JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeffersonville will be hosting its first jazz festival this summer for three days, July 19th – 21st. Although jazz is an internationally recognized artform there are not always opportunities to hear it in its authentic format. This will be such an opportunity. Noah Barker, a former resident of Jeffersonville and graduate of Sullivan West will play solo piano on Friday, July 19th at the Janice Center, 5296 State Route 52 in Jeffersonville, New York.

Notably, Noah’s first piano teacher was Tanya Cohen of the Janice Center with whom he studied until 10th grade. With a master’s degree from SUNY Purchase, Barker developed a firm foundation in the jazz tradition and decided to focus on composition and recording. He has released six EPs under his own label and has recently performed in his home base of Los Angeles as well as New York City, Chicago, Nashville, and Minneapolis. His style in jazz begets lush harmony, expressive solos, syncopated rhythms, and a spontaneity in his music. Incorporating modern production gives Barker the freedom to push boundaries in his solo projects, Noisebody, Pure Grooves and others. Due to limited space, there will be 2 seatings for Noah Barker’s concert, one at 7 p.m. and the other at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, July 20th at 7 p.m., internationally renowned drummer and percussionist Thurman Barker will present a quintet featuring the music of Art Blakey. Blakey was a true innovator of modern jazz drumming and left an indelible mark on the genre with his powerful and thunderous style. Thurman Barker is a celebrated percussionist who built his career on innovation. As a professional musician, composer, and college professor, he brings together endless passion and decades of experience to entertain, educate, and expand the horizons of his art. As a musician his career has spanned decades, and his talent encompasses and crosses over into many musical genres. From jazz and blues to contemporary, classical, and beyond, his sound blurs traditionally rigid lines to the delight of his audiences. As a composer he has released 7 CDs under his own label Uptee Productions and written three pieces for chamber orchestra with those pieces being premiered in Chicago and New York City. As a college professor he headed the jazz program at Bard College in Annandale, New York, for 29 years, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2022. In addition to Barker’s quintet, attendees will also be treated to vocalist, Gabriele Tranchina and pianist, Joe Tranchina. Gabrielle Tranchina has a fearlessness, and a connectedness to nature and beauty, joy, sophistication, and exploration, backed by a solid technique. Joe Tranchina is a composer, and occasional lyricist, of over 1,000 compositions which ranges from straight-ahead, fusion, and Brazilian jazz to new age, world beat, pop and classical. The concert on July 20th will take place at the Backyard Park located at 876 Swiss Hill Rd North, Jeffersonville, NY. In the case of rain alternate site is Jeffersonville Fire Department with a change in Site will be announced by noon on the date of concert.

On Sunday, July 21st at 4 p.m. at Lulu’s Social Club, a piano trio, MOPDtK featuring founding members bassist Moppa Elliott and drummer Kevin Shea are joined by pianist Ron Stabinsky. In 2009 MOPDtK was the winner of the 57th Downbeat Critics Poll in the Rising Star Ensemble category. Bassist and composer Moppa Elliott formed MOPDtK with drummer Kevin Shea in 2003. Elliott’s been leading the ensemble in various formations ever since. Stabinsky and Elliott are both natives of Northeast Pennsylvania and at one time or another lived in the small town of Factoryville. In 2022, MOPDtK released “Disasters Vol. 1”, a collection of Elliott’s compositions based on historical events in Pennsylvania towns. This past winter, another of Elliott’s ensembles, “Advancing on a Wild Pitch”, released “Disasters Vol. 2”. MOPDtK will be performing selections from both volumes as well as standards, classical compositions, improvisations, odd noises, and some of the most fun and engaging modern music around! To hear both original and standard jazz tunes as well as the story behind the acronym, MOPDtK, come to the performance on July 21st at Lulu’s Social Club located above the Jeffersonville Bake Shop at 4906 NY-52.

Tickets at the door are $20 for each concert or $50 to get a wrist band for all three concerts.

The festival will be made possible with funding from a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts and administered by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance.