The Saratoga Performing Arts Center will play host to the 46th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival on Saturday, June 24, and Sunday, June 25, 2023, for a full two-day and two-stage thrilling festival experience. The line-up is anchored by musical legends including Bonnie Raitt, Pat Metheny, Angelique Kidjo, and twenty-one more musical ensembles, who will be bringing a variety of genres ranging from jazz to roots, funk, blues and beyond.
Grammy Award-winner and Rock and Roll of Fame Inductee Bonnie Raitt will be making her highly suspended return to the festival since 1988. She is known for her blend of blues, R&B, rock and pop classics like “I Can’t Make You Love Me,”, “Something to Talk About” and “Nick of Time”.
On Saturday, the festival’s major draw will be the explosive 19-piece megaband Snarky Puppy, which is making its second appearance. The enthralling jazz, rock, and funk trio is described as “An exultant throwdown of brilliant danceability” by the Village Voice. The group has won four Grammy Awards, the most recent one in 2021 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
Jazz and funk guitarist Cory Wong, best known as a frequent guest rhythm guitarist for Vulfpeck as well as for his ebullient solo material; eight-piece psychedelia and funk fiery band St. Paul & The Broken Bones; jazz and rock drum dynamo Cindy Blackman Santana, who is the regular touring drummer for Carlos Santana and previously Lenny Kravitz; and “Silky-voiced rising jazz star” (New York Times).
Having originally been founded as “the Newport Jazz Festival at Saratoga”, the musical event was renamed Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival in 1998 and is one of the most prominent jazz festivals in North America.
On Saturday, June 24, performances will begin at 11 a.m. on the Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage and 12 p.m. on the Amphitheater Stage, and at 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., respectively, on Sunday, June 25. Fans may enjoy a magnificent arts and crafts market, artist CD signings, and fresh and diverse culinary selections in addition to two nonstop days of outstanding music on two stages. Tickets can be purchased here.
2023 FREIHOFER’S SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINEUP
SATURDAY, JUNE 24
Amphitheater:
Snarky Puppy
Angelique Kidjo
Cory Wong*
Tower of Power
Chucho Valdes Quartet
Cindy Blackman Santana Band*
Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage:
Kurt Rosenwinkel
Emmet Cohen Trio*
Claudia Acuna*
Carolyn Wonderland*
Glen David Andrews*
Nduduzo Makhathini*
SUNDAY, JUNE 25
Amphitheater:
Bonnie Raitt
Pat Metheny Side-Eye
St. Paul & The Broken Bones*
Hiromi: The Piano Quintet feat. PUBLIQuartet
Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage:
Samara Joy*
Jupiter & Okwess*
Melissa Aldana
Mark Guiliana*
Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars Centennial Celebration of Wes Montgomery, Tito Puente & Dexter Gordon featuring Clay Jenkins, Jimmy Greene, Michael Dease, Dave Stryker, Bill Cunliffe, Todd Coolman and Dennis Mackrel
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