The Northwest Jazz Festival will welcome its 22nd season today with an homage to American classics.
This year’s festival features headlining acts celebrating the Great American Songbook with pieces written by the likes of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter.
Music Director Tony Zambito said that after the COVID-19 pandemic, those jazz standards saw a resurgence in popularity with new recordings from modern jazz artists Norah Jones, Samara Joy and Jo Lawry.
“Those composers continue to influence jazz musicians across the world,” he said.
That theme will be most prevalent at the festival’s main stage, first with a homecoming for Niagara Falls native Peter Malinverni and his trio tonight. On Saturday, the Elliot Sneider Duo will perform some selections from the songbook followed by three performances by Jazz in the Ballroom, a premier organization for keeping classic jazz alive.
Other performers taking part include singer Wyatt Michael, who was featured on season 21 of “The Voice,” pianist Champian Fulton, and saxophonist Adrian Cunningham.
“It’s a bit unique from the festival’s standpoint,” Zambito said, with the performers coming from across the country. “Hopefully it will be a good thing for everybody.”
Around 130 musicians will be playing across 30 different performances across five stages in Lewiston. If the weather holds, Zambito estimates around 30,000 people will go through the village.
The main stage will offer reserved seating for up-close viewing for shows starting at 6 p.m. both nights, with tickets costing $25 each.
The festival lineup is as follows:
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Comienzos, Frontier House Stage
• 6-7:15 p.m. Pete Malinverni Trio, Main Stage
• 6-7:30 p.m. Matt’s Music Vocal Performance Team, Center Street Stage
• 6:45-7:45 p.m. Rick Strauss DiCamillo Courtyard
• 7-8 p.m. Simon Fletcher Duo, Peace Garden
• 7:45-9:15 p.m. Will Holton, Frontier House Stage
• 8:15-9:45 p.m. Swing Buffalo presents Friday Night Dance ft. Anderson Big Band, Center Street Stage
• 8:30-10:15 p.m. Anais Reno with the Pete Malinverni Trio and special guest Peter Bernstein, Main Stage
• 1-1:45 p.m. UB Zodiaque Dance Company, Main Stage
• 1-2:30 p.m. Jonathan Hughes Quartet, Frontier House Stage
• 1:30-3 p.m. Harmonia Vocal Ensemble, Center Street Stage
• 2-3:30 p.m. Wazmopolitan Duo, Peace Garden
• 2:15-3:15 p.m. Elliot Sneider Duo: Gershwin Songbook, Main Stage
• 3-4 p.m. Stu Weissman, DiCamillo Courtyard
• 3:15-4:45 p.m. Donny Frauenhofer Trio, Frontier House Stage
• 3:45-5:15 p.m. DeeAnn DiMeo Quintet, Center Street Stage
• 4-5:30 p.m. Jazz at the Ballroom Presents “Get out of Town,” Main Stage
• 4:45-5:45 p.m. Stephen Guerra Duo, Peace Garden
• 5:15-6:15 p.m. Walt Sopicki, DiCamillo Courtyard
• 5:30-7 p.m. Wes Lewis Group, Frontier House Stage
• 6-7:30 p.m. Wendell Rivera Latin Jazz Ensemble, Center Street Stage
• 6:15-7:45 p.m. Jazz at the Ballroom presents “Flying High,” Main Stage
• 7:15-8:15 p.m. Ann Mitchell Trio, Peace Garden
• 7:30-8:30 p.m. Dave Hill, DiCamillo Courtyard
• 7:45-9:15 p.m. John Bacon Quintet, Frontier House Stage
• 8:15-9:45 p.m. Janice Mitchell and Jim Beishline Trio, Center Street Stage
• 8:45-10:15 p.m. Jazz at the Ballroom presents “Accentuate the Positive,” Main Stage
Additional performances happening this weekend include:
• Saturday, 4:30 p.m. mass with jazz music at St. Peter’s R.C. Church in Lewiston
• Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday Jazz Brunch at the Niagara Frontier Golf Club with the John Bacon Trio
• Sunday, 11:30 a.m. Sunday Jazz Service featuring Champain Fulton and the Bob Hull Quartet at First Presbyterian Church in Lewiston