Saxophonist Rich Perry headlines CUNY jazz fest at CCNY

The 21st annual CUNY Jazz Festival, a gathering of bands and ensembles university-wide, takes place May 9-10 in Aaron Davis Hall Theatre B at The City College of New York. Tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, whose artistic voice is hailed by “Jazz Times” “as sophisticated and disciplined as post-modern jazz gets,” will be the guest artist. The festival is free and open to the public.

“Rich Perry is among the most influential and expressive modern voices on tenor saxophone; he is an artist of true historical significance, and I am thrilled to have him as our guest artist at the festival,” said Mike Holober, internationally renowned jazz pianist, composer, arranger and festival director.  “Now in its 21st year, the CUNY Jazz Festival has evolved into the most important event on the CUNY jazz calendar; City College has enjoyed being the host and sponsor of an event that is in the spirit of the joy of performing and thriving in an educational environment.”

The festival begins at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 9 with a performance by the CCNY Faculty Jazz Ensemble comprised of internationally acclaimed jazz artists.  This year’s festival features ensembles from CCNY, Hunter College, York College and the College of Staten Island. 

Student groups perform Thursday, May 9 from 12:30-6 p.m. and Friday, May 10 from 12-6 p.m.  There will also be master classes by vocal legend Sheila Jordan on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. and world-renowned trombonist Steve Davis on Friday at 12:50 p.m.

The Thursday evening concert features Perry with the CCNY Large Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. followed by a jam session for all festival participants.  The final Gala Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 10, with a performance by one of the City College graduate jazz ensembles. At 8:30 p.m. “The Rich Perry Quartet,” will close the festival with Perry joined by Gary Versace (piano), Jay Anderson (bass) and John Riley (drums).

The festival is presented by The Simon H. Rifkind Center for the Humanities and the Arts at City College and the Music Department with assistance from the City College Center for the Arts.

For further info email Mike Holober at mholober@ccny.cuny.edu .

About The City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided a high quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its role at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.2% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. More than 16,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight professional schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself.  View CCNY Media Kit.