92Y JAZZ IN JULY FESTIVAL FEATURING CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT, BILL CHARLAP, CHRISTIAN SANDS, DICK HYMAN AND MORE

92Y announces the 30th Annual 92Y Jazz in July Festival, curated by Bill Charlap, who celebrates his 10th anniversary as artistic director of the time-honored Festival. Jazz in July runs from Tuesday, July 21 through Thursday, July 31, bringing together some of the world's finest jazz players for once-in-a-lifetime performances. The Festival celebrates its 30th year with voices old and new: a return visit from 92Y Jazz in July founder Dick Hyman for a celebration of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz; and one of the jazz world's most exciting new voices, Cécile McLorin Salvant, who comes to the Festival for the first time in an evening devoted to Sarah Vaughan. 

92Y Jazz in July opens on July 21 with a salute to Hoagy Carmichael, composer of such iconic songs as "Stardust" and "Georgia on My Mind," in a concert featuring saxophonist Harry Allen, guitarist James Chirillo and vocalist Sandy Stewart. Jazz in July's first-ever look at the genius of Miles Davis concludes the first week of the festival on July 23; the concert looks at his pivotal position in defining the standard repertoire for jazz improvisers, and features trumpeter Jeremy Pelt. In between, on July 22, a tribute to Leonard Bernstein's musical theater contributions with the Bill Charlap Trio and returning favorites Brian Lynch (trumpet), Jimmy Greene (tenor sax) and Jon Gordon (alto sax).

Week two opens with a reunion of Charlap and his Jazz in July mentor and predecessor Dick Hyman, the festival's founder and artistic director for its first 20 years; joining them is pianist Christian Sands, as three generations pay homage to the legacy of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. The young, GRAMMY® Award-nominated virtuoso vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant is in the spotlight the following night in her Jazz in July debut celebrating Sarah Vaughan. The festival closes with an evening of performances that explore Fred Astaire's contributions to the jazz songbook with vocalist Sachal Vasandani, who will return to the festival after appearances in 2011 and 2012.

One of the world's premier jazz pianists, Bill Charlap has performed and recorded with many of the leading jazz artists of our time. With his longtime trio of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, he has released seven highly-acclaimed albums for the Blue Note label, including the GRAMMY® Award-nominated albums The Bill Charlap Trio - Live at the Village Vanguard and Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein. In 2010, Charlap released Double Portrait, a collaboration with his wife, the renowned pianist Renee Rosnes, recorded at 92nd Street Y.

Charlap creates 92Y Jazz in July in collaboration with Hanna Arie-Gaifman, Director of 92Y Tisch Center for the Arts, which produces 92Y's concert series, including Jazz in July.

Tue, Jul 22, 8 pm

HOAGY CARMICHAEL: STARDUST 

Jazz in July kicks off as the songs of singular American composer Hoagy Carmichael are launched to new improvisatory heights, based on the influence of cornet geniuses Bix Beiderbecke and Louis Armstrong. Hear greats like "Skylark," "Georgia on my Mind," and "The Nearness of You."

Bill Charlap, piano / John Eric Kellso, trumpet / Harry Allen, tenor sax / James Chirillo, guitar / Sandy Stewart, vocals / Ted Rosenthal, piano / Todd Coolman, bass / Dennis Mackrell, drums

Wed, Jul 23, 8 pm

LEONARD BERNSTEIN'S NEW YORK

Be transported to the iconic Greenwich Village jazz clubs of Wonderful Town, 1950s street gangs of West Side Story and more New York landmarks from Leonard Bernstein. Hear how jazz influenced his musical songwriting, in "Something's Coming," to "Lucky to Be Me," to "The Wrong Note Rag."  

Brian Lynch, trumpet / Jimmy Greene, tenor sax / Jon Gordon, alto sax / Bill Charlap, piano / Peter Washington, bass / Kenny Washington, drums

Thu, Jul 24, 8 pm

THE MAN WITH THE HORN: MUSIC OF MILES DAVIS

Experience the essential, indubitably cool sounds of Miles Davis, the embodiment of jazz. Gold standard musicians highlight Davis's repertoire-"My Funny Valentine," "Autumn Leaves"- as well as the songs he wrote - such as "Donna Lee," "All Blues," and "Solar."

Jeremy Pelt, trumpet / Ralph Moore, tenor sax / Steve Wilson, alto sax / Renee Rosnes, piano / Bill Charlap, piano / Peter Washington, bass / Lewis Nash, drums

Tue, Jul 29, 8 pm

DICK HYMAN, BILL CHARLAP, CHRISTIAN SANDS: THREE GENERATIONS OF PIANO JAZZ   Three top jazz pianists on one stage - in a special evening of heart-racing virtuoso playing, and bonus conversations between Bill Charlap and featured artists.  Dick Hyman wrote the book on piano jazz. He is joined by Charlap and twice GRAMMY® Award-nominated Christian Sands. Expect piano solos and duos, and trios with the band as they perform repertoire from songwriters Duke Ellington to jazz piano giants Fats Waller and Bud Powell.

Dick Hyman, piano / Bill Charlap, piano / Christian Sands, piano / Sean Smith, bass / Willie Jones, drums

Wed, Jul 30, 8 pm

CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT w/ THE BILL CHARLAP TRIO: CELEBRATING SARAH VAUGHAN

Now is the time to hear singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, on fire with a 2014 Grammy® nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album, a Thelonious Monk Competition win and plaudits including two New York Times profiles. With Bill Charlap and his trio, she pays tribute to one of her primary influences, jazz great Sarah Vaughan, with American Songbook classics including "April in Paris," "Body & Soul," and "Lullaby of Birdland."

Cécile McLorin Salvant, vocals / Bill Charlap, piano / Peter Washington, bass / Kenny Washington, drums / Jessie Davis, alto sax

Thu, Jul 31, 8 pm

I WON'T DANCE: THE FRED ASTAIRE SONGBOOK  

Fred Astaire proved to be a jazz master, using his innate sense of rhythm and swing to collaborate with songwriting legends from Gershwin ("Nice Work if You Can Get It") to Berlin ("Puttin' on the Ritz") and others to introduce some of their biggest hits. I Won't Dance is back-to-back toe-tappers.

Sachal Vasandani, vocals / Ken Peplowski, clarinet & tenor sax / Michael Dease, trombone / Renee Rosnes, piano / Bill Charlap, piano / George Mraz, bass / Lewis Nash, drums

ABOUT JAZZ IN JULY

This annual summer jazz festival, directed by pianist and Blue Note recording artist Bill Charlap, brings together some of the world's best jazz musicians for once-in-a-lifetime performances at 92nd Street Y. Recent Festival shows have explored be-bop and Latin jazz; celebrated jazz legend Jimmy Heath and former artistic director Dick Hyman; and sampled the work of great composers, from Cole Porter to Thelonious Monk. Recent line-ups have featured jazz greats Ray Bryant, Barry Harris, Wynton Marsalis, Eddie Palmieri, Trio Da Paz, and Frank Wess.

92Y Jazz in July is partially endowed by Simona and Jerome A. Chazen.

ABOUT 92ND STREET Y

92nd Street Y's unique fusion of community and culture makes it the only place of its kind in the world. 92Y is a nonprofit community center, performance stage and lecture hall; a literary salon and home for artists; a school, outreach organization and summer camp; a gym, a residence and more. 92nd Street Y, a proudly Jewish institution since its inception in 1874, has become a community of communities, welcoming people of all ages, races, faiths and backgrounds. Now serving more than 300,000 people each year in its New York facilities, 92Y also reaches millions of "virtual" guests around the world through its website, satellite broadcasts and other electronic media. Committed to making its programs available to everyone, 92nd Street Y awards nearly $1 million in scholarships annually and reaches about 7500 public school children through subsidized arts and science education programs.