Jazz on the Mountain
January 19 – 22, 2024
Great Voices on the Mountain
Pete Malinverni brings a celebration of Jazz singers to the mountaintop highlighting vocalists Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Mahalia Jackson, and Peggy Lee. Today’s brightest lights: Janis Siegel, Anaïs Reno, Gabrielle Stravelli, and Sage Myers infuse new takes on these past masters in a long weekend of smooth sounds and spirited jams – all within the iconic mountaintop of the Hudson Valley.
Availability is limited. For reservations, please call .
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19

Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald
9pm
Inspired by one of the few people in the arts who can be recognizably referred to by only her first name, “ELLA”, this promises to be an exciting evening celebrating the legacy of Ms. Fitzgerald, viewed through the lens of a current day legend in Jazz, Janis Siegel, founding member of Manhattan Transfer. In addition to the ten Grammys won by Manhattan Transfer, Janis’ solo career has also been warmly appreciated, with her recording, “At Home” being nominated for a Grammy. Janis is perhaps best appreciated for her amazing agility, as she’s able to shift seamlessly between music of the golden era of show tunes, the Bebop era and even country music, her album, “Cryin’ in My Whiskey” having been a smash. Alongside Janis will be rising trumpeter Bruce Harris and our house trio, featuring pianist/curator Pete Malinverni, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Aaron Seeber.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 20

The Next Generation of Jazz
10:30am
Continuing a Mohonk tradition, we introduce a group of young musicians who are just starting their journey toward Jazz stardom. This year, we feature frequent collaborators with Samara Joy and who were featured along with her on the most recent Grammy award telecast, trombonist Donavan Austin, and saxophonist Kendric McCallister, along with the gifted and newly in-demand bassist Sameer Shankar. Pete Malinverni and Aaron Seeber join in to complete the ensemble.
“The Great Singers of the American Songbook” with Jazz Scholar Will Friedwald
3pm
Will, in addition to be a writer for the Wall Street Journal and many other publications, is an author of note, having written such books as, “The Great Jazz and Pop Vocal Albums”, “Sinatra! The Song is You: A Singer’s Art”, “Straighten Up and Fly Right – the Life and Music of Nat “King” Cole”, “A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers” and “Jazz Singing: America’s Great Voices from Bessie Smith to Bebop and Beyond”. Always engaging and informative, we’re proud to present Will Friedwald to you in this setting.
Celebrating Carmen McRae
9pm
Ms. McRae is easily recognized by the rich texture of her voice and her singular interpretations of songs of the American Songbook as well as those written by Jazz masters such as Thelonious Monk. Giving us her take on some of those songs will be Anaïs Reno, the 20-year-old singing prodigy who has already released three well-received recordings, including her most recent, a live date from London. Anaïs was featured on several nationally aired performances, including singing “America the Beautiful” at the 20-year commemoration of 9/11, and has participated in and received laurels from the Mabel Mercer Foundation, the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Academy, Young Arts and other competitions. Anaïs will joined by NYC mainstay, three-time Grammy winner and master saxophonist Ralph Lalama, along with Pete Malinverni, Ugonna Okegwo and Aaron Seeber.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21

Celebrating Mahalia Jackson
10:30am
Famously featured on Duke Ellington’s landmark recording, “Black, Brown and Beige”, Mahalia Jackson was best known as one of the foremost interpreters of Gospel music in the 20th century. For this event, we bring back the wonderful young singer and former Purchase College Ella Fitzgerald Scholar, Sage Myers, joined by Pete Malinverni, a celebrated church musician in his own right.
Parlor Games Jam Session
3pm
Long time curator of our festival, WBGO personality Michael Bourne was a great advocate for Jazz in general and for singers in particular We continue to hold our creative and playful yearly jam session in Michael’s honor. This will be led by Mohonk favorite and brilliant multi-instrumentalist, Scott Robinson, along with bassist Martin Wind, whose two 2023 solo recordings, “Gravity” and “Counterpoint” were released to critical acclaim, and pianist Helen Sung, whose latest recording, “Quartet +” received a rare 4.5* review in DownBeat Magazine.
Celebrating Peggy Lee
9pm
Ms. Lee was that rare artist who was known as a brilliant singer, songwriter and actor; everything she did being imbued with emotional honesty. Such is the case with featured artist Gabrielle Stravelli, of whom Down Beat said, “Just when the shore of song seems lost for all the fog, the voice of Gabrielle Stravelli cuts through like a lighthouse of emotional integrity.” The New York Times also chimed in, “Listening to the jazz singer Gabrielle Stravelli is like imbibing a potent cocktail whose flavor changes as you drain the glass…she dipped and swooped, twirling notes and phrases with a confidence and playfulness that recalled Ella Fitzgerald in her prime…” Joining Gabrielle will be long-time collaborators Scott Robinson, saxophone and Patrick O’Leary, bass, along with Pete Malinverni, piano and Aaron Seeber, drums.
MONDAY, JANUARY 22

Scott, Helen, & Martin
10:30am
We welcome back familiar faces for our final concert to conclude our 33rd festival, featuring multi-instrumentalist Scott Robinson, bassist Martin Wind, and pianist Helen Sung.
CURATOR

Pete Malinverni
Pete Malinverni has a career with many facets: he’s led fifteen well-received recordings, including in solo, violin/piano duo, trio, quartet, quintet, choir and big band formats. For eighteen years he served as Minister of Music at the predominantly African-American Devoe Street Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY and currently serves in that capacity at the Pound Ridge, NY Community Church and as Pianist/Conductor at the Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, NY. He enjoys teaching, too, and is Chair of Jazz Studies at Purchase College (SUNY). Pete’s newest recording, “On the Town – Pete Malinverni Plays Leonard Bernstein”, featuring Ugonna Okegwo and Jeff Hamilton, will be out this month! Copies will be available at the shows.
THIS YEAR'S ARTISTS















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