Press Release: 2023 Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival
December 13, 2023
46th ANNUAL FREIHOFER’S SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL
LINE-UP IS REVEALED FEATURING
BONNIE RAITT, SNARKY PUPPY, PAT METHENY SIDE-EYE, ANGELIQUE KIDJO, CORY WONG, TOWER OF POWER, ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES, HIROMI, CHUCHO VALDES, CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA, SAMARA JOY, KURT ROSENWINKEL, EMMET COHEN, and more
SAT, JUNE 24 & SUN, JUNE 25, 2023
Saratoga Springs, NY (December 13, 2022) — The 46th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival will return for a full two-day and two-stage exhilarating festival experience on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Featuring a remarkable roster of twenty-one musical groups, the line-up is headlined by musical icons Bonnie Raitt, Pat Metheny, Angelique Kidjo, Tower of Power, and Chucho Valdes and today’s most electrifying artists including Snarky Puppy, Cory Wong, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Hiromi, Cindy Blackman Santana, Samara Joy, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Emmet Cohen. From jazz to roots, funk, blues and beyond, the festival will bring its signature blend of top notch artists and ensembles, solidifying its place as an international destination and a ‘must-stop’ on the 2023 festival trail.
“Our 2023 festival promises to be one of the most exciting and exhilarating events in our 46 year history. From our stellar line-up that fuses superstars with some of the most exciting genre-crossing talent on the scene today — to the unparalleled setting that our beautiful grounds provide, it is the ‘can’t miss’ weekend of the summer,” says Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “We’d like to extend our gratitude to Freihofer’s for their continued support, which makes this festival possible.”
“The 2023 jazz festival features ‘A-list’ artists from start to finish, on both stages, all weekend,” says Danny Melnick, the festival producer and President of Absolutely Live Entertainment. “All of the amphitheater groups will perform longer sets and we’ve built in more time in between sets to allow the audience to go from stage to stage more easily. I couldn’t be more excited about what we’re planning.”
Making her highly anticipated return to the festival for the first time since 1988 is ten-time Grammy winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, and Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient Bonnie Raitt. Known for her unique blend of blues, R&B, rock and pop and hits like “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” “Something to Talk About” and “Nick of Time,” Raitt’s appearance follows the success of her critically acclaimed 21st album “Just Like That …,” which was nominated for four 2023 Grammy awards.
Headlining on Saturday for its second festival appearance is the explosive 19-piece mega-band Snarky Puppy. The four-time Grammy winning ensemble, which won most recently for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2021, is an electric jazz, rock and funk collective described by the Village Voice as “An exultant throwdown of smart danceability.”
Returning jazz icons include 20-time Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master Pat Metheny; global music superstar Angelique Kidjo, called “Africa’s premier diva” and named one of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2021 by Time Magazine; R&B and funk group Tower of Power, who is celebrating its 55th anniversary, and Afro-Cuban jazz legend Chucho Valdes.
Highlighting the 11 festival debuts is 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) Samara Joy, fresh off of her 2023 Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist.
In addition to two non-stop days of great music on two stages, fans can also enjoy a host of amenities including a fine arts and crafts fair, artist CD signings, and new and diverse food offerings. Guests are welcome to bring in their own food and beverages, as well as blankets, tents and lawn umbrellas. Parking for the event is free. Performances will begin at 11 a.m. on the Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage and 12 p.m. on the Amphitheater Stage on Saturday, June 24 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., respectively, on Sunday, June 25.
“Proud to be title sponsor, Bimbo Bakeries and Freihofer’s Bread are looking forward to another year of great live jazz music in the spectacular Saratoga Performing Arts Center. See you there!” says Lorraine Hale, Vice President and General Manager, Bread, Buns and Rolls at Bimbo Bakeries USA.
2023 FREIHOFER’S SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE-UP:
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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ABOUT FREIHOFER’S SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL:
Founded in 1978 by jazz impresario George Wein, Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival is the fifth longest-consecutive-running jazz festival in North America. Initially founded as “the Newport Jazz Festival at Saratoga” the weekend event was renamed Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival in 1998. With an inside seating capacity of 5,200, and lawn seating of 20,000, the two-day, two-stage festival continues to be one of the largest jazz music events in North America, beloved by audiences for both the remarkable annual line-up of international jazz talent and the spectacular setting at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in the idyllic Saratoga Spa State Park.
More information about what to bring to the Jazz Festival can be found online at www.spac.org.
TICKETS:
Tickets for the festival start at $78 and will be available online at www.spac.org beginning January 6 at 10am to the general public and starting on December 15 at 10am to SPAC members (tiered by level). New for 2023, members will also receive a discount of 15-20% (depending on level) on their ticket purchase. Two-day passes are also available for a savings of 10% off per ticket (offer ends 6/15). Children 12 and under receive 50% off tickets in the amphitheater and are free on the lawn. Full-time students with a school issued ID receive 25% off tickets in the amphitheater, or $28 on the lawn (student ID must be presented at will call).
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ABOUT SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious summer festivals. Its tranquil setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws vacation crowds and arts connoisseurs each year for immersive experiences of performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, Opera Saratoga, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as CulinaryArts@SPAC and Caffè Lena @ SPAC.
SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s children’s education programs and support the vibrancy of its classical season. For more information visit spac.org.
The Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival is co-presented by SPAC and Absolutely Live Entertainment, LLC.
*Indicates Festival debut for that project
*** Please note 2023 Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival line-up is subject to change