Jazz returns to Lakeside with four days of music, conversation and storytelling during Chautauqua Jazz Week, June 9-12. Rooted in the Chautauqua tradition of learning through the arts, the series explores the rich history of jazz while celebrating the artists who continue to shape the genre today.
Each afternoon, guests are invited to Conversations with the Artists, where musicians share insights into their creative process, influences and experiences. In the evening, those ideas come to life during concerts.
The week features an exceptional lineup of performers, including composer and pianist Theron Brown, vocalist Maggie Green, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning pianist Bobby Floyd, and the internationally acclaimed Emmet Cohen Trio. Together, they offer a journey through jazz’s past, present and future while highlighting the enduring impact of this American art form.
Pianist and composer Emmet Cohen has emerged as one of the most exciting voices in jazz today. He began studying piano through the Suzuki method at age 3, and that early start quickly grew into a distinctive blend of musicality, technical brilliance and creative vision.
Today, Cohen leads his namesake trio with charisma, shines as a soloist and is a sought-after collaborator for fellow jazz greats. His playing is fluid, inventive and deeply rooted in tradition, delivered with the confidence of a seasoned pro and the enthusiasm of an artist fully devoted to his craft.
Cohen is also passionate about keeping jazz history alive. His signature Masters Legacy Series pairs him with legendary jazz musicians for candid conversations and unforgettable recordings, creating space for stories, traditions and the shared spirit that define America’s unique musical language.
His talent has earned major honors, including first prize in the American Jazz Pianists Competition and the Phillips Piano Competition at the University of West Florida. He has also been a finalist for the American Piano Award’s Cole Porter Fellowship and the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition.
From the Newport and Monterey jazz festivals to London’s Ronnie Scott’s, Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen, Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall, the Kennedy Center and beyond, Cohen has performed on many of the world’s most celebrated stages, even appearing at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and visiting the Oval Office during the Obama administration. He currently serves as Hammond B-3 organist-in-residence at Harlem’s SMOKE Jazz Club.
Don’t miss this vibrant, swinging finale to an unforgettable week of jazz.
