BEACON, NY — Celebrating the music, distilleries, artisan crafts and culture of the Hudson Valley, the inaugural Beacon Jazz Festival will take place on Saturday, July 25 from noon to 6 PM at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park in Beacon, NY. Presented by Six String Productions, the festival will offer a wealth of musical talent, many with long associations with Beacon and the surrounding region. In addition to presenting great jazz, the first Beacon Jazz Festival will also double as a Hudson Valley distillery tasting event. Local craft breweries, cideries and wineries will be also be providing their own offerings, along with local artisan chefs providing food to complement the event.Tickets for the Beacon Jazz Festival will be $45 per person, with $65 special VIP tickets allowing early admission, a free t-shirt, event glass and tote bag, along with related merchandise. Advance tickets will be available for $35 online until June 21st. For this inaugural, intimate event, admission will be limited to 1,500 attendees. Tickets and further details will be available on our new website,
beaconjazz.com.The artists performing at the inaugural Beacon Jazz Festival include:
Sun of Goldfinger — Bracingly original modern jazz featuring
three recognized, cutting-edge masters: alto saxophonist Tim Berne, guitarist (and HV resident) David Torn and drummer Ches Smith;Karl Berger/Ingrid Sertso Quintet — Vibraphonist Berger and vocalist Sertso — co-founders with Ornette Coleman of the legendary Woodstock school and multi-cultural laboratory Creative Music Studio — lead this quintet featuring
guitarist Kenny Wessel, bassist Ken Filiano and drummer Warren Smith;
George Coleman, Jr.’s Rivington Project — Virtuoso drummer George Coleman, Jr. ups the game for the 21st century organ trio in this band of cookers featuring saxophonist Mike DiRubbo and organist Brian Charette;
International Brass & Membrane Corps — The 100-years-young music of King Oliver and other masters of early jazz get an invigorating update by IBMC leader and lifelong HV resident, trumpeter/cornetist Ted Daniel, joined by Charles Burnham on violin, Joseph Daley on tuba and Newman Taylor Baker on drums and percussion;
Mike Dopazo & The HV All-Stars — The superb local saxophonist Dopazo headlines this roster of powerhouse HV-based players, each a major bandleader in his own right, in a group joined by trombonist Joe Fiedler, saxophonist Eric Person, saxophonist Josh Rutner, bassist Robert Kopec and drummer Jon Doty.
The Beacon DJ Grady Salter will also be spinning classic jazz selections all day between acts.
In addition, several Hudson Valley distilleries, wineries, and cideries — including Dennings Point Distillery, Hudson Valley Distillery, Albany Distillery, Dutch Spirits, Taconic Distillery, Tuthilltown, Harvest Spirits, Brotherhood Winery, Naked Flock Cidery and Bad Seed Cidery — will be offering free tastings of their renowned spirits, cider and wine throughout the festival. Other local businesses providing food and drink at the Beacon Jazz Festival include More Good, Tito Santana, Beacon Bread, The Hop Express, and many more.
