The nearby annual Hudson Jazz Festival (a direct two-hour train ride from NYC) plays from Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5 with a weekend of jazz, food and fall beauty in one of upstate New York’s most vibrant small towns
Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House, creative producer Cat Henry and jazz media personality Keanna Faircloth have curated the festival, with a lineup of jazz’s rising stars—including Joel Ross, Julius Rodriguez, Caity Gyorgy and BIGYUKI. Performances take place at Hudson Hall, with after-hours and free popup events at local venues and spaces across town. For more info visit hudsonhall.org
2025 HUDSON JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE-UP
Friday, October 3
1-3 PM: Sounds Around Town: John Esposito
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring John Esposito (solo piano). Location: Hudson Hall Gallery
3-5 PM: Sounds Around Town: Imani Amie Murphy & Phat Inc.
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Imani Amie Murphy (vocals), Leo Belsky (piano, guitar, vocals), Maxwell Barnes (sax), and Micah Kelleher (drums) Location: Hudson Amtrak Station.
4-6 PM: Sounds Around Town: Miles Taylour Jazz Guitar Trio
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Miles Taylour Sweeny (guitar & vocals), Ben Basile (bass), and Thomas Wandel (drums). Location: Back Bar.
7 PM Julius Rodriguez Group
Hailed a “prodigy of jazz clubs” by The New York Times, Julius Rodriguez blends jazz, funk, gospel, and R&B into a soulful, boundary-defying sound. A GRAMMY-winning collaborator with legends like Roy Hargrove and Meshell Ndegeocello, Rodriguez is hailed by NPR as “a torchbearer” for New York’s new generation of jazz innovators. Location: Hudson Hall.
9 PM: Opening Night Dance Party feat. BIGYUKI
NYC’s secret weapon, BIGYUKI, electrifies the crowd with his virtuosic blend of jazz, soul, hip hop, and electronica. A collaborator with A Tribe Called Quest, Kamasi Washington, and Lauryn Hill, BIGYUKI’s after-hours set brings the groove straight to your soles. Location: Second Ward Foundation.
Saturday, October 4
9-10:10 AM: Sounds Around Town: Jahdiel Gomez Duo
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Jahdiel Gomez (guitar) and West Watman (bass). Location: Hudson Farmers Market.
10:25-11:35 AM: Sounds Around Town: Imani Amie Murphy & Phat
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Imani Amie Murphy (vocals), Leo Belsky (piano, guitar, vocals), Maxwell Barnes (sax), and Micah Kelleher (drums). Location: Hudson Farmers Market.
11 AM-12:20 PM: Sounds Around Town: Sam Bernhart/Mark Roman/Christopher Gallagher
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Sam Bernhart (guitar), Mark Roman (bass), and Christopher Gallagher (drums). Location: Pocket Park.
11:55 AM-1 PM: Sounds Around Town: Sivaan Barak
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Sivaan Barak (vocals & guitar), Lorenzo Núñez (guitar), Nico Bald (piano), Lillie Penelope Rivera-Rosario (percussion), and Luca Barendsen-Rossi (drums). Location: Hudson Farmers Market.
12:40-2 PM: Sounds Around Town: Sparrow Lore
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Jef Brown (guitar), Max Liebman (bass), Aidan Samp (drums). Location: Pocket Park.
1-2:30 PM: Sounds Around Town: Maia Jarrett
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Maia Jarrett (vocals & guitar).
Location: Hudson Milliner Art Salon.
1–3 PM: Sounds Around Town: Adriana Tampasis/Justin Geyer/Sam Bernhardt/Marco Spodek
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Adriana Tampasis (flute), Justin Geyer (synth bass), Sam Bernhardt (guitar) and Marco Spodek (drums). Location: 7th Street Park.
2-3:30 PM: Sounds Around Town: Aquarium
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Steven Bonacci (saxophone), Rodney Clark (percussion), and Aidan Samp (percussion). Location: Pocket Park.
2-4 PM: Sounds Around Town: Dutchess
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Miles Taylour Sweeny (guitar & vocals), Max Liebman (bass), and Thomas Wandel (drums). Location: Upper Depot Brewing Co.
3-5 PM: Sounds Around Town: Maia Jarrett/Leo Belsky/Noah Jarrett
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Maia Jarrett (vocals), Leo Belsky (piano), and Noah Jarrett (bass). Location: Padrona.
5-6 PM: Sounds Around Town: Charu Suri
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Charu Suri (piano). Location: Back Bar.
6-9 PM: Sounds Around Town: Phat
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Phat with Leo Belsky (piano, guitar, vocals), Maxwell Barnes (sax), and Micah Kelleher (drums). Location: Isaan Thai Star.
7-8:30 PM: Caity Gyorgy
Two-time JUNO-winning Canadian vocalist Caity Gyorgy (pronounced “George”) brings pristine vocals, playful scatting, and a retro-inspired take on jazz’s golden age. Known for originals that sparkle with vintage charm, Gyorgy offers a modern, joyous throwback to the Great American Songbook. Location: Hudson Hall.
8-9 PM: Sounds Around Town: Charu Suri
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Charu Suri (piano). Location: Back Bar.
9-10:30 PM: Tristen Jarvis Trio: Deep Tones for Peace
Bassist Tristen Jarvis leads this homage to legendary bassist-composers, from Charles Mingus to Jaco Pastorius and Thundercat. Expect a rich, intimate late-night set celebrating the bass as both heartbeat and soul of the band. Location: Park Theater.
Sunday, October 5
10-11:30 AM: Sounds Around Town: Jahdiel Gomez Duo
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Jahdiel Gomez (guitar), and West Watman (bass). Location: Marine Penvern.
11 AM-12:20 PM: Sounds Around Town: Sparrow Lore
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Jef Brown (guitar), Max Liebman (bass), and Aidan Samp (drums). Location: Pocket Park.
11 AM-1 PM: Sounds Around Town: Maia Jarrett/Leo Belsky/Noah Jarrett
Free Sounds Around Town featuring Maia Jarrett (vocals), Leo Belsky (piano), and Noah Jarrett (bass). Location: The Spark of Hudson.
11 AM-1 PM: Sounds Around Town: John Esposito Duo
Free Sounds Around Town featuring John Esposito (piano) and Otto Gardner (bass). Location: Red Dot.
11 AM-2 PM: Sounds Around Town: Ondina McDonald
Free Sounds Around Town featuring Ondina McDonald (vocals), and Fosco McDonald (bass). Location: Kitty’s Hudson.
11:30 AM-12:40 PM: Sounds Around Town: Sam Bernhart/Mark Roman/ Christopher Gallagher
Free Sounds Around Town featuring Sam Bernhart (guitar), Mark Roman (bass), and Christopher Gallagher (drums). Location: 7th Street Park.
12:40-2 PM: Sounds Around Town: Adriana Tampasis/Justin Geyer/Sam Bernhardt/Marco Spodek
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Adriana Tampasis (flute), Justin Geyer (keyboards), Sam Bernhardt (guitar) and Marco Spodek (drums). Location: Pocket Park.
2 PM: Alphonso Horne & The Gotham Kings Two-time GRAMMY nominee Alphonso Horne leads The Gotham Kings in a high-energy, New Orleans-style jazz party that brings the joyful spirit of early Louis Armstrong into the 21st century with rags, stomps, funk, and lashings of Big Easy joy. Location: The Caboose.
2-3 PM: Sounds Around Town: Dutchess
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Dutchess: Miles Taylour (guitar), Maximillian Leibman (vocals and bass) and Thomas Wandell (drums). Location: Return Brewing.
3:20-4:20 PM: Sounds Around Town: Maia Jarrett & Phat
Free Sounds Around Town concert featuring Maia Jarrett (vocals), Leo Belsky (piano, guitar, vocals), Maxwell Barnes (sax), and Micah Kelleher (drums). Location: Return Brewing.
5 PM: Joel Ross’s Good Vibes
Blue Note vibraphonist and composer Joel Ross closes out the weekend with bold, blues-inspired brilliance. Still in his 20s, Ross has earned acclaim for his commanding improvisation, deeply thoughtful compositions, and vibrant, genre-defying vision for the future of jazz. Location: Hudson Hall.
