The jazziest new festival on Long Island
Jazz enthusiasts gathered at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on July 20 to enjoy a day filled with vibrant performances and community festivities at the inaugural Tilles Jazz Fest. The first event of its kind to be held at the Tilles Center, the Jazz Fest drew hundreds of people from all over Long Island to swing, sing and enjoy the music.
The Tilles Jazz Fest, presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, featured a diverse lineup of musicians across four stages on the picturesque LIU Post campus. From Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble to the Branford Marsalis Quartet, whose evening performance sold out quickly, the festival celebrated jazz in its many forms.
The attendees were a mix of hardcore jazz fans, casual listeners, and even some people who didn’t like jazz at all. Peter Martin, one attendee, explained that he had enjoyed listening to jazz his whole life, and had been excited to hear that there would be a jazz concert on Long Island.
“I’m truly enjoying it,” Martin said. “I’m glad that they brought it up from the Lincoln Center to here, so that we can enjoy the chance to partake in some classic jazz music, especially in the summer.”
Tyler Simpson, an intern at the Lincoln Center and a big jazz fan himself, said that the Jazz Fest really presented a rare opportunity to celebrate numerous musicians from around the country. The California native added that he was glad to see how many attendees seemed to be enjoying themselves.
“This is a great time to see some of my favorite artists live,” Simpson said. “The acts are great, and all the sets have been amazing.”
Among the lineup of talented musicians was Brandee Younger, a celebrated jazz harpist and native of Long Island. Younger, 41, delighted the audience with a mesmerizing duet alongside bassist Rashaan Carter, showcasing her unique musical prowess on the harp.
“I’ve got a really cool connection to the Tilles Center,” Younger shared. “It’s like home for me.”
Indeed, Younger’s musical journey began in Uniondale, where she first engaged with the harp through the Tilles Center’s summer chamber music program during her formative years at Walnut Street Elementary and Uniondale High School.
For Sheila Chectman, attending her first jazz harp performance was a revelation.
“I’ve never heard a harpist before,” she remarked. “I didn’t know what to expect, but her music was enchanting.”
Attendees lounged on picnic blankets, sampled offerings from local food trucks, and explored artisanal wares at vendor booths. A highlight for families was the instrument petting zoo, where children could try their hand at various musical instruments.
