Winter, with it's cold, icy grip, doesn't seem to want to let go of the East Coast this year even as we enter into springtime. So, one could understand why so many New Yorkers are looking forward to the promised warmth of summer. Summer will also bring with it some hot musical tickets, with perhaps none hotter than the cool jazz and soul promised by this year's installment of the Blue Note Jazz Festival. The month-long event promises to be one that music fans don't want to miss as many legendary and iconic artists are set to take stages all across the city.
The line-up alone should be enough to have fans rushing to buy tickets. José James, Michael Bolton, Sérgio Mendes, Bobby McFerrin and Questlove, Christian McBride, Ramsey Lewis and Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey, Sly & Robbie and Dee Dee Bridgewater are among the stacked deck of performers the festival has lined up. And those big names are just merely scratching the surface.
The festival's biggest draw, however, will be living musical legend Aretha Franklin. Fresh off shutting the stage down (and throwing not-s0-subtle shade to Patti LaBelle) at the White House's Women of Soul concert, the Queen of Soul will play during the festival for two nights (June 14th and 15th) at the famed Radio City Music Hall.
Needless to say, if you live in or near the New York City area, this will be one festival that you surely won't want to miss. To get more information about performers, schedules, dates and participating venues, head over to the festival's website and be sure to mark your calendars. We'll definitely be seeing you there.
