’ve lived in New York for 17 years and feel that Winter Jazzfest truly captures the heart of OUR scene as performers, people, and as a community.

Immanuel Wilkins 

Winter Jazzfest is particularly meaningful to me because of the excitement and spontaneity it fuels into the city’s atmosphere. All of my favorite musicians and close friends are in town sharing in communion with music lovers from all over who come to NYC for the month of January. It’s a big hang.

Amirtha Kidambi

In 2019, I played two nearly back-to-back sets at Winter Jazzfest, across the street from each other during the Manhattan marathon. The first set was with Mary Halvorson's Code Girl and the second was with my band Elder Ones. Both sets were totally packed, with familiar faces and totally new folks who came up to me after the gigs. It was loud, raucous and fun, the perfect mix of informality and attentive listening. Among the audience was my best friend, Ellen O'Meara. After the Elder Ones set, we walked down to my favorite spot, Punjabi Deli on Houston street. We misread the schedule and thought Mary Halvorson was playing another set across the street at Mercury Lounge, so we went, but it ended up being the brilliant flautist and vocalist Melanie Charles. That was my first time seeing her and the set was incredible and we danced and had so much fun. Ellen and I split a cab home and parted ways, and that was the last time I ever saw her, as she passed away later that week. Though it's a bittersweet memory, I always think of that night as a beautiful last evening together, playing and discovering new music with my best friend.

Maurice Brown

One of my fondest memories of Winter Jazz Fest took place in 2022. We were fresh from coming out of lockdown and had to record the set from my studio Mo Sounds in Brooklyn, NY. We had my brother Anderson Paak as special guest on drums and we had a blast!

Mark Guiliana

“I am so grateful for the energy that winter jazzfest brings to New York every year. It is the epitome of everything I love about the city — relentless creativity, diverse communion, inspiring performances and hangs into the wee hours.”