There are three things New York City is never short of: dollar slice pizza, subway rats, and jazz festivals. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can experience all three in one day.
With the case of the 2019 Verdi Square Festival, you can avoid the rats and cheap pizza (hopefully) to enjoy an evening of New York City’s finest jazz. Taking place this Sunday, September 15th at 5pm, the performance will salute the female pioneers of this musical genre: Lillian Hardin, Lovie Austin, Bessie Smith, and Alberta Hunter.
The 2019 Festival’s other two 5pm Sunday concerts are September 22nd (American Musical Theater) and September 29th (Opera).
Advertisement
Verdi Square, located at Broadway and 72nd street, has a long musical history. In 1906, a statue of Italy’s great composer Giuseppe Verdi was unveiled at the park (hence the name) by the Italian-American community of New York. About 10,000 people attended the unveiling, where marching bands played and a chorus of 300 school children sung.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that a group of Upper West Side music lovers created the Verdi Square Festival in 2006 to keep this musical tradition alive. Since then, this free festival runs yearly and always showcases both aspiring young musicians as well as established performers. Either way, the festival is a delight and definitely worth attending.
As mentioned, this Sunday’s concert is dedicated to women of jazz in an hour-long open-air concert. Seating is limited, so early arrival is recommended. The concert is this Sunday, September 15th and begins at 5pm.
Learn more at verdisquarefestival.com
Recommended: Verdi Square’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Join the UWS newsletter for more upcoming events:
