Marcio Philomena - Guitar

Gili Lopez - Double Bass

With Hector Martignon’s band

GrandLife Hotels proudly presents the Downtown NYC JazzFest, a five-night jazz festival taking place April 22–April 26, 2026 across The Django, Roxy Bar and Club Room at Soho Grand. The festival will showcase an extraordinary lineup of emerging voices, marquee performers, and forward-thinking artists who embody the past, present, and future of New York jazz.

Jazz in downtown Manhattan has always thrived on reinvention. In the early 20th century, the downtown scene became a proving ground for the music as Harlem’s influence flowed south and clubs in Greenwich Village and the Lower East Side embraced jazz as a sound of rebellion and artistic freedom. By the 1950s and ’60s, downtown spaces nurtured beat poets, avant-garde players, and experimental composers who pushed beyond swing and bebop into freer, more abstract forms. Loft scenes in SoHo and TriBeCa during the 1970s blurred the lines between jazz, classical, funk, and emerging downtown art movements, turning the music into a living laboratory. 

Today, downtown Manhattan jazz reflects that legacy—rooted in tradition yet open to global influences, electronics, and genre-crossing collaborations—continuing to evolve in intimate clubs and creative spaces where improvisation, innovation, and community remain at its core.

Alberto Pibiri - Piano

Alex Tremblay - Double Bass

Kevin Congleton - Drums

With pianist Alberto Pibiri

With Greg Ruggiero

With Toru Dodo on piano and Joseph Lepore on double bass.

With pianist Jihee Heo.

With Marcio Philomena

Samuel Lerner is a Paris‑born jazz pianist and composer whose musical journey spans continents and traditions. Trained in piano from a young age, Lerner developed a deep affinity for jazz, influenced by the rich heritage of American standards and the improvisational voices of pianists such as Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell. Over the years, he has woven these influences into his own expressive style, blending elements of the Great American Songbook with original compositions that reflect both tradition and innovation.

After relocating from Paris to New York City, Lerner immersed himself in one of the world’s most vibrant jazz scenes. During his early years in the city, he recorded his music with legendary drummer Leroy Williams and bassist Tal Ronen, capturing the dynamic interplay that defines his ensemble work.

Lerner’s career includes multiple recording projects, collaborations with respected musicians, and performances in diverse settings from intimate club dates to larger festivals. His recent work continues to explore original material alongside classic jazz repertoire, showcasing his commitment to both the tradition and ongoing evolution of jazz.

As a bandleader and collaborator with the Samuel Lerner Quintet, Lerner brings a thoughtful, lyrical approach to performance, balancing technical mastery with emotive storytelling in every set. His music resonates with audiences who appreciate the depth and spontaneity of contemporary jazz.

The classic New York speakeasy reimagined by Aman. An exclusive gathering place with nightly live music and performances, guided by the city's pulse.

With Marcio Philomena (guitar)

1° set ore 19.30
2° set ore 21.30

Un incontro speciale, nato a New York e rinnovato sul palco, tra Simona Daniele e Massimo Faraò, che si ritrovano dopo una sessione di registrazione in studio avvenuta lo scorso luglio.

Simona Daniele è una voce intensa e raffinata, capace di unire swing, calore e grande sensibilità interpretativa. Il suo canto, profondamente radicato nella tradizione jazzistica, dialoga con naturalezza e libertà con il trio, dando vita a un repertorio elegante e coinvolgente.

Come è noto, Massimo Faraò ama suonare con e per le cantanti: il suo pianoforte accompagna, sostiene e valorizza la voce con gusto, energia e profonda conoscenza del linguaggio jazz. Al suo fianco, una sezione ritmica di assoluto prestigio, con Davide Palladin alla chitarra e Aldo Zunino al contrabbasso, per un interplay raffinato e sempre pulsante.

Un concerto all’insegna dello swing, dell’eleganza e dell’emozione, dove l’incontro tra voce e strumenti diventa racconto musicale condiviso.

Simona Daniele - Voice
Massimo Faraò - Piano
Davide Palladin - Chitarra
Aldo Zunino - Contrabbasso