PREVIEW: Lineup Announced For 49th Annual Saratoga Jazz Festival
06/27—06/28 @ SPAC
Photo by Ironglass Productions
“This festival is a great representation of the diversity of our society. The musicians are incredibly diverse from their backgrounds and styles, as well as the audience…“
The fifth longest running jazz festival in North America returns to Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) for its 49th edition on June 27 and 28 this year. Starting in 1978 as a spin-off of the Newport Jazz Festival by founder George Wein, the Saratoga Jazz Festival has taken on its own identity and built its own legacy. With a wide array of food options, craft areas, and of course music, this event is a cornerstone of the greater Capital Region’s annual music events.
Since 1999, the festival has been produced by Wein’s former understudy, Danny Melnick — President of Absolutely Live Entertainment and an official partner of SPAC. I had the opportunity to speak with him about the lineup, experience, and the anticipation of June’s festival.
There is an expectation of a world class lineup for Saratoga’s Jazz Festival year in and year out. To curate a line-up with 22 sets across two stages, a wide net is cast. This year, there were over 500 acts in consideration for those slots. Some of those sought out by the festival organizers, others through the artists’ management and agents. Through different financial and logistical challenges however, there is one goal in mind each year, as Melnick elaborates.
“We are always striving to create this balance between legacy acts, returning artists that we know the audience loves, and new artists who have never played the festival before. We want to stay fresh and current, and maybe bring some new folks to the festival that haven’t been before but like a particular modern act or two.”
This year culminates with sets from legends like vocalist Patti LaBelle, making her return to the festival and jazz guitarist Bill Frisell making his debut. There are also more modern acts like New Orleans-based The Revivalists, and one of the premier modern blues artists, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Additionally, there will be a celebration of legacy with two sets celebrating Miles Davis and John Coltrane, both giants of the genre who happened to be born in the same year of 1926.
“Two of the legendary pillars of Jazz were born months apart, played together for years, and have made such a massive impact on the music,” Melnick tells me. “We are celebrating Davis on Saturday and Coltrane on Sunday. It’s very important for a jazz festival to acknowledge these legends and share their music with the audience.
Part of what makes this festival so special is, while there is world class entertainment, there are also some educational opportunities by way of hearing and learning about different artists, whether with these legacy celebrations or through the musicians themselves, who hail from all over the world — from Cuba to Mississippi to Israel. This type of diversity is a very important aspect to Melnick.
“I think this festival is a great representation of the diversity of our society,” he says. “The musicians are incredibly diverse from their backgrounds and styles, as well as the audience. The Jazz Fest audience is one of the most diverse you’ll see at a music festival. People from all different walks of life that really dig this type of music and this event — we are very proud of that.”
In order to keep things accessible to everyone, there is an effort to keep things as affordable as possible in the face of current economic realities that everyone is facing — from the artists, to the venue, to the audience. Even with those challenges, ticket prices are kept as cheap as possible, parking is free, fans can bring over-the-shoulder coolers, lawn chairs, and other amenities (that you can find on the website). A large part of what makes this a possibility is their sponsors, particularly their lead sponsor.
“We’ve been very thankful that GE Verona stepped up last year and signed a five year deal with us,” Melnick notes. “Without them, this festival would not be happening.”
For the full lineup, tickets, and more information, please visit their website here.
