Jazz Icons

Jazz Icons Hero

The Jazz Icons series at Trinity Church presents free Sunday afternoon concerts featuring brilliant, world-renowned practitioners of the jazz tradition. A joint effort between Trinity and JAZZ HOUSE NYC, these concerts are curated by eight time Grammy Award-winning bassist and Jazz House Artistic Director Christian McBride, as well as JAZZ HOUSE KiDS founder and jazz vocalist Melissa Walker. Past performances have featured the legendary double bassist Ron Carter, influential Afro-Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés Trio, and the celebrated jazz pianist Monty Alexander.

Trinity Church’s popular Jazz at One series offers free midday concerts from luminaries like Samara Joy, Billy Hart, and Roy Hargrove.

Learn about upcoming performances below and enjoy recordings of iconic past performances.

Upcoming performances

See the full concert schedule

Jazz at One: Vuyo Sotashe

Long Walk to Freedom

Event
September 30, 2024, 1:00 pm
St. Paul's Chapel

Award-winning South African jazz vocalist Vuyo Sotashe opens the Jazz at One season. He has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center and was one of the first male singers to place in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Vocal competition.  

This season’s Jazz at One, Long Walk to Freedom, is inspired by Nelson Mandela and the 30th anniversary of South African democracy. Presented in collaboration with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. 

Jazz at One: Lance Bryant & Shout!

Long Walk to Freedom

Event
October 7, 2024, 1:00 pm
St. Paul's Chapel

Don’t miss Lance Bryant, a legendary vocalist, saxophonist, and composer, and his 16-piece band, Shout! A long-time collaborator with South African great Abdullah Ibrahim (the pianist known for his anti-apartheid anthem Mannenberg), Bryant presents his own healing, empowering brand of jazz. 

This season’s Jazz at One, Long Walk to Freedom, is inspired by Nelson Mandela and the 30th anniversary of South African democracy. Presented in collaboration with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. 

Jazz at One: Helen Sung Quartet

Long Walk to Freedom

Event
October 14, 2024, 1:00 pm
St. Paul's Chapel

Hear a jazz quartet helmed by classically trained pianist and composer Helen Sung, a Guggenheim Fellow and winner of the Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition. Sung graduated from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance and has worked with such luminaries as Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Wynton Marsalis, MacArthur Fellow Regina Carter, the late Clark Terry, and Grammy winners Terri Lyne Carrington and Cecile McLorin Salvant.   

This season’s Jazz at One, Long Walk to Freedom, is inspired by Nelson Mandela and the 30th anniversary of South African democracy. Presented in collaboration with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. 

Jazz videos

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Jazz Evensong with Theodicy Jazz Collective
MusicJuly 21, 2024

Jazz Evensong with Theodicy Jazz Collective

Join us for a special jazz evensong featuring Theodicy Jazz Collective and members of The Choir of Trinity Wall Street. Bringing together sounds from jazz and gospel and rhythms from Latin America and Africa, the collective’s music is a shout for joy, a cry for hope, a call to action — and a constant prayer. 

240505 Jazz Icons Chucho Valdés Trio
MusicMay 5, 2024

Jazz Icons: Chucho Valdés Trio

Cuban pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés is the most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz. He is perhaps best known for helming iconic Cuban ensemble Irakere (1973–2005). In a career spanning more than 60 years, Valdés has distilled elements of the Afro-Cuban music tradition, jazz, classical music, rock, and more into a deeply personal style. He is joined by bassist Jose Armando Gola and percussionist Roberto Vizcaíno Jr. for what is sure to be a transcendent performance. The concert is presented in collaboration with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS.

Jazz Icons: Bobby Watson
MusicFebruary 11, 2024

Jazz Icons: Bobby Watson

Jazz icon Bobby Watson, in collaboration with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, presented a special concert in Trinity Church.
 
Prolific saxophonist, composer, and educator Bobby Watson sits among the pantheon of jazz greats. As a bandleader, Watson has released numerous highly acclaimed albums, including Love Remains, Post-Motown Bop, and Tailor Made. He has played alongside Max Roach, Branford and Wynton Marsalis, John Hicks, and many other jazz pioneers. During his years as musical director for Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Watson contributed to fourteen recordings — more than anyone else in the group’s storied thirty-five-year history.

To this dynamic and supercharged concert, Watson brings an all-star band including Wallace Roney Jr., trumpet, Orrin Evans, piano, Essiet Okon Essiet, bass, and Victor Jones, drums.

For information about JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, visit jazzhousekids.org.

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