Lydia's Cafe

Spin Cycle
2025-09-20 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York)
Tom Christensen- Saxophone
Pete McCann- Guitar
Matt Pavolka- Bass
Scott Neumann- Drums

Since 2014, contemporary jazz band Spin Cycle has been bringing their original music to clubs and concert halls across the US and Canada. Co-lead by Scott Neumann and Tom Christensen, the band highlights their flexibility, reach and capacity to surprise their audiences. On any given song, you might encounter the modal influence of John Coltrane, the second-line funk of New Orleans, or the edgy experimentation of free jazz.
Featuring guitarist Pete McCann and bassist Matt Pavolka, both bandleaders and well-respected artists in their own right, Spin Cycle has spent the last 7 years touring, recording, and providing educational workshops at colleges. The band’s fourth CD will be released soon on their label, Sound Footing Records.
There is, to be sure, plenty of musical variety provided by Spin Cycle, with compositions by Christensen, a consummate multi-instrumentalist who mostly plays tenor saxophone, and by Neumann a versatile and expressive drummer. Having performed in all kinds of settings including the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz Mandolin Project, the Gil Evans Project, Madeleine Peyroux’s touring group, Broadway pit bands and with Cecile McLorin Salvant, Rufus Reid and Maria Schneider the co-leaders know how to bring out the intimacy of a ballad as well as the soulful feeling of swing.

Markley Vocal Showcase
2025-09-27 19:00 - 22:00

Rob Scheps Core-tet
2025-10-04 19:00 - 22:00
Rob Scheps – saxophone/ flute
Jamie Reynolds-piano
David Kingsnorth – bass
Matt Garrity – drums

Oregon native Rob Scheps began studying the tenor saxophone at age nine. He grew up on Long Island, New York. After graduating high school, he enrolled in the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music. There he received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies with Honors in Performance.
​While living in the Boston area, Rob formed and led his own groups, including the True Colors Big Band. In 1988 he moved to New York, where he formed the Rob Scheps Core-tet and the Bartokking Heads, firmly establishing himself on the jazz scene.
​Not content to limit himself, Rob continued to take on new challenges. He formed new bands on both coasts. He served as a faculty member at the Mannes College of Music. He worked with contemporary music ensembles. All while performing with some of the most noted and influential big bands of our age, such as the Gil Evans Orchestra and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.
​In addition to his jazz credentials, Rob been an active part of the classical, theater, and popular music communities. For 13 years, he served as the Principal Saxophone with the Oregon Symphony. He was part of the national tour of Porgy and Bess with the Charleston Symphony, and the New York City Opera orchestra for Wonderful Town. He has worked on Broadway on productions such as CATS and Miss Saigon. He has appeared with such legends as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Liza Minnelli, and Linda Ronstadt. His range is best shown by viewing his ‘Performances’ page, showing the diversity of those with whom he has worked.
Jamie Reynolds is a Canadian pianist, keyboardist and composer who has lived in New York City since 2005. He graduated with honors from the University of Toronto in 2004, where he studied with David Braid, Mike Murley, Phil Nimmons, and many others. Jamie moved to New York in 2005 when he was awarded multiple Canada Council grants to study privately with Fred Hersch and Craig Taborn. He has also received professional development grants for touring in 2012 and for recording his album Counterpart in 2013. Jamie has performed at New York’s top jazz clubs and has toured extensively in Canada, the U.S., and Europe, including a performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. Jamie is also a longtime faculty member at the 92nd St. Y School of Music, where he teaches jazz piano, theory, and composition. He is also a staff accompanist at the Diller-Quaile School of Music and a former faculty member of the preparatory program at Queens College. Jamie released his debut album, “Time with People”, an acoustic piano trio recording of original music, in 2012. His second, “Counterpart”, features electric instruments and effects and was self-released in 2013. Jamie’s latest project, “Grey Mirror”, featured the guitarist Matthew Stevens and the improvising brass quartet the Westerlies. “Grey Mirror” was released in 2017 on the Fresh Sound label and received a 4.5 star review in Downbeat Magazine.
Bassist David Kingsnorth has performed with the John Abercrombie /Rob Scheps Quartet, Eliot Zigmund, Joshua Breakstone, Oscar Brown Jr., Richard Wyands, Frank Jackson, the New Jersey Ballet, and the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea. He is originally from California, where he studied with John Clayton and received degrees in math and music from the University of California, Berkeley.
Drummer Matt Garrity has been on the New York music scene since 1994. He has performed and recorded with some of the best in the business, including Grammy winners: Joe Lovano, Vincent Herring and Steve Slagle, as well as David Williams, Teri Thornton, Peter Bernstein, David Amram, Eric Alexander, Judi Silvano, Gary Versace, Ron McLure, Ed Cherry, Joel Forrester, Jeremy Pelt and Jerome Richardson.

Eric DiVito Trio
2025-10-11 19:00 - 22:00
Eric DiVito – guitar
Bob Gingery – bass
Ray Levier – drums

Eric DiVito is a New York-based guitarist, composer, and educator who has been performing professionally since 2003. He has led his own groups and appeared as a sideman at many of NYC’s premier jazz clubs and festivals, including Smalls, The Iridium, The Kitano, The 55 Bar, and international venues such as The Rex and The Jazz Room in Canada. His festival appearances include the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, AirTrain Jazz Festival, and Garner Arts Festival, among others.
​Eric is an Eastman Guitars artist and a recording artist with Pioneer Jazz Collective (PJC Records), with two acclaimed albums to his name: Breaking the Ice (2012) and The Second Time Around (2013). His writing has also been featured in DownBeat Magazine, RAE Magazine, and Play Jazz Guitar. Eric lives in Rockland County, NY with his wife and three children.

Bob Gingery began playing the saxophone at age 10 but the sounds of James Jamerson, Rocco Prestia, and Jaco Pastorius inspired him to pick up the bass guitar. He was soon gigging with local rock bands and playing in his high school’s jazz band. At age 18, he began studying the upright bass. Since his arrival to New York in 1999, he has been performing with some of the city’s top musicians including Eliot Zigmund, Joe Beck, Buddy Williams, Allan Harris, Ron Affif, Brad Shepik and Lou Volpe. He has played the Blue Note, Birdland, the Hartford International Jazz Festival, Joe’s Pub and the Knitting Factory. Maintaining a busy schedule as both a sideman and band leader, he is at home with many styles of music and has performed and recorded with jazz, rock, pop, R&B and Latin artists, musicals and symphony orchestras.
Gingery is also active as an educator. He is a faculty member at Concordia Conservatory in Bronxville, NY and the Brearley School in New York, NY. He holds undergraduate degrees in music from Berklee College of Music and California State University, Chico and a masters degree in music from the City College of New York where he studied with Ron Carter, John Patitucci, and Geri Allen.

Professional drummer Ray Levier is a veritable Swiss Army Knife on the kit, facile at finessing jazz-fusion grooves, swinging a jazz combo, laying down rugged hip-hop beats and nasty funk, accompanying singer-songwriters with subtle grace, and bashing away at rock beats with panache and precision.

Ray has also recorded with jazz fusion icons guitarists Mike Stern and John Abercrombie. Ray attended William Patterson College’s prestigious music program headed by legendary bassist Rufus Reid. .
Ray was born into a family of musicians—his father is a pianist and his mother was formerly a vocalist. On his own, he discovered an old beater drum kit in his grandmother’s basement and began thumping away. At age 12, Ray was very badly burned during a camping accident in a chicken coup when a fallen candle set the area ablaze with flames 3 to 4 stories high. Ray was sleeping at the time, and was in a dreamy state slowly sensing danger and oppressive heat as he came conscious. The accident left Ray burned from his head to one inch above his navel, and his recovery involved 6 months of excruciating skin grafts and hospital treatments. Through the accident he lost most of his digits as his hands fused together like fists.
Ray’s biggest immediate obstacle was figuring out how to hold drum sticks basically without fingers. That was a journey in itself that showed his steely determination. He improvised this feat first with duct tape, then a special martial arts glove that he found, and, finally, during college, Ray had a surgery that granted him access and use of his thumb. “Throughout it all, there was no doubt in mind that I could do it. My attitude was that I didn’t die—I will do anything to become a professional drummer,” Ray shares.

Nancy Donnelly Quartet
2025-10-18 19:00 - 22:00
Nancy Donnelly – vocals
Johnny D’Agostino – guitar
Vincent Leggire – bass
Phil Nestor – drums
Jazz standards, blues, Latin, pop
“Nancy Donnelly is an exciting singer whose voice is nestled nicely somewhere in between jazz and soul• a rich, warm and powerful sound” Peter Eldridge (New York Voices).
Nancy’s ability to blend a spectrum of musical styles is attributed to her wide array of musical influences and experiences. Nancy began training as a classical vocalist at a young age. Upon graduating from the “Crane School of Music”, Nancy moved to Boston to further pursue her musical studies. While in Boston, she had the opportunity to work with several Blues and R&B groups. Nancy realized her true passion for jazz when she performed with Russian saxophonist Igor Butman.
Nancy then moved to New York, where she played in many of the cities famous jazz clubs, such as the Blue Note, The Village Gate, Iridium, and Birdland numerous jazz festivals including the Rochester International Jazz Festival and the Wall St. Jazz Festival. Nancy’s critically acclaimed debut CD features Peggy Stern Jay Anderson and Matt Wilson.
Nancy has two critically acclaimed CD’s available on iTunes and Spotify.

Mark Usvolk Septet
2025-10-25 19:00 - 22:00
Bassist, composer and Lydia’s Café owner Mark Usvolk has the rare privilege of featuring some of the finest musicians in New York in this annual performance of his original works written over the past 30 years.
Jazz, Latin, R&B and Classical styles with memorable melodies and rich harmonies.
Mark Usvolk – bass/composer
Ron Horton – trumpet/flugelhorn
Tim Armacost – sax/flute
Mark Dziuba – guitar
Tim Regusis – keys
Jeff Siegel – drums
Amir Halfon – percussion

Mark Usvolk received his Bachelor of Music from The University of North Texas eons ago as a guitarist, majoring in composition and theory. He then went on for the next 20 years or so making a living playing guitar and bass in a variety of groups performing Jazz, R&B, Salsa, Funk along with shows, recording dates and performances with the Tucson Symphony.
Usvolk started designing and building homes in Ulster County in 1986 and along with wife, Roni bought the Country Deli in 2006 from Roni’s mom, Lydia, turning it into the cafe and music venue of today. Which is how he got this gig.
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Since 1982, trumpeter Ron Horton has been an integral part of New York’s flourishing jazz scene and he stands out both as an exemplary instrumentalist and as a highly progressive composer and arranger. Whether called upon as a sideman or as a leader of one of his own ensembles, he shows that he is committed to further expanding the existing perimeters of jazz.
Horton has had many long musical associations with leaders such as saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom (1983-2000) and pianist Andrew Hill. He was a member of Hill’s sextet from 1998 until 2003, and appears on the group’s critically acclaimed cd, Dusk (Palmetto 2000). He was also musical director and co-arranger for Hill’s big band, and is featured on the cd, A Beautiful Day(Palmetto 2002).
Ron Horton was born in 1960 in Bethesda, Maryland, and has been frequently called on as a sideman to perform and/or record with such artists as Lee Konitz, Will Holshouser, Rez Abbasi, Phillip Johnston, Andy Laster, Mick Rossi, Matt Wilson, Bill Gerhardt, Bill Mays, Peggy Stern, Allan Chase, Andy Biskin, Ted Nash, Jon Gordon, John McKenna, Walter Thompson, Diana Perez, Billy Newman, Mario Pavone, Tina Marsh, Maryanne DeProphetis, Landon Knoblock, Sam Bardfeld, Maria Guida, Abigail Riccards, Angie Sanchez, Kris Davis, Darcy James Argue and many others.
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Saxophonist Tim Armacost’s music is known for its balance of lyrical invention, harmonic sophistication and exciting interplay among top-tier band mates. His improvisations are brimming with ideas, but organized into a naturally flowing narrative
Touring regularly around the world both as a sideman and a leader, Armacost has worked with a phenomenal number of jazz greats, including Al Foster, Jimmy Cobb, Kenny Barron, Tom Harrell, Billy Hart, Victor Lewis, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Peter Erskine, Ray Drummond, Roy Hargrove, Don Friedman and Randy Brecker.
Armacost has recorded 14 critically acclaimed albums as a leader, performed on more than 60 as a sideman, and has recorded over 100 original songs and arrangements. His most recent leader outing, Time Being, featuring Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts and Bob Hurst received 4 stars in Downbeat magazine, and has met with critical acclaim around the world.
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Tim Regusis is a Hudson Valley-based pianist who has been active in the jazz scene of the NYC region, as well as in the fields of R&B, Latin and various world musics for many years.
He has played and/or recorded with Patti Austin, Ruben Blades, David Byrne, Celia Cruz, Chuck Mangione, Johnny Pacheco, Daniel Ponce, Rick Margitza, Cindy Blackman, Jeff Williams, Akira Ohmori, Najee, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, Jonathan Butler, Ofra Haza and others.
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Mark Dziuba has been a guitarist, improviser and composer for most of his life. He has performed with a who’s who of Jazz, Blues, Rock and Bluegrass musicians and has performed and taught at workshops and festivals internationally for over 40 years.
Mark is a tenured professor of music at the State University of New York at New Paltz where he directs the Jazz Studies program. He was a part of the internationally acclaimed National Guitar Workshop for 25 years and has been a part of the Crown of the Continent International Guitar Festival since its birth.
Mark is a published author and a featured soloist and composer on numerous recordings. He continues to explore the world of improvised live and virtual music and can be found performing often in the area and abroad. (dziubam@newpaltz.edu)
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JEFF “SIEGE” SIEGEL
Drummer/Composer Jeff “Siege” Siegel is a veteran of the New York Jazz scene and has worked with a virtual “who’s who” of artists. A member of the Sir Roland Hanna Trio from 1994-’99, Siegel’s diverse career has also led him to perform and/or record with legends such as Ron Carter, Kenny Burrell, Jack DeJohnette, Benny Golson, Sheila Jordan, Helen Merrill, Mose Allison, John Medeski, Arthur Rhames, Dave Douglas, Stefon Harris, Pat Metheny, Kurt Elling, Ravi Coltrane, Ryan Kisor, Lee Shaw, Levin Brothers, John Medeski, Dena DeRose, Lee Shaw and many others. He has worked in the avant garde world as well with Wadada Leo Smith, Baikida Carroll. He’s performed over 30 European tours including four as leader of the Jeff “Siege” Siegel Quartet and several others as co-leader. The Jeff “Siege” Siegel Sextet performed a 3 week tour of Africa in the summer of 2019. Other recent tours include The Levin Brothers Japan, Mexico, Canada and the US west coast and Midwest as well as South & Central America. His 2017 CD release “King of Xhosa” features South African trumpeter Feya Faku and is on the ARC label. His most recent release with his quartet is the 2018 release on ARC entitled “London Live” and “When You Were There” (2019) with Hetko, Syracuse & Siegel.

Gypsy Jazz Collective
2025-11-01 19:00 - 22:00
Drawing from a pool of the best musicians in the area, the Gypsy Jazz Collective presents music in the style of and inspired by the genre created by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, a musical tradition that is still very alive today. Their repertoire ranges from hot classics of the 1930s and 1940s, all the way up to modern compositions of the 2020s. The Collective is a venue for musicians to present original music in addition to old favorites.

This evening’s lineup is:

Michael Snow — violin
Luke Hendon — guitar
Sean Crimmins — guitar
Chris Macchia — bass

Original compositions by Michael Snow, Luke Hendon, and Sean Crimmins will be featured along with a varied selection of gypsy jazz favorites, old and new.

Pasin/Ciampa Quartet + One
2025-11-08 19:00 - 22:00
Esoteric bullshit jazz for the discriminating listener.
Chris Pasin – trumpet
Jeff Ciampa – guitar
Clayton Thompson bass
Aaron Yanda drums

Featuring: Todd Anderson sax

Chris Pasin, a graduate of the New England Conservatory, spent two years playing with the Buddy Rich band in the early 80’s, touring with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, and many others. Then he relocated to New York City. Much of the next decade was spent playing jazz with various groups, including the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin big band. There was also work with Jack McDuff, many Salsa bands like Johnny Rodriguez and Brazilian bands like Amazon, and various other jazz ensembles, including the Lee Shaw quintet in recent years.
He’s performed at Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, the Royal Albert Hall, the Village Vanguard, Ronnie Scott’s, and the Blue Note, among others, and toured Europe and Asia many times.
Contemporary Jazz Guitarist Jeff Ciampa has recorded and toured with some of the most demanding practitioners, including Harry Belafonte, Jon Lucien, Dave Matthews, Mark Egan, Bill Evans, Al MacDowell, Ornette Coleman, Lew Solof, Pete Levin, Tony Levin, Lenny White, to name a few. His fluid melodic style, steeped in the jazz tradition, continues to inspire fellow musicians and listeners worldwide.
Jeff has recorded two critically acclaimed recordings on Mark Egan’s Wavetone label, Signs of Life and House of Mirror featuring Mark Egan and Danny Gottlieb. Subsequently, the popular trio was booked into major jazz festivals, including the JVC in New York City, the Newport Jazz Festival
in Rhode Island, the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, and the St. Kitt’s Jazz Festival.

Neil Alexander & Nail
2025-11-15 19:00 - 22:00
Neil ’Nail’ Alexander (keys)
Brian Mooney (basses)
Nadav Zelniker (drums)
Owen Dudley (guitar)

Keyboard virtuoso and composer Neil Alexander leads these extraordinary players on a fusionesk journey through or hearts and minds.
Tight performance, impeccable sound quality, high energy.

Regusis/Horton Quartet
2025-11-22 19:00 - 22:00
Tim Regusis – piano
Ron Horton – trumpet/flugelhorn
Lew Scott – bass
Tony Jefferson – drums
Tim Regusis is a Hudson Valley-based pianist who has been active in the jazz scene of the NYC region, as well as in the fields of R&B, Latin and various world music for many years.
He has played and/or recorded with Patti Austin, Ruben Blades, David Byrne, Celia Cruz, Chuck Mangione, Johnny Pacheco, Daniel Ponce, Rick Margitza, Cindy Blackman, Jeff Williams, Akira Ohmori, Najee, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, Jonathan Butler, Ofra Haza and others.
Ron Horton has perform and/or record with such artists as Lee Konitz, Will Holshouser, Neil Kirkwood, Rez Abbasi, Phillip Johnston, Andy Laster, Mick Rossi, Matt Wilson, Bill Gerhardt, Bill Mays, Peggy Stern, Allan Chase, Andy Biskin, Ted Nash, Jon Gordon, John McKenna, Walter Thompson, Diana Perez, Billy Newman, Mario Pavone, Tina Marsh, Maryanne DeProphetis, Landon Knoblock, Sam Bardfeld, Maria Guida, Abigail Riccards, Angie Sanchez, Kris Davis, Darcy James Argue.
Lew Scott, bassist, has been performing in the New York area and throughout the country for many years. He has performed with many notable musicians, including Clark Terry, Conti Condoli, Frank Rosolino, Joe Lavano, Herb Ellis, George Coleman, Dave Liebman, Jack Sheldon, Peggy Stern and John Abercrombie, as well as many others. He has toured with vocalists Melba Morre, Lainie Kazan, Nnena Frelon and Michael Amante. Lew has worked with Anita O’Day, Mark Murphy and many other singers, including Robert Goulet, Vic Damone, Sergio Franchi, Jerry Vale, Al Martino, Eddie Fisher, Florence Henderson, Julie Budd and Lucie Arnaz. He has also performed with many groups, including the Four Aces and the Fifth Dimension.
Tony Jefferson, a New York native, attended the Berklee College of Music on scholarship in 1984an d placed third in the Thelonious Monk International Drum Competition in 1992. Tony has performed and recorded with many jazz artists including: Kenny Drew Jr., Lonnie Smith, Lou Donaldson, Frank Wess, Eddie Harris, Don Friedman, Cyrus Chestnut, Mark Whitfield, Jerry Bergonzi, Joey Calderazzo, Freddy Cole, Hank Jones, Benny Golson, Cedar Walton, Nancy King, Ernestine Anderson, Annie Ross and the Westchester Jazz Orchestra.

Marc Black Band
2025-11-29 19:00 - 22:00
Marc Black – guitar/vocals
Michael Esposito – bass
Ralph Legnini -guitar
Eric Parker -drums
Marc has enjoyed many adventures, following the music through folk, blues, funk, experimental soundscapes, and film scoring. But in the end, he always comes back to Claudette, that sweet and faithful Guild D40 guitar that he’s been traveling with for decades! He was recently awarded the Key to the Town of Woodstock… a recognition of his deep connection to the town, and a source of his creativity altogether.

Franko/Shah/Madison
2025-12-06 19:00 - 22:00
Luke Franko – guitar
Tarik Shah – bass
Jimmy Madison – drums

Luke Franco is owner of Tiny Hearts Farm in Copake, NY, and the Tiny Hearts flower shop in Hillsdale. He studied jazz guitar at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, and plays extensively throughout the Berkshires and the Capital Region of New York.
Drummer Jimmy Madison has performed with the greats of Jazz and Funk for over six decades, from Lionel Hampton, Roland Kirk, Chet Baker and Quincy Jones to James Brown, Maceo Parker and George Benson, among many others. But this trio format allows he and his compatriots to do what they do best, improvising on themes both familiar and new. It’s pure Jazz at its best.
Tarik Shah is an African American Muslim with a career as a professional jazz musician. As the sole student of Slam Stewart, Shah began playing the upright bass at age 12 and went on to play with Betty Carter, Ahmad Jamal, Abbey Lincoln and Art Taylor among others. He is a composer, a jazz educator, and lyricist.

NYE Party w/ Teri Roiger Quartet
2025-12-31 19:00 - 22:00
Teri and the band will perform from 7-10pm
Hang around till midnight to schmooze, have a glass of champagne and vow that next year will be better than the previous one

TERI ROIGER (vocals)
BILL WARE (vibes)
JOHN MENEGON (bass)
MATT GARRITY (drums)

TERI ROIGER
VOCALIST, PIANIST, SONGWRITER
“Teri has an intuitive laid back sense of time reminiscent of Abbey Lincoln and Betty Carter but with her own uniqueness.” JACK DEJOHNETTE (legendary jazz drummer & NEA Jazz Master)
An American jazz musician vocalist, pianist, songwriter, educator, and producer, Teri lives in New York City and also spends time in New York’s Hudson Valley. She began playing piano at age 5, and played church organ throughout her teens. When she discovered jazz in her early 20s – and shortly after made her first demo with the legendary stride pianist Butch Thompson – her musical path was set.
Throughout the years, her music has taken many exciting twists and turns. She has performed as a DUO with her husband, bassist John Menegon, throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe, and they have been featured artists at the San Miguel Jazz Festival (Mexico), Panama Jazz Festival (Panama), and Bolzano Jazz Festival (Italy), where they presented concerts and masterclasses. The depth of her experiences and love of jazz is apparent when she brings all their talents to live performances, the recording studio, and through her moving lyrics and compositions.

BILL WARE – VIBRAPHONE
Harkening back to a violinist whose freedom from slavery was bought in performance, Bill Ware’s place within American music is best described as a proud lineage. Vibraphonist, bassist, composer, pianist, educator and creative adventurer, Ware’s genre-bending career, well into its fourth decade, has been nothing short of riveting. A founding member of the Jazz Passengers and Groove Collective, he’s also collaborated with Steely Dan, John Zorn, JD Parran, Marc Ribot, Bobby Sanabria, Deborah Harry, the BBC Concert Orchestra, Chico Mendoza, Bobby Previte, Joe Henderson, Jerome Harris, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Minnesota Symphony, Elvis Costello, Arturo O’Farrill, Andy Summers, Marshall Crenshaw, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmore and many more.

JOHN MENEGON – BASS
New York City bassist John Menegon started his career playing bass in Montreal. After having worked for several years on the Canadian jazz scene with the great guitarists Sonny Greenwich, Mike Gauthier & Nelson Simons, and saxophonists Steve Grossman & Pat LaBarbara, he went on to hone his skills in NYC in the mid-80s. Since moving to New York to study Jazz at Long Island University on a full scholarship, John has performed/recorded with Dewey Redman, David “Fathead” Newman, Matt Wilson, Frank Kimbrough, John Hicks, Yoron Israel, Jack DeJohnette, Kenny Burrell, Joel Frahm, Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, Paul Bley, Anthony Braxton’s Tri-Centric Orchestra, Nick Brignola, Jimmy Cobb, Al Foster, Slide Hampton, Sheila Jordan, Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, and many others. In addition to touring, recording, and composing, he has created and taught Jazz Workshops on the music of Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, and Charles Mingus at Williams College (Williamstown, MA). He has also taught master classes at Jazz Festivals around the world, including the Panama Jazz Festival, Bolzano, (Italy) and San Miguel de Allende.
MATT GARRITY – DRUMS
Drummer, Matt Garrity has been on the New York music scene since 1994. He has performed and recorded with some of the best in the business, including Grammy winners: Joe Lovano, Vincent Herring and Steve Slagle, as well as David Williams, Teri Thornton, Peter Bernstein, David Amram, Eric Alexander, Judi Silvano, Gary Versace, Ron McLure, Ed Cherry, Joel Forrester, Jeremy Pelt and Jerome Richardson.

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Jones Factor Lite
2026-04-04 19:00 - 22:00
Jones Factor Lite: A Power House of Jazz, Soul & Serious Funk!
The Lite, Sextet Version, of The Popular 10 Piece the Jones Factor! Performing The Hottest Jazz With A Serious R&B, Soul And Funk Edge. Same Full Flavor With Only 1/2 The Calories!

Featuring:
John Fumasoli, Trombone, Composer, Arranger, Bandleader
(Tony Bennett, Gerry Mulligan, Diana Ross, John Tropea)
Bill Harris – Saxophones, Flute
(Paul Shaffer, The Temptations, Patti Labelle, Sam Moore)
Chris Pasin – Trumpet (Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson)
Rob Aries – Piano
(Average White Band, Bill Evans, John Scofield, Liza Minelli)
Lou Pappas – Bass
(Dave Liebman, Michael Brecker, Clare Fischer, Steve Turre)
Tyger MacNeal – Drums
(Average White Band, Rosemary Clooney, The Four Tops, Jose Feliciano)

Pete Levin Trio
2026-04-11 19:00 - 22:00
Pete Levin – organ
Steve Raleigh – guitar
Peter O’Brien – drums
In a diverse music career spanning several decades, keyboardist/arranger Pete Levin has performed and recorded with hundreds of Jazz and Pop artists – including Paul Simon, Annie Lennox, Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Lenny White, Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastorius, Robbie Robertson and John Scofield – receiving critical accolades for his work during a 15 year association with the legendary Gil Evans, and his 8 year stint with jazz icon Jimmy Giuffre.
Steve Raleigh, guitarist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator, makes his home in New York’s Hudson Valley where he teaches music at his home studio in New Paltz NY, as an adjunct music professor at Bard College, at SUNY New Paltz, and at SUNY Dutchess County. He is also owner and operator of LWR Productions Recording Studio.
Drummer Peter O’Brien toured the US with Brother Jack McDuff, and from 1984- 1985 all over the US and Canada with the Edgar Winter Band. The band, which featured the legendary singer Jerry LaCroix (original lead singer for White Trash), is the only one that has performed the jazz-inflected fusion material from Edgar’s first ground breaking record “Entrance” (Epic), as well as his rock and blues music. During this time, Peter also performed several dates with Roy Buchanan, including a sold-out show at the Beacon Theatre with Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. From 1986 – 1987, Peter toured Europe with Mark McMillan (songwriter for Chaka Khan). In early 1988, Peter moved to Woodstock, New York from New York City and began working with John Hall soon after. In 1989, Peter became a member of Hall’s band Orleans (Still The One, Dance With Me). Peter has appeared on seven cd’s (four with Orleans, three with Hall), three tours of Japan (two with Orleans, one with Hall), and countless US tours and dates (including Woodstock 94) and had a feature article on him published in Modern Drummer’s Rhythm and News (Japan).
hite & Vanessa Williams.

Laura Evans & Friends
2026-04-18 19:00 - 22:00
Join Laura Evans and her quartet for an evening of eclectic jazz — familiar tunes creatively rearranged and reimagined in Laura’s unique style, alongside her original compositions. With expressive piano, warm vocals, and creative arrangements, Laura reinterprets familiar music through her signature jazz lens. She’ll be joined by an outstanding group of musicians — a dynamic lineup bringing deep groove, musical interplay, and years of experience to the stage. • Vincent Leggiere on bass, • Paul Rossman on drums, • Steve Horowitz on trumpet The performance takes place at Lydia’s Cafe, a Hudson Valley favorite known for great food and great music. Since around 2005, Lydia’s has built a reputation for presenting high-quality live jazz, often featuring respected regional and New York City players. The café is also known for its comfort-style American cuisine and homemade dishes — and if you’ve been there before, you’ve probably heard about the crispy duck, which many locals consider among the best in the Hudson Valley. Come enjoy a great night of music, food, and atmosphere.

Todd Anderson Smalltet
2026-04-25 19:00 - 22:00
Todd Anderson – saxophone/arranger
Dale DeMarco – saxophone
Sam Ryder –
Ron Horton – trumpet
Chris Pasin – trumpet
Ed Neumeister – trombone
Lew Scott – bass
Bram Kincheloe – drums
Jeff Ciampa – guitar
Travis Shook –

David Lopato Quintet
2026-05-09 19:00 - 22:00
David Lopato – piano, keyboards
Ed Neumeister – trombone
Lucas Pino – saxes, clarinet
John Menegon – bass
Harvey Sorgen – drums

A concert of original compositions spanning the wide range of jazz improvisation.

Hudson Valley-based pianist/composer David Lopato has performed as a leader and sideman throughout the world. As a composer he has received multiple grants from the N.E.A., New York Foundation for the Arts, Meet the Composer, and the Beards Fund, as well as a Fulbright Fellowship to study Javanese Gamelan in Surakarta, Indonesia, where he lived for a year. Lopato has toured his own music in configurations ranging from solo piano to 10-piece ensembles, having performed with Dave Liebman, Dewey Redman, Joe Lovano, Mark Helias, Ray Anderson, Wadada Leo Smith, Jane Ira Bloom, Steve Gorn and numerous others. His most recent recording, Gendhing for a Spirit Rising (Global Coolant-02), a Gamelan-influenced work for large ensemble, was hailed by Downbeat Magazine as one of the “Best Albums of 2017”…“unlike anything you are likely to hear this year (or any year).

Ed Neumeister is a musician’s musician, as his elders and peers are glad to tell you. Influential trombonist arranger and educator Bob Brookmeyer hailed him early on as “a gifted improviser,” while composer arranger Manny Albam, co-founder of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, extolled Neumeister as “the perfect mixture as a musician. He knows Ellington as well as Bartok.” Saxophone star Joe Lovano has valued Neumeister as a colleague for some four decades, praising him as a conductor of “infectious flair” as well as “a soloist of deep expressive passion.” Another renowned saxophonist, Dave Leibman, simply dubbed him “one of the best trombonists in the business.” And veteran pianist Jim McNeely has said about Neumeister: “Whenever I play a gig with Ed, I know the music will be interesting. By the end of the evening, I will have asked myself a couple dozen times: ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ ” Then there are the critics, with DownBeat calling Neumeister “a highly distinctive solo voice” and JazzTimes admiring his “compelling” compositions.

A Groove Gathering - Dance Party
2026-05-16 19:00 - 22:00
Great dance tunes by Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Steely Dan and more.
Tim Whalen (Drums), Jason Sarubbi (Bass), Dor Heled (Keys), Mark Dziuba (Guitar)
Tien Viet Nguyen is a vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist blending soul, jazz, and R&B. Based in New York’s Hudson Valley, his work celebrates musicianship and global collaboration. Also recording under the pseudonym SAÍGO, Tien moves fluidly between the worlds of soul, jazz, and EDM, bringing his unique emotive style to each sonic creation.

Patti Greco Sunshine
2026-05-23 19:00 - 22:00
Patti is a dynamic performer who delivers a lyric with the kind of intensity that demands you listen. Whether it’s an operatic belt, or a soft sultry whisper, she has your attention. From a smoky bar room to a packed show room you will get the same intimate feeling from this performer. Her show is diverse and exciting with something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. She’s real, she’s funny, she’s easy to watch and loves what she does every time she steps onto that stage. You may hear influences of Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Bassey or Barbara Streisand, but never an impersonation; she has her own original sound that is uniquely,
Patty – vocals
Joe Tranchina – piano
Lew Scott – bass
Larry Balestra – drums

Yvonnick Prene Gypsy Jazz
2026-06-06 19:00 - 22:00
Yvonnick Prene – harmonica
Jonathan Kirshner – guitar
Yvonnick Prené is a celebrated jazz harmonicist, bandleader, composer, and educator based in New York City. Known for his innovative artistry, he has released five highly praised albums as a leader, including *Listen!* (2023) and *Jobim’s World* (2024) on Sunnyside Records. Prené has collaborated with jazz greats such as Peter Bernstein, Rick Margitza, Bill Stewart, and Geoffrey Keezer.
An active performer on the global stage, he has appeared at renowned festivals like the Jersey City Jazz Fest, Winter Jazz Fest, and Bern Jazz Festival, as well as iconic New York venues including the Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club, Smalls, and Birdland. With over 100 performances annually, he is a leading figure in today’s jazz scene.
In addition to performing, Prené is a dedicated educator and founder of the New York Harmonica School and My Harmonica Studio, where he has taught over 1,000 students. As a Hohner ambassador, he represents their flagship Xpression chromatic harmonica. Originally from Massy, France, Prené holds degrees from Sorbonne University and the New School, having studied under jazz legends like Lee Konitz and Reggie Workman.

Neil Alexander & "Nail"
2026-06-13 08:00 - 17:00

Roland Vazquez Sextet
2026-06-20 08:00 - 17:00

4th of July Celebration w/ Nancy Donnelly & Friends
2026-07-04 19:00 - 22:00
Outdoor event, weather permitting.
Buffet and dancing.

Nancy Donnelly -vocals
Vince Leggire-bass
Johnny YoungBlood -guitar
Philip Nestor-drums

Jimmy Madison & Friends
2026-07-11 19:00 - 22:00
Jimmy Madison – drums
Tim Regusis – piano
Tarik Shah – bass
Drummer Jimmy Madison has performed with the greats of Jazz and Funk for over six decades, from Lionel Hampton, Roland Kirk, Chet Baker and Quincy Jones to James Brown, Maceo Parker and George Benson, among many others. But this trio format allows he and his compatriots to do what they do best, improvising on themes both familiar and new. It’s pure Jazz at its best.
Tim Regusis is a Hudson Valley-based pianist who has been active in the jazz scene of the NYC region, as well as in the fields of R&B, Latin and various world musics for many years.
He has played and/or recorded with Patti Austin, Ruben Blades, David Byrne, Celia Cruz, Chuck Mangione, Johnny Pacheco, Daniel Ponce, Rick Margitza, Cindy Blackman, Jeff Williams, Akira Ohmori, Najee, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, Jonathan Butler, Ofra Haza and others.
Tarik Shah is an African American Muslim with a career as a professional jazz musician. As the sole student of Slam Stewart, Shah began playing the upright bass at age 12 and went on to play with Betty Carter, Ahmad Jamal, Abbey Lincoln and Art Taylor among others. He is a composer, a jazz educator, and lyricist.

Teri Roiger Quartet
2026-07-18 19:00 - 22:00
Teri Roiger – vocals
John Menegon – bass

The Professors
2026-07-25 19:00 - 22:00
Vinnie Martucci – keys
Mark Dziuba – guitar
Rich Syracuse – bass
Jeff Siegel – drums

SUNY music professors come together on this special night to perform original works, jazz, world music and other musical gems.
Vinnie Martucci has had an exciting and diverse career as a performer, composer, arranger, producer, and educator. He has toured extensively on the international stage as co-leader of the Jazz Fusion Quartet “The Dolphins” with Dan Brubeck, as arranger, accompanist for Laurel Masse (Manhattan Transfer), arranger and performer for Blues artist Rory Block. He has recorded and toured with Graham Parker, Livingston Taylor, and others. He co-composed the off-broadway play “Clue, The Musical” as well as numerous cable network TV themes for Lifetime, the Travel Channel, CNN and underscores for daytime TV dramas “As the World Turns”, Guiding Light”. As a producer and recording engineer, he has worked with composer Baikida Carroll on recordings and productions for several theatrical and television projects, most notably the Tony award winning play “Having Our Say”. He has also given clinics in Jazz and improvisation in Europe, South America, as well as the Central Conservatory in Beijing, China. Currently, Vinnie is the chair of the music department at SUNY, New Paltz, where he also teaches jazz studies and recording technology courses.
Mark Dziuba has been a guitarist, improviser and composer for most of his life. He has performed with a who’s who of Jazz, Blues, Rock and Bluegrass musicians and has performed and taught at workshops and festivals internationally for over 40 years.
Mark is a tenured professor of music at the State University of New York at New Paltz where he directs the Jazz Studies program. He was a part of the internationally acclaimed National Guitar Workshop for 25 years and has been a part of the Crown of the Continent International Guitar Festival since its birth.
Mark is a published author and a featured soloist and composer on numerous recordings. He continues to explore the world of improvised live and virtual music and can be found performing often in the area and abroad. (dziubam@newpaltz.edu)
RICH SYRACUSE STRING BASSIST, ELECTRIC BASSIST, COMPOSER Rich Syracuse has been a mainstay on the New York area scene for more than three decades. While performing at an early age in New York City he was the winner of the prestigious Congress Of Strings Award. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Rich performed with The Group For Contemporary Music under the Conductor Charles Wournin and Harvey Solberger, The Hartford Ballet and the New Jersey Lyric Opera Co. During the early part of his career he performed in Jazz groups featuring pianists John Mehegan, Joey Calderazzo and Ted Rosenthal. After moving to New York State’s Hudson Valley in the mid 1980’s he began a long-standing stint in the Nick Brignola Quartet playing clubs, festivals, and recording sessions. Besides his years with Brignola, he has performed with Mose Allison, Kurt Elling, Dave Liebman, Brubeck Brothers, Warren Bernhardt, SumiTonoka, David Torn, Mike DeMicco, Peter Levin, Sam Morrison, Bernard Purdy, Vic Juris, Dave Stryker, Chuck Lamb, Jeff “Siege” Siegel, Dena DeRose, John Medeski, Michael Musilliami and Ali Demogli, Rich had been the bassist for Jazz pianist Lee Shaw for over 25 years until her passing.
JEFF “SIEGE” SIEGEL
Drummer/Composer Jeff “Siege” Siegel is a veteran of the New York Jazz scene and has worked with a virtual “who’s who” of artists. A member of the Sir Roland Hanna Trio from 1994-’99, Siegel’s diverse career has also led him to perform and/or record with legends such as Ron Carter, Kenny Burrell, Jack DeJohnette, Benny Golson, Sheila Jordan, Helen Merrill, Mose Allison, John Medeski, Arthur Rhames, Dave Douglas, Stefon Harris, Pat Metheny, Kurt Elling, Ravi Coltrane, Ryan Kisor, Lee Shaw, Levin Brothers, John Medeski, Dena DeRose, Lee Shaw and many others. He has worked in the avant garde world as well with Wadada Leo Smith, Baikida Carroll. He’s performed over 30 European tours including four as leader of the Jeff “Siege” Siegel Quartet and several others as co-leader. The Jeff “Siege” Siegel Sextet performed a 3 week tour of Africa in the summer of 2019. Other recent tours include The Levin Brothers Japan, Mexico, Canada and the US west coast and Midwest as well as South & Central America. His 2017 CD release “King of Xhosa” features South African trumpeter Feya Faku and is on the ARC label. His most recent release with his quartet is the 2018 release on ARC entitled “London Live” and “When You Were There” (2019) with Hetko, Syracuse & Siegel.

Rhythm Rising
2026-08-01 19:00 - 22:00
Latin Jazz

John Menegon Trio
2026-08-08 19:00 - 22:00
John Menegon – bass
Pete Smith – guitar
Matt Garrity – drums

Horton/London
2026-08-22 19:00 - 22:00
Amy London – vocals
Ron Horton – trumpet/flugelhorn
Neal Kirkwood – piano
