Upcoming Summer Music Festival at JCAL
JAMAICA CENTER FOR ARTS & LEARNING (JCAL) PRESENTS THE RETURN OF THE DOWNTOWN JAMAICA RIDDIM & JAZZ FESTIVAL
Annual Summer Celebration of Music, Culture, and Community
Headlined by the GRAMMY® Award-Winning
Branford Marsalis Quartet
Free Two-Day Concert
July 24 - July 25
This Summer, the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL) - Queens’ premier hub for the visual and performing arts - proudly presents its annual Downtown Jamaica Riddim & Jazz Festival, a celebration of music, culture, and community. Now in its fourth year, Riddim & Jazz has become a cornerstone of live entertainment in Southeast Queens - a vibrant gathering point that connects artists and audiences through a diverse, genre-spanning lineup of jazz, soul, salsa, and global sounds. The festival will take place July 24 – July 25 in Downtown Jamaica. On Fri., July 24, Steven Kroon and Dennis Collins will co-headline a free concert at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center (153-10 Jamaica Avenue), at 7pm. On Sat., July 25, at Rufus King Park at 6pm, the iconic Brandford Marsalis Quartet will take the stage.
Riddim & Jazz builds on two of JCAL’s signature programs, Riddim Section and Thursday Night Jazz – it's a culminating moment reflecting the depth and diversity of JCAL’s year-round concerts. It also reflects JCAL’s efforts to broaden the reach of its programming and deepen its connection to the community.
Steven Kroon – a Latin jazz legend who also curates Riddim Section – has performed with such notables as Luther Vandross, Ron Carter, Aretha Franklin, and Lady Gaga. Soulful vocalist Dennis Collins’ accolades include performances with James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Dylan.
A three-time GRAMMY® Award winner and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, New Orleans-born Branford Marsalis is a world-renowned saxophonist, composer, and bandleader recognized as a leading force in modern jazz. Formed in 1986, the Branford Marsalis Quartet continues to set the standard, celebrated for its extraordinary range and enduring influence across the genre.
“Each year, the Downtown Jamaica Riddim & Jazz Festival grows in scope and intention, deepening our commitment to presenting artists across genres while expanding access to high-quality live music and creating space for meaningful connection,” said Courtney Ffrench, JCAL Artistic Director. “At its core, the festival brings different musical traditions and audiences together in a shared cultural setting. Welcoming the Branford Marsalis Quartet this year underscores that vision, connecting one of the most respected ensembles in jazz while expanding what audiences can experience right here in Southeast Queens.”