Press Release: Saratoga Jazz Festival Presented by GE Vernova Line-Up Revealed
January 16, 2025
SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL
PRESENTED BY GE VERNOVA
LINE-UP REVEALED FEATURING
GARY CLARK JR., TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE,
CORY WONG, GREGORY PORTER, CASSANDRA WILSON, LETTUCE, ARTEMIS, AL DI MEOLA, DJ LOGIC & FRIENDS, VERONICA SWIFT, MICHEL CAMILO, KENNY GARRETT, and more
SPAC begins five-year partnership with GE Vernova,
the new lead sponsor for the festival
SAT, JUNE 28 & SUN, JUNE 29, 2025
Saratoga Springs, NY (January 16, 2025) – The 48th Annual Saratoga Jazz Festival, presented by GE Vernova will return for a full two-day and two-stage weekend experience on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Featuring a roster of 22 musical groups and 10 festival debuts, the line-up is headlined by magnetic performers Gary Clark Jr. and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, alongside beloved jazz vocalists Gregory Porter and Cassandra Wilson, and the next generation of jazz, funk and rock stars Cory Wong, Lettuce, DJ Logic & Friends and Veronica Swift. The festival will also see the return of jazz icons such as Al Di Meola, Michel Camilo and Kenny Garrett in addition to new, emerging artists on the scene like Nicole Zuraitis, Brandee Younger, and Julius Rodriguez. From jazz to roots, funk, blues, rock, indie and beyond, the festival will bring its signature blend of world-class artists and ensembles to the unbeatable atmosphere of SPAC’s bucolic grounds.
The 2025 festival also marks the beginning of SPAC’s new partnership with lead festival sponsor GE Vernova. The two organizations will embark on a five-year partnership, with $200,000 committed from GE Vernova for each year, ensuring the vibrancy and longevity of Saratoga Jazz Festival, one of the largest jazz events in North America.
“As we approach nearly 50 years of our storied festival, we continue to find new ways to evolve and expand our vibrant weekend event. In addition to our stellar line-up and enhanced vendor experience, this year also marks the first year with our new festival sponsor GE Vernova. We look forward to embarking on this exciting new partnership that, much like our jazz festival line-up, celebrates tradition and innovation,” says Elizabeth Sobol, President & CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
“I believe ‘you’re only as good as your next festival’ and I’m feeling really good about this one,” says Danny Melnick, the festival producer and President of Absolutely Live Entertainment. “We have a magical kaleidoscope of artists who are going to elevate this festival to new heights.”
Making his SPAC debut to headline the festival on Saturday is four-time Grammy award-winner, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and performer Gary Clark Jr. Heralded for his bold and expressive guitar playing, his music fuses blues, rock, R&B, soul and hip hop with influences and collaborations ranging from B.B. King, the Jackson 5 and Muddy Waters to Alicia Keys, Dave Grohl and Childish Gambino. His most recent album JPEG RAW, released in 2024, represents a quantum leap displaying his versatility and demonstrating the fresh new directions he can take with his music.
Back by popular demand to headline the festival on Sunday is Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Since 2010, Shorty has released five chart topping studio albums (his most recent being 2022’s Lifted); toured with everyone from Jeff Beck to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and has collaborated across genres with Pharrell, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, Foo Fighters, ZHU, Zac Brown, Normani, Ringo Starr, and countless more. Beloved for his onstage charisma, Shorty’s appearance marks his fourth Saratoga Jazz Festival performance.
Bringing the next generation of jazz with a fusion of contemporary and cutting-edge funk music are jazz and funk guitarist Cory Wong, following his recent appearance in 2023; funk, hip-hop, rock and jazz collective Lettuce; turntablist DJ Logic & Friends, who is credited with introducing jazz into the hip-hop realms; dazzling and versatile jazz, rock and funk vocalist Veronica Swift; Keyon Harrold, called the “future of the trumpet” by Downbeat, and young, jazz, funk, gospel and R&B multi-instrumentalist Julius Rodriguez.
Acclaimed jazz vocalists taking the stage include Gregory Porter, renowned for his rich baritone voice and emotional depth; Cassandra Wilson for her only New York appearance in celebration of the 30th anniversary of her Grammy Award-winning album “New Moon Daughter;” Grammy award-winning vocalist, pianist and songwriter Nicole Zuraitis, and jazz trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg, called “the shining hope of hot jazz,” by The New York Times.
Jazz legends and icons returning to the festival include Grammy and Emmy award-winning pianist and composer Michel Camilo, bringing his brilliant technique and fusion of Caribbean rhythms and jazz harmonies alongside his trio; jazz saxophonist Kenny Garrett, one of modern jazz’s brightest and most influential living masters; bona fide guitar hero Al Di Meola, returning with his acoustic band, and jazz saxophonist and composer Gary Bartz, bringing his distinctive, soulful sound to the Discovery Stage.
Returning to the festival on Saturday is musical collective, Artemis comprised of pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer Allison Miller. Each member of the band is a virtuoso player, composer and bandleader and the group’s repertoire reflects each individual’s sound.
In addition to two non-stop days of great music on two stages, fans can also enjoy a host of amenities including new and diverse food offerings, a fine arts and crafts fair, and artist merchandise signings. Guests are welcome to bring in their own food and beverages, as well as lawn chairs, blankets, tents and lawn umbrellas. Parking for the event is free. Performances will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 28 and at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, June 29.
“We’ve been a part of this region for decades and know how special this festival is,” says GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik. “It’s a storied event that brings people together through music, culture and shared values. It also celebrates creativity, community and sustainability, which are exactly the types of ideals we embrace as a company. We are excited to help support this important tradition this year and in the years to come.”
Tickets go on sale beginning on January 21 to SPAC members (tiered by level) and on January 24 to the general public. Visit spac.org for more details.
2025 SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE-UP:
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
Amphitheater:
Gary Clark Jr.
Gregory Porter
Lettuce
Veronica Swift
Michel Camilo Trio
Kenny Garrett
Charles R. Wood “Discovery” Stage:
Artemis
Nicole Zuraitis
Keyon Harrold
Julius Rodriguez
C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band
The String Queens
SUNDAY, JUNE 29
Amphitheater:
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Cory Wong
Cassandra Wilson
Al Di Meola Acoustic Band
DJ Logic & Friends featuring Vernon Reid, Cyro Baptista,
Emilio Modeste, James Hurt, Felix Pastorius & Terreon Gully
Charles R. Wood “Discovery” Stage:
Gary Bartz
Bria Skonberg Quintet
Brandee Younger Trio
La Excelencia
Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars Celebrate their Heroes
featuring Clay Jenkins, Jimmy Greene, Steve Davis, Dave Stryker, Bill Cunliffe, Todd Coolman & Dennis Mackrel
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ABOUT SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL:
Founded in 1978 by jazz impresario George Wein, 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 and Saratoga Jazz Festival, presented by GE Vernova in 2025. 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 $85 and will be available online at www.spac.org beginning January 24 at 10am to the general public and starting on January 21 at 10am to SPAC members (tiered by level). Members will also receive a discount of 15-20% (depending on level) on their ticket purchase. Two-day passes are also available. 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).
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
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 outdoor amphitheaters. Its tranquil setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Saratoga Jazz Festival, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as Caffè Lena @ SPAC and initiatives in culinary, literary, healing and visual arts.
SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s thriving education program, community outreach efforts, and the vibrancy of its programming. For more information visit spac.org.
About GE Vernova
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE: GEV) is a purpose-built global energy company that includes Power, Wind, and Electrification segments and is supported by its accelerator businesses. Building on over 130 years of experience tackling the world’s challenges, GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to help lead the energy transition by continuing to electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it. GE Vernova helps customers power economies and deliver electricity that is vital to health, safety, security, and improved quality of life. GE Vernova is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., with approximately 75,000 employees across 100+ countries around the world. Supported by the Company’s purpose, The Energy to Change the World, GE Vernova technology helps deliver a more affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future. Learn more: GE Vernova and LinkedIn.