Louis Hayes
Louis Hayes & The Cannonball Legacy | June 5–7 • Jazz Cultural • Midtown Manhattan
A living link to the golden age of jazz, drummer Louis Hayes has spent more than seven decades shaping the music alongside legends including Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson, and McCoy Tyner. At 88, Hayes continues to swing with remarkable energy and authority, bringing the spirit of hard bop to new generations through his Cannonball Legacy project. This special engagement celebrates one of jazz's true masters and offers audiences a rare opportunity to hear an artist whose career spans virtually the entire modern history of the music.
Joining Hayes is an all-star quintet featuring trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, one of today's leading voices on his instrument; alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, whose fiery sound traces directly back to the hard-bop lineage; pianist Rick Germanson, a favorite among New York's straight-ahead jazz community; and bassist John Webber, one of the most respected accompanists in modern jazz. Together, they deliver a powerful blend of swing, soul, blues and bebop that keeps Cannonball's legacy alive while sounding completely of the moment.
🚀 Boundary-Pushers
Etienne Charles: Folklore LIVE Vol. 2 | Jun 5–6 | Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City | The Trinidad-born trumpeter continues building one of the most compelling bodies of work in contemporary jazz. Blending Caribbean traditions, folkloric storytelling and modern jazz language, Charles has become one of the leading voices connecting the African diaspora through music. MORE INFO
Chief Adjuah | Jun 5-7 | Blue Note Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, NYC | Formerly known as Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, the New Orleans innovator continues to push jazz toward new cultural and sonic territory. His performances often feel less like concerts and more like statements about where the music is headed. MORE INFO
Hamilton de Holanda & JLCO | Jun 12-13 | Jazz at Lincoln Center NYC | A major international collaboration that brings Brazilian virtuosity together with one of jazz's premier orchestras. MORE INFO
Sullivan Fortner Piano Duos | Jun 12 - 13 | The Jazz Gallery, Manhattan, NYC | Sullivan Fortner – Piano Duos
One of the most anticipated piano events of the season arrives at The Jazz Gallery as Sullivan Fortner hosts four intimate duo performances with four masters of the instrument. The series opens Friday with the legendary Kenny Barron (7pm, sold out) followed by the brilliant Venezuelan pianist Luis Perdomo (9pm). On Saturday, Fortner is joined by bebop and hard-bop elder Bertha Hope (7pm) before closing with the dynamic and always unpredictable Orrin Evans (9pm).
More than a concert series, these performances are musical conversations across generations, styles, and traditions. For piano lovers, this rare gathering of artists offers a remarkable opportunity to hear four distinct voices in direct dialogue with one of today's most creative and compelling pianists. MORE INFO
🎺 Keeping the Flame
John Patitucci : Dear Mr. Bennett | Jun 5 - 7 | Smoke Jazz Club Upper West Side | Part tribute, part celebration, Pizzarelli's salute to Tony Bennett is likely to resonate with audiences who appreciate the Great American Songbook tradition. MORE INFO
Count Basie Orchestra w/ Scotty Barnhardt| Jun 6 | Keystone Korner Baltimore - Baltimore, MD MORE INFO
Paquito D'Rivera & Dizzy Gillespie All Stars | Jun 6 | Hamilton Stage - Union County Performing Arts - Rahway, NJ | The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars, led by longtime Dizzy associate and bassist John Lee, bring the fire and wit of bebop's golden era back to life — performing classics like "Salt Peanuts," "A Night in Tunisia," and "Con Alma." Joining them is 16-time Grammy winner Paquito D'Rivera, whose saxophone and clarinet mastery bridges Afro-Cuban jazz and bebop with unmatched authority. Presented by WBGO as part of its All That Jazz series. MORE INFO
✊ Voices of Resistance
Brandon Woody | Jun 5 | Close Up -Lower East Side | Baltimore-born trumpeter Brandon Woody is one of the most compelling young voices in jazz today. His sound carries a maturity that belies his years — grounded, searching, and unmistakably his own. Woody has been building serious national momentum, and his name is coming up in all the right conversations about where jazz is headed next. Catch him up close before the rest of the world catches on. MORE INFO
Kristina Koller | Jun 12 | Sunset Jazz @ Culture Lab LIC - Long Island City NYVocalist Kristina Koller brings her luminous, wide-ranging voice to one of Queens' most vibrant cultural spaces for an evening of Sunset Jazz at Culture Lab LIC. Known for her warmth, interpretive depth, and ability to make a lyric feel freshly discovered, Koller is a standout in New York's next generation of jazz singers. A perfect summer evening setting for one of the city's most captivating voices. MORE INFO
Renee Rosnes Quartet | Jun 9 - 13 | Village Vanguard - Greenwich Village | Pianist and composer Renee Rosnes brings one of the most formidable quartets in jazz to the Village Vanguard for a six-night stand. With saxophone titan Chris Potter, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Savannah Harris, the ensemble commands both precision and spontaneity. Rosnes's compositional voice — lyrical yet intellectually demanding — is perfectly matched by this caliber of bandstand. A can't-miss week at one of jazz's most storied rooms. MORE INFO
🎵 More HotSpot Events
Mingus Big Band — Emelin Theatre (Sat, Jun 6) — Mamaroneck, NY
Kazemde George Quartet — Ruth on Flatbush (Mon, Jun 8, 8pm) — Brooklyn
Jonathan Paik — The Jazz Gallery (Sat, Jun 6, 7pm) — Flatiron District
Adam Lamoureux Quartet — The Jazz Gallery (Wed, Jun 10, 7pm) — Flatiron District
Micah Thomas — Close Up (Fri, Jun 12) — Lower East Side
Sarah Hanahan Quartet — Scullers Jazz Club (Fri, Jun 12) — Boston, MA
Brandon Goldberg Trio — Birdland Jazz Club (Sat, Jun 13) — Midtown Manhattan
Charlie Ballantine — Bluebird Jazz Session (Thu, Jun 11) — Baltimore, MD
Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band — Blue Note Jazz Club (Jun 11–13) — Greenwich Village
Danilo Pérez Trio — Smoke Jazz Club (Jun 10–13) — Upper West Side
Paquito D'Rivera Quintet — Jazz Forum (Jun 12–13) — Tarrytown, NY
John Pizzarelli Trio: Dear Mr. Bennett — Keystone Korner Baltimore (Sat, Jun 13) — Baltimore, MD
🎉 Festivals & Specials
Blue Note Jazz Festival NYC
Now celebrating its 15th year, the Blue Note Jazz Festival New York returns with another month-long takeover of stages across the city. From the intimate bandstand of the Blue Note Jazz Club to the open air of Central Park's SummerStage, the 2026 edition brings an extraordinary range of artists — Chief Adjuah, Ledisi, José James, Kokoroko, SHABAKA, and more. This is jazz in New York at its most expansive. The festival runs throughout June. MORE INFO
Bryan Carter's Jazz at Pride
Dizzy's Club - Jazz at Lincoln Center - June 10
Tony Award winner Bryan Carter returns with a vibrant celebration of community and creativity. This special two-night event showcases LGBTQIA+ artists in an evening of music and storytelling through jazz and popular song, featuring vocalists Benny Benack III, Charenee Wade, J. Hoard, Nathan Farrell, Richard Cortez, Vuyo Sotashe, Dylan Mulvaney (June 10 only), and Spilata (June 11 only). Supported by a full big band and string section, expect bold artistry, joyful energy, and an experience that uplifts, empowers, and fosters connection. MORE INFO
🔔 SPOTLIGHTS
JUNE ISSUE OF HOT HOUSE JAZZ GUIDE