Live Jazz Concerts at JCAL; Upcoming Performances
Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning Brings Acclaimed Pianist Idris Frederick to Queens for Thursday Night Jazz
An Evening of Inventive Contemporary Jazz, Presented as Part of JCAL’s 2026–27 Season and Curated by Renowned Jazz Programmer Rio Sakairi of The Jazz Gallery
Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 8 PM
Jamaica Performing Arts Center
As part of its 2026–27 season, the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL) - Queens’ premier hub for the visual and performing arts - will present the next installment of its popular Thursday Night Jazz series, featuring contemporary jazz pianist and composer Idris Frederick. The performance will take place on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 8 p.m. at Jamaica Performing Arts Center (153-10 Jamaica Ave, Jamaica, NY 11432). Curated by Rio Sakairi, the artistic force behind New York’s award-winning The Jazz Gallery, the series brings revered masters and vibrant new voices in jazz to Southeast Queens, celebrating the evolution of the genre and the community’s rich cultural heritage.
Renowned for his inventive musicianship and distinctive approach to the piano, Frederick has built an international reputation through extensive touring and performances alongside Grammy-
nominated and award-winning artists. His appearances at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide have showcased his command and ability to blend jazz traditions with modern influences.
Drawing inspiration from Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson and Andrew Hill, as well as classical composers Ravel, Stravinsky and Bartók, Frederick brings a wide-ranging musical sensibility to his work. His November appearance at JCAL’s Thursday Night Jazz offers Queens audiences an opportunity to experience that blend of influences firsthand, through performances that balance respect for jazz’s legacy with the expressive freedom of improvisation.
“Thursday Night Jazz creates an opportunity for our community to hear exceptional musicians up close and discover artists they’ll want to keep following,” said JCAL REP. “Idris Frederick brings a musical curiosity that makes him an exciting part of this season. With Rio Sakairi’s curatorial vision guiding the series, each concert offers a fresh perspective on the music while building a shared experience for audiences here in Queens.”
Guiding the series is Sakairi, a longtime jazz curator described by The New York Times as “one of the most influential arts programmers of our times.” Her curatorial vision shapes Thursday Night Jazz’s spirit of discovery, connecting audiences with celebrated musicians and emerging artists advancing the music today.
One of JCAL’s longest-running and most popular programs, Thursday Night Jazz presents cutting-edge contemporary jazz artists on the second Thursday of each month, October through May. The season culminates in the annual two-day Downtown Jamaica Jazz Festival each June.
The 2026–27 season kicked off on October 8 with the Roy Hargrove Big Band. Following Frederick’s November performance, the series continues with: Award-winning Haitian-American vocalist Tyreek McDole (December 10, 2026); Argentine saxophonist Julieta Eugenio (January 14, 2027); vocalist, composer and bandleader Vanisha Gould (February 11, 2027); Brooklyn-based avant-garde guitarist and composer Alana Amore Colvin (March 11, 2027); versatile trombonist and composer Gina Benalcázar López (April 8, 2027); and Grammy-nominated harpist Brandee Younger (May 13, 2027).
All performances begin at 8 p.m., with general admission tickets priced at $10. JCAL offers blocks of free seats at every concert for seniors ages 62 and older and students who live or work in a ZIP code beginning with 114. Eligible attendees should present identification and a piece of mail showing their current address to receive a free ticket.
For tickets and information about upcoming performances, visit Thursday Night Jazz on Eventbrite.
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