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2023 Winter JazzFest Marathons: A Survival Guide

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By Ludovico Granvassu
January 5, 2023
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The fact that New York City's Winter JazzFest (WJF) is back to in-person performances may very well be among the most meaningful signs, at least for jazz die-hards, that life is returning to normal.

The overall number of concerts may not be as high as in the past, with the 170+ performances of 2020 representing the historic peak. The mere fact, however, that producer Brice Rosenbloom and his team had the resolve not to let the soul-crushing, last-minute, Covid-related cancellation of the 2022 edition get in the way and assemble 100+ concerts is, in and of itself, a cause for celebration.

The festival is progressively losing its West-Village-centric soul, and the distances among venues are increasing. Lesser venue-hopping accessibility is therefore compensated by an overall greater festival accessibility, as the programming is more likely to come closer to where you live. As in 2020, the WJF Marathons will touch two boroughs, Manhattan on 13 January and Brooklyn on January 14. For those Manhattanintes who cannot wrap their heads around having to cross the East River, on January 14 NuBlu offers a very strong alternative WJF program featuring

Michael Leonhart

trumpet
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Leonhart in a duo with

JSWISS

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">JSWISS as well as with his celebrated Orchestra; the legendary

Brian Jackson

piano
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Jackson;

Kahil El'Zabar

drums
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Kahil El'Zabar;

Dezron Douglas

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Dezron Douglas and

Ilhan Ersahin

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Ilhan Ersahin.

Perhaps you have been at the JazzFest before and loved how two evenings of non-stop music brought you into a utopian, yet short-lived existence in which your only concern in life was what concert to see next. You may recall how that was the best antidote to get over the holidaze.

But it has been three years since anyone has had to digest the festival's huge list of performances, mentally geo-reference them, match them against metabolism levels (sedentary or powerhouse?), concentration levels (ADHD or hyper-focus?), fitness levels (sprinter or long distance runner?) and social inclinations (pack leader or lone wolf?), and come up with a personal WJF Algorhythm. As a well-seasoned jazz cat will know, there are many ways to skin this JazzFest.

Here is where we come in to help you, flagging a few possible ways to unpack this new year jazz bonanza and suggest what may suit you best.

Needless to say, our suggestions reflect personal preferences, but we do our best to break down the Winter JazzFest's extensive schedule to allow for maximum customization while keeping in mind the distances between venues, some of which are conveniently clustered (in Manhattan: Le Poisson Rouge /

The BitterEnd Club

" data-original-title="" title="">The BitterEnd Club / Zinc Bar; City Winery -New York / City Winery Loft. In Brooklyn: National Sawdust / Loove Labs; Superior Ingredients / Brooklyn Bowl; The Opera House / Baby's All Right), the timing of shows, and various threads which can be discerned through the programming. Maps and schedules are available at the end of the article.

One final bit of advice, always check the Winter JazzFest website for last-minute changes and for its neat "crowd watch" to make sure you're not leaving front-row seats in a comfy venue just to get yourself in the endless line of a club that is packed wall-to-wall.

Logistical Approaches

Hold On, I'm Coming!

a.k.a. The maximalist's approach

You scoff at having to make compromises. You always wondered why one has to choose between chocolate or ice-cream when you can get a cup of ice-cream and load it with chocolate on top. Your adrenal glands are always jacked up and your friends think you're the MacGyver of public transportation problem-solving. Leaving a concert before its end, or arriving a few minutes after its start, is no deterrent to your pursuit of the Winter JazzFest Grand Slam. If this is who you are... here may be a few ways to go.

Friday 13th [Manhattan]

6PM.
Miho Hazama
composer / conductor
b.1986
" data-original-title="" title="">Miho Hazama & m_unit (City Winery)
7PM.
Adam O'Farrill
trumpet
b.1994
" data-original-title="" title="">Adam O'Farrill's "Stranger Days" (City Winery Loft)
8:30PM.
Ben Wendel
saxophone, tenor
" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Wendel (City Winery)
9PM.
Joel Ross
vibraphone
" data-original-title="" title="">Joel Ross (Le Poisson Rouge)
10PM.
Marta Sanchez
piano
" data-original-title="" title="">Marta Sanchez Quintet (Zinc Bar)
11PM.
Lakecia Benjamin
saxophone, alto
" data-original-title="" title="">Lakecia Benjamin (City Winery) or
Craig Taborn
piano
b.1970
" data-original-title="" title="">Craig Taborn (Jazz Gallery)
12:30PM.
Isaiah Collier
saxophone
- 1998
" data-original-title="" title="">Isaiah Collier (NuBlu)

An alternative start of the soiree could be with the following two concerts during the 6:30-8:30PM slot:

6:30PM.
Immanuel Wilkins
saxophone, alto
b.1997
" data-original-title="" title="">Immanuel Wilkins (Le Poisson Rouge)
7:30PM.
Chris Lightcap
bass
b.1971
" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Lightcap's "Superette Deluxe" (Jazz Gallery)

Saturday 14th [Brooklyn]

6:30PM. Black Lives from Generation to Generation (feat. Stephanie McCay,
Jacques Schwarz-Bart
saxophone, tenor
" data-original-title="" title="">Jacques Schwarz-Bart,
Andy Milne
piano
b.1967
" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Milne,
Marcus Gilmore
drums
b.1986
" data-original-title="" title="">Marcus Gilmore,
Gene Lake
drums
b.1966
" data-original-title="" title="">Gene Lake) and more (The Opera House)
8:45PM.
Daniel Villarreal
drums
" data-original-title="" title="">Daniel Villarreal (Club Curious)
9:45PM.
Makaya McCraven
drums
b.1983
" data-original-title="" title="">Makaya McCraven (Superior Ingredients)
11PM.
Irreversible Entanglements
band / ensemble / orchestra
b.2015
" data-original-title="" title="">Irreversible Entanglements (Superior Ingredients)
11:30PM.
Sun Ra Arkestra
band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1956
" data-original-title="" title="">Sun Ra Arkestra (The Opera House)
12:45PM. Ghost Funk Orchestra (Baby's All Right)

An alternative during the 8:30-10:30PM slot:

8:30PM.
Jamaaladeen Tacuma
bass
b.1956
" data-original-title="" title="">Jamaaladeen Tacuma, (Superior Ingredients)
9:30PM.
Surya Botofasina
keyboards
" data-original-title="" title="">Surya Botofasina (National Sawdust)

Our Love Is Here to Stay

a.k.a. The stationary pragmatist's approach

Before making a choice you ponder, and ponder, and ponder... But once the choice is made you are committed. Nothing makes you change your mind. After all, you are still using the deodorant brand you chose for prom night, 19 years ago. Staying power is your middle-name. You are not easily swayed. When you invest in the market you don't get depressed when stocks go on a free-fall and don't get too bubbly during a bubble because you know that the long run is the only way to play. If that's the case you probably look at a multi-venue festival and go for the club where the overall programming assessed against the pleasure of not having to move around strikes your practical ego. That's because you find esthetic beauty in pragmatism. And once you get to a venue you probably look at the "comers and goers" with a condescending smirk aware of the fact that the crowds' thinning in between sets will soon grant you a pole position seat. One thing you may need to consider, though, is that if you're staying at a venue where they might charge a minimum at each set (i.e. Bitter End, City Winery, Zinc Bar), you may need to be ready to drink, or eat, quite a bit (practical tip: after the second consecutive burger consider a doggy bag option, and don't forget to tip the staff appropriately or they may end up resenting jazz crowds)... Below are our favorite "stationary" options, in order of preference.

Friday 13th [Manhattan]

Le Poisson Rouge, 6:30-10PM:
Immanuel Wilkins
saxophone, alto
b.1997
" data-original-title="" title="">Immanuel Wilkins;
Donny McCaslin
saxophone, tenor
b.1966
" data-original-title="" title="">Donny McCaslin;
Joel Ross
vibraphone
" data-original-title="" title="">Joel Ross
Jazz Gallery 7:30PM-12AM: Chris Lightcap's "Superette Deluxe";
Mary Halvorson
guitar
" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson &
Sylvie Courvoisier
piano
" data-original-title="" title="">Sylvie Courvoisier;
Craig Taborn
piano
b.1970
" data-original-title="" title="">Craig Taborn
City Winery 6PM-1AM:
Miho Hazama
composer / conductor
b.1986
" data-original-title="" title="">Miho Hazama & m_unit;
Yamandu Costa
guitar
" data-original-title="" title="">Yamandu Costa;
Ben Wendel
saxophone, tenor
" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Wendel, Hera,
Lakecia Benjamin
saxophone, alto
" data-original-title="" title="">Lakecia Benjamin; Maurice 'Mobetta' Brown. Given that the City Winery will host a Biophilia Records showcase in its loft, you may add Adam O'Farrill,
Sara Serpa
vocals
b.1979
" data-original-title="" title="">Sara Serpa,
Chase Elodia
" data-original-title="" title="">Chase Elodia and
Linda May Han Oh
bass, acoustic
b.1984
" data-original-title="" title="">Linda May Han Oh to this lot, shuttling back and forth between the two stages

Best alternative: go for a combo by splitting the evening across two venues, a good compromise between not having to move around too much and getting more flexibility. To accomplish that, in addition to mixing the concerts from the venues listed above, consider starting the evening at Le Poisson Rouge and then after Joel Ross's performance move to one of the following venues:

NuBlu 10:15PM-3AM:
Reid Anderson
bass
b.1970
" data-original-title="" title="">Reid Anderson; Nate Mercerau; Isaiah Collier; BREAK.FAST.CLUB
City Winery 9:45PM-1AM: Hera,
Lakecia Benjamin
saxophone, alto
" data-original-title="" title="">Lakecia Benjamin; Maurice 'Mobetta' Brown
Zinc Bar 10PM-1:30AM: Marta Sanchez Quintet,
Orrin Evans
piano
b.1975
" data-original-title="" title="">Orrin Evans Trio;
Richie Goods
bass
" data-original-title="" title="">Richie Goods &
Chien Chien Lu
vibraphone
" data-original-title="" title="">Chien Chien Lu

Saturday 14th [Brooklyn]

Superior Ingredients 7PM-2:30 AM:
Gilles Peterson
electronics
" data-original-title="" title="">Gilles Peterson Spins; Jamaaladeen Tacuma; Makaya McCraven; Irreversible Entanglements;
Nate Smith
drums
b.1974
" data-original-title="" title="">Nate Smith,
Jason Lindner
keyboards
" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Lindner,
Tim Lefebvre
bass
b.1968
" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Lefebvre; A Joyful Noise
The Opera House 6:30PM-12:30 AM: Black Lives from Generation to Generation (feat. Stephanie McCay, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Andy Milne, Marcus Gilmore, Gene Lake);
Julius Rodriguez
piano
b.1998
" data-original-title="" title="">Julius Rodriguez;
Brandee Younger
harp
b.1983
" data-original-title="" title="">Brandee Younger; Dawn Richards &
Spencer Zahn
bass
" data-original-title="" title="">Spencer Zahn; Sun Ra Arkestra
National Sawdust 7pm-1AM:
Dayramir Gonzalez
piano
b.1983
" data-original-title="" title="">Dayramir Gonzalez;
Mark Guiliana
drums
" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Guiliana; Surya Botofasina;
Zoh Amba
woodwinds
b.2000
" data-original-title="" title="">Zoh Amba; Photay with
Carlos Niño
percussion
" data-original-title="" title="">Carlos Ni?o,
Randal Fisher
saxophone
" data-original-title="" title="">Randal Fisher, Celia Hollander

World-View Approaches

(Way More than) Four Women

a.k.a. The gender inclusiveness approach

You always disagreed with

Paolo Conte

composer / conductor
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Paolo Conte's contention that women hate jazz, but when you are not talking in public and grand-standing about how many women in jazz you admire, you know that the majority of concerts you attend still feature mostly male musicians. Or simply you are not familiar with the new generation of forward-looking female jazz composers that are changing the scene. WJF is the perfect place to fix that, thanks to its ongoing commitment to gender-inclusive programming and the championing of women in jazz who are pushing the envelope. In addition to the concerts below, you should also check out WJF's opening night, 12 January, when

Terri Lyne Carrington

drums
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Terri Lyne Carrington will bring her "New Standards" project to City Winery, and the talk at the National Jazz Museum on Gender Equity in Jazz on 17 January.

Friday 13th [Manhattan]

The West Village Option:

6:15PM. Esthesis Quartet (Zinc Bar)
6:45PM. Abraham Reunionn (Bitter End)
7:30PM.
Endea Owens
bass
" data-original-title="" title="">Endea Owens & The Cookout (Zinc Bar)
7:45PM. Jeanne Michard Paris Jazz Session (Bitter End)
10PM. Marta Sanchez Quintet (Zinc Bar)
12:30AM. Chien Chien Lu & Richie Goods (Zinc Bar)

The Chelsea Option:

6M. Miho Hazama & m_unit (City Winery)
8:30PM.
Sara Serpa
vocals
b.1979
" data-original-title="" title="">Sara Serpa (City Winery Loft)
9:45PM. Hera (City Winery)
11PM.
Lakecia Benjamin
saxophone, alto
" data-original-title="" title="">Lakecia Benjamin (City Winery)
11:30PM. Linda May Han Oh (City Winery Loft)

An alternative during the 6:30-8:45PM slot, go to NuBlu and catch

Caroline Davis

saxophone
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Caroline Davis at 6:30PM and

Nathalie Joachim

" data-original-title="" title="">Nathalie Joachim at 7:45PM.

Saturday 14th [Brooklyn]

7PM. GEORGE with
Anna Webber
saxophone, tenor
b.1984
" data-original-title="" title="">Anna Webber,
Aurora Nealand
saxophone
" data-original-title="" title="">Aurora Nealand, Chiquita Magic and
John Hollenbeck
drums
b.1968
" data-original-title="" title="">John Hollenbeck (Loove Labs)
8:30PM.
Roxana Amed
vocals
" data-original-title="" title="">Roxana Amed (Loove Labs)
10:15PM. Dawn Richards, Spencer Zahn (The Opera House)
10:45PM. Zoh Amba (National Sawdust)

A great alternative:

6:15PM. Black Lives from Generation to Generation (feat. Stephanie McCay and more) (The Opera House)
7:45PM.
Sarah Elizabeth Charles
vocals
" data-original-title="" title="">Sarah Elizabeth Charles (Baby's All Right)
9PM. Brandee Younger (The Opera House)
11PM. Irreversible Entanglements (Superior Ingredients)

The Jazz Spirits Are Marchin' In

Syncopation caused you anxiety, so the rediscovery of a more meditative dimension in jazz has brought you much needed relief. Or maybe you are trying to determine whether spiritual jazz is a movement in which musicians' inner practice has found a honest artistic outlet, or just the latest bandwagon. Perhaps you are curious about what degree of state-alteration is optimal to appreciate the nuances of this genre. You may also wonder why all the spiritual concerts will be hosted in Brooklyn (except Nate Mercerau at 11:30PM on Friday at NuBlu): is Manhattan's manic energy harmful to jazz spirituality or are Brooklyn music connoisseurs hip to something Manhattanites have not quite grasped yet? And why are all these concerts held towards the end of the day? Is spiritual jazz best consumed after a good meal and drink? Either way, if you follow the trail below you should be able to find answers to these nagging questions. Don't forget that after the Marathons, Nate Mercerau will play again on 17 January, at Public Records, performing the music of one of spiritual jazz's spiritual fathers:

Pharoah Sanders

saxophone, tenor
1940 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Pharoah Sanders' Elevation.

Saturday 14th [Brooklyn]

9PM. Brandee Younger (The Opera House)
9:30PM. Surya Botofasina (National Sawdust)
10:15PM. Dawn Richards, Spencer Zahn (The Opera House)
12AM. Photay with Carlos Nino, Randal Fisher, Celia Hollander (National Sawdust)

Geographical Approaches

Back in the day all roads led to Rome. Today all jazz roads continue to lead to New York, especially some pretty large thoroughfares from Chicago, Los Angeles and Paris, which every year are taken by a number of emerging musicians whose final destination are the stages of the WJF. Oddly, the JazzFest seemes to have been Brexited. This year the London-New York express did not deliver its usual cool contingent, with the exception of the omnipresent

Gilles Peterson

electronics

" data-original-title="" title="">Gilles Peterson who will be DJing and hosting at Superior Ingredients. If you go out very often to see live jazz in New York, it may well be that the main reason of excitement at the WJF are not the concerts by musicians who live in the Big Apple (wherever they might be originally from), but the rare sightings of artists that will share not only their music but also an insight on the scenes they belong to. Below you may find a number of trails through the WJF's program which should satisfy this cosmopolitan compulsion of yours...

The Paris trail

The Paris Jazz Club did it again. As partners of the WJF they're taking over The Bitter End for the whole evening of Friday 13th and bring six concerts featuring young and emerging talents like the trio Abraham Reunion, three siblings who offer a compelling personal syntehsis of jazz and their Guadeloupian heritage; saxophonist Jeanne Michard's brand of latin jazz; the electro-acoustic virtuosity of the Armenian-born Paris-based pianist

Yessaï Karapetian

" data-original-title="" title="">Yessa? Karapetian, and the youth and urban vibes of Bada Bada, Ishkero and TISS+. Fans of the French scene will have plenty to celebrate on the opening night of the Festival, 12 January, at Le Poisson Rouge, when two of its most promiment representatives, saxophonist

Emile Parisien

saxophone, soprano
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Emile Parisien with his quintet and accordionist

Vincent Peirani

accordion
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Vincent Peirani with his trio Jokers, will hit the stage and no doubt mesmerize the audience. These concerts are also a chance to see two leading European guitarists in action,

Manu Codjia

guitar, electric
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Manu Codjia and

Federico Casagrande

guitar
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Federico Casagrande, respectively.

The Los Angeles trail

If you want to get an insight in the ever expanding LA scene, especially its more meditative aspects, don't miss: on Friday Nate Mercerau (11:30PM at NuBlu), and on Saturday, Surya Botofasina (9:30PM at National Sawdust) and Photay with Carlos Nino, Randal Fisher, Celia Hollander (12AM at National Sawdust).

The Chicago trail

There cannot be WJF without a healthy dose of Chicago jazz. This year it's up to two drummers who have released key albums on International Anthem in 2022: Daniel Villareal (Saturday, 8:45 at Club Curious) and Makaya McCraven (Saturday, 9:45PM at Superior Ingredients). They'll be preceded by saxophonist Isaiah Collier, who by now is as active in New York as in Chicago, featured very early on Saturday (12:45 AM) at NuBlu. Most importantly, WJF will pay homage to another musician that graced both the Chicago and New York scenes, and whose untimely passing a few months ago shocked both fans and fellow musicians. On 15 January,

Jeff Parker

guitar
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Parker,

Chad Taylor

drums
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Chad Taylor,

Caroline Davis

saxophone
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Caroline Davis,

Luke Stewart

bass, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Luke Stewart,

Jason Nazary

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Nazary, and many more will be honoring the one and only

Jaimie Branch

trumpet
1983 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Jaimie Branch at NuBlu.

View the Schedule and Maps!

13 January: Manhattan Marathon

January 14: Brooklyn Marathon

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