Northwest Jazz Festival in Historic Lewiston, NY returns after a two-year hiatus celebrating 20 years

Northwest Jazz Festival in Historic Lewiston, NY returns after a two-year hiatus celebrating 20 years

After a two-year unexpected hiatus, the Northwest Jazz Festival in historic Lewiston, NY returns on August 26 - 27, 2022.  The event will highlight local, international and North American jazz artists including Sally Terrell, John di Martino, Stacey Kent, Corrine Mammana, Allison Au, Emmet Cohen and Joey DeFrancesco.

The highly anticipated two-day event brings live music to Center Street with a select representation of the region’s finest food and beverage vendors including local wineries, distilleries and breweries. The last jazz festival took place in 2019 with a two year break due to NYS COVID-19 restrictions.  In 2021 there wasn’t a full festival however local musicians were hired to perform in Lewiston. This year the board of directors will celebrate the festival’s 20-year anniversary alongside Northwest Bank as the presenting sponsor and an impressive listing of supportive businesses and organizations. The 2022 music line-up is curated by Music Director, Tony Zambito.

 

“The headliners this year are all incredibly shining stars in the jazz world who have demonstrated creative resourcefulness in overcoming the pandemic.  We are excited to have Grammy® Nominees and a Juno Award winner on the Main Stage this year,” states Tony Zambito. “This year we will celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary and we could not be happier to welcome Joey DeFrancesco back to the Niagara Falls region where his father, Papa John, cemented the DeFrancesco legacy.  In addition, we welcome back jazz vocalist Sally Terrell, who is also from this area and has a fabulous new album being released with jazz pianist extraordinaire John di Martino.  We are excited to share that we will have a rare appearance and debut performance by Grammy® Nominee and jazz vocalist Stacy Kent.  If anyone embodied perseverance during the pandemic, it was Emmet Cohen and we are excited to have him and the trio perform.  Having Juno Award winner, the Allison Au Quartet from Canada, is a chance to welcome our Canadian fans back to the festival.  We are also delighted to have the opportunity to showcase an up-and-coming jazz vocalist, Corinne Mammana.”

 

The Main Stage lineup for 2022 is as follows:

Friday, August 26th

  • Jazz Vocalist / Pianist Sally Terrell with acclaimed jazz pianist / arranger John di Martino
  • Grammy® Nominee, Jazz Vocalist Stacey Kent – A regional debut performance

Saturday, August 27th

  • Acclaimed by Jazz Times Magazine, Jazz Vocalist Corinne Mammana
  • 2018-2019 Juno Award Winner, the Allison Au Quartet
  • 2019 American Pianist Award Winner and “Live from Emmet’s Place”, Emmet Cohen Trio
  • 5-Time Grammy® Nominee and Downbeat Critic’s Poll #1 Jazz Organist, Joey DeFrancesco.

Each year, the festival relies on the support of donors and sponsors to remain the largest free jazz festival in the region alongside hosting an annual fundraiser in the Spring.  “We are grateful for the overwhelming support we have already received from the generosity of sponsors to make sure a 2022 event takes place.  We are hard at work on the anniversary celebration and plan to give you another two days of spectacular entertainment featuring international stars as well as some of our own local super talents.  It is clear that everyone loves and misses the jazz festival and wants it to continue to be a success” says Carol Calato, the Chairwoman of the Jazz Festival Board of Directors.

The Jazz Fundraiser will be held on Sunday, May 1st from 1pm – 5pm at the Brickyard Brewery in Lewiston, NY.   The event will feature music by the Stu Weissman Trio, Saranaide and the Buffalo Dolls.  Tickets for the Fundraiser are available at the festival website at this link:  2022 Jazz Festival Fundraiser.

 

Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets even if they are unable to attend the Jazz Fundraiser event to help contribute to the fundraising undertaken by the festival. 

 

For more information about the fundraiser and the festival, as well as, to sign up for alerts on the jazz festival news, please visit the festival’s website here:  Northwest Jazz Festival in Historic Lewiston, NY