#8 unless not Winter, do JazzFest [Friday]

Is it winter? Yes, thereby NYC Winter Jazzfest! Let me focus on the upcoming weekend, although it’s more than that. This Friday is the Manhattan Marathon filled with amazing shows for one night!

Let's start with our NYC jazz powerhouses: Endea Owens (LPR, 7:30PM) bringing her killer bass grooves, The Christian McBride Band (Mercury Lounge, 10:30PM) celebrating 20 years of Live at Tonic, and Linda May Han Oh (Performance Space NY, 11:00PM) with her incredible bass playing. And don't miss Brandee Younger Trio (Performance Space NY, 7:15PM) unless you’re so done with the harp. Yes, the big and heavy one.

There are these fantastic NYC musicians you might not have heard of yet, unless you’re only into those who are renowned: Ganavya (LPR, 10:00PM) does some wild boundary-pushing vocals, Sophye Soliveau (Bitter End, 10:30PM) brings fresh energy to jazz singing, and Sarah Hanahan (Zinc Bar, 11:00PM) rips it up on the sax.

Unless you’re too loyal to NYC musicians, Friday's also a rare chance to catch some amazing musicians from other parts of the world! Makaya McCraven (LPR, 11:15PM) is coming in from Chicago with his genre-bending beats, and there's basically a French jazz festival happening at The Bitter End with Nout (6:30PM), Flash Pig (7:30PM), and Amaury Faye's "ARISE" project (8:30PM). Add Roberto Fonseca (LPR, 12:30AM) from Cuba and Theon Cross (Nublu, 10:45PM) from London - it's like a global jazz summit right here in Manhattan.

The actual program is way more than this, so you should check out the official brochure! I meant, unless you’re just way too busy or lazy, otherwise you can just check out this official playlist at Spotify for a Jazzfest sampler.

Happy new year! Unless..

Keunwoo, at JazzBuzz.OOO