JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — Jeffersonville will host its first jazz festival this summer from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21. Although jazz is an internationally recognized art form, you don’t always have a chance to hear the authentic sound. Now’s your chance!

Noah Barker, a former resident of Jeffersonville and graduate of Sullivan West, will play solo piano in two concerts, at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on July 19 at the Janice Center, 5296 State Rte. 52.

Barker’s first piano teacher was Tanya Cohen of the Janice Center, and he studied with her until 10th grade. 

Now, with a master’s degree from SUNY Purchase, Barker has 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 in New York City, Chicago, Nashville and Minneapolis. 

His style reflects lush harmony, expressive solos, syncopated rhythms, and spontaneity, he said. 

On July 20 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, a spokesperson wrote. 

Thurman Barker is a celebrated percussionist who built his career on innovation. As a professional musician, composer and college professor, he brings together 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: jazz, blues, contemporary, classical and beyond. 

As a composer, he has released seven 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 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. Gabriele Tranchina has a fearlessness and a connectedness to nature, beauty, joy, sophistication and exploration, backed by a solid technique. 

Tranchina is a composer and occasional lyricist for over 1,000 compositions. They ranges from straight-ahead, fusion and Brazilian jazz to new age, world beat, pop and classical. 

The concert on July 20 will take place at the Backyard Park located at 876 Swiss Hill Road North. In the case of rain, the alternate site is Jeffersonville Fire Department and the change in site will be announced by 12 noon on the date of the concert.

On Sunday, July 21 at 4 p.m. at Lulu’s Social Club, piano trio MOPDtK, featuring founding members Moppa Elliott and Kevin Shea, will be joined by pianist Ron Stabinsky. Bassist and composer Elliott formed MOPDtK with drummer Shea in 2003. 

Elliott has been leading the ensemble in various formations ever since. 

In 2022, MOPDtK released "Disasters Vol. 1", a collection of Elliott's compositions based on historical events in Pennsylvania towns. 

MOPDtK will perform past hits as well as standards, classical compositions, improvisations, odd noises and some of the most fun and engaging modern music around.

Lulu’s Social Club is located above the Jeffersonville Bake Shop at 4906 Rte. 52.

Tickets at the door cost $20 for each concert or $50 to get a wristband for all three concerts.

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