Smooth Jazz New York is proud to present The HSBC Jazz Festival with 2 nights of legendary musical acts at The NOKIA Theatre Times Square! Join us for a weekend of hits with performances by Spyro Gyra, Jonathan Butler, Al Jarreau, and Christian Scott. Shake off the winter cold with the warmth of familiar jazz favorites.

SPYRO GYRA – March 25, 8:00PM
For more than three decades, Spyro Gyra has maintained the well-deserved reputation as a viable and highly versatile creative force. Since their earliest recordings in the mid 1970s, they have taken a fresh approach to their craft by borrowing from a range of sources and distilling them into an unmistakable signature sound.

This innovative and eclectic sensibility has earned the band 10 GRAMMY nominations overall, and has fueled the sale of 11 million records — including one platinum and two gold records. In the midst of the achievements and accolades, Spyro Gyra keeps moving and grooving, having logged over 5,000 high-energy performances in their prestigious and prolific career.

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JONATHAN BUTLER – March 25, 8:00PM
Jonathan Butler has led a life few could imagine. Born under the shadow of South African apartheid and raised in poverty, Butler while still in his teens, became the first non-white artist to be played on white mainstream radio and appear on national South African television. Nelson Mandela credits Butler’s music as having inspired him during his long days of imprisonment.

He has three decades of international acclaim and has topped the Billboard charts with Contemporary Jazz, R&B, and Gospel albums. His live performances are legendary – captivating and heart stirring.

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AL JARREAU – March 27, 8:00PM
Al Jarreau’s distinctive voice has enthralled fans for more than 30 years. His passion, emotional honesty and astonishing sound have contributed mightily to the popularity jazz vocals enjoy today. Perhaps more than any popular vocalist, he embodies the notion of the voice as a pure instrument. Recognized with 6 GRAMMY Awards, he is the only vocalist in history to net GRAMMY Awards in three different categories (jazz, pop, and R&B, respectively). Jarreau is considered by many to be the greatest jazz singer alive.

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CHRISTIAN SCOTT – March 27, 8:00PM
Twenty six year old, New Orleans native, Christian Scott is a GRAMMY nominated jazz trumpeter, composer and producer. He has been heralded by JazzTimes magazine as “the Architect of a new commercially viable fusion” and “Jazz’s young style God.” NPR stated “Christian Scott Ushers in New Era of Jazz.” Billboard Magazine called Scott’s major label debut, Rewind That “arguably the most remarkable premiere the genre has seen in the last decade.” The magazine highlighted Scott as one of the “10 Faces to Watch in 2006” and featured him on its cover twice that year. His critically acclaimed first album earned him the GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2006.

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