All Over Albany

Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival 2017

The Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival is September 9 this year at Jennings Landing.

And the headliner for this year's jazz festival is trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah. From a GQ piece about him earlier this year:

Thirty-four years old and raised in New Orleans, Scott also designs his own trumpet/horn hybrid instruments, has his own label imprint, and releases all of his new music via his own app, which allows users to manipulate all aspects of his music, from the instruments being played to the tempo. In his small amount of spare time, he supports a non-profit music center in his home of New Orleans with funding, instruments, and classes.

But the most remarkable thing about Christian Scott remains his music. Touring since he was in his teens (his uncle is prolific saxophone player Donald Harrison Jr.), he has toured with Thom Yorke and even spent time with Prince when the late legend was putting together a jazz supergroup. And his new Centennial Trilogy, a set of three albums of "stretch music" (Christian's advancement beyond the contemporary bounds of jazz music) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first jazz recordings? He'd been planning those since he was a kid, too.

Here's a Tiny Desk concert with him from a few years back.

The festival lineup also includes singer/songwriter Somi, and more acts to be announced.

The Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival is Saturday, September 9 from 1-9 pm. Admission is free.

The City of Albany Special Events advertises on AOA.