Dutchess County is a one-of-a-kind destination for live music. Concerts run the gamut from intimate winery settings to large arenas. Of course, sitting on the banks of the Hudson River listening to live performances is one of the most memorable experiences the area has to offer.
Jazz in the Valley brings acclaimed artists to the Poughkeepsie waterfront. The annual festival, set for Aug. 16, 2026, at Waryas Park, takes place just a short walk away from the Poughkeepsie train station, which operates both Metro-North and Amtrak rail service. A massive tent offers plenty of seating, but bring lawn chairs or blankets for a true open-air atmosphere.
This carefully curated lineup of musicians will impress and inspire audiences at Waryas Park with performances by living legends and emerging talents alike, including:
• Lisa Fischer — A powerhouse vocalist who won a Grammy and an Academy Award for the documentary "50 Feet from Stardom." After 26 years of collaboration with the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards described her as having "amazing power, energy, and projection."
• Sharp Radway — A pianist, composer, arranger, and author, he is a protégé of Dr. Randy Weston and a seasoned bandleader who has worked with jazz luminaries like Yusef Lateef, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Curtis Fuller, Louis Hayes, Candido Camero, Steve Turre, Randy Brecker and Nicolas Payton, to name a few.
• Chief Baba Neil Clarke — A master percussionist of legendary status, he has been sharpening his skills in traditional African drumming and the percussive arts for more than 50 years. Inducted into the Brooklyn Jazz Hall of Fame in June of 2026, he has performed with Randy Weston, Harry Belafonte, Dianne Reeves, Miriam Makeba, and many others.
• Alex Blake — A bassist with a revolutionary playing style, some have called him "an entire rhythm section" for his combination of innovative strumming, rapid lyrical notations, and percussive slaps on his bass. He has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Sun Ra, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Stan Getz, Harry Belafonte, and the Manhattan Transfer, and is a long-time member of NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston’s African Rhythms.
• Zaccai Curtis — A Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer, producer, and educator, he leads his own groups, the Zaccai Curtis Quintet and Sonido Solar, and is recognized as a leading voice in contemporary jazz and Latin jazz. Together with his brother Luques, he co-founded the Truth Revolution Recording Collective, a collaborative record label supporting independent artists, and has produced acclaimed recordings including the Grammy-nominated Entre Colegas by Andy González. Zaccai Curtis has performed with renowned artists including Christian Scott (aTunde Adjuah), Donald Harrison, Cindy Blackman Santana, Eddie Palmieri, Lakecia Benjamin, and Brian Lynch.
• Luques Curtis — He is one of the leading bassists in contemporary jazz and Afro-Latin music who has toured and recorded with artists including Eddie Palmieri, Gary Burton, Christian Scott (aTunde Adjuah), Ralph Peterson, Sean Jones, and Orrin Evans. As a co-founder of the Truth Revolution Recording Collective, he has helped support and promote independent jazz artists while maintaining an active international career.
• Javon Jackson — He is a jazz tenor saxophonist and the Artistic Director for Jazz in the Valley. He first became known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He went on to release 22 recordings as a bandleader and has toured and recorded with jazz legends like Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Haden, Betty Carter, Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Stanley Turrentine, and Ben E. King.
General admission tickets are $60 in advance and $70 at the gate. Or, purchase them before Aug. 1 for an early-bird special of $50. Students with valid ID gain entrance at the gate for $20. Tickets can be purchased online through the festival’s website; to buy advance tickets, click here.
Traveling from New York City? Take Metro-North from Grand Central or Amtrak from Penn Station to Poughkeepsie Station.
While you’re at the festival, grab a bite to eat at one of the local food trucks, which in the past has included Caribbean fare, southern barbecue, seafood and more. Of course, several fan-favorite eateries are just around the corner. Pick up one of the famous Italian sandwiches at Rossi Rosticceria Deli, or snag a table on the rooftop at Zeus Brewing Co. for pizza, pasta and brews with views.
Related: Prettiest Places to Dine Outdoors in Dutchess
While you’re in town, be sure to check out the myriad of summer activities and events found only in the heart of the Hudson Valley.
Related: Outdoor Summer Concerts in Dutchess County
Parents, it’s a great time of year to bring the kids! Just a short walk from Jazz in the Valley, the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum has several state-of-the-art interactive exhibits for developing minds. Our Destination Dutchess Tourism Connection Finder mobile passport features several deals and discounts at family-friendly destinations, free of charge! Embark on scenic hikes with alpacas at Lilymoore Farm and Clover Brooke Farm, catch a classic summer baseball game with the Hudson Valley Renegades, rock-climb at Gravity Vault and more. To get your free pass to family fun, click here.
Couples, it’s also a wonderful time of year for romance. There are so many romantic memories waiting to be made in Dutchess. Pick gorgeous sunflowers during peak season at Hudson Valley Cold Pressed Oils, or take a kayak for two out to castle ruins at Bannerman Island. (For other ways to enjoy the river during your stay, click here.)
The night before Jazz in the Valley, catch an outdoor movie and spend a night in a vintage Airstream camper at Four Brothers Drive-In. Of course, if you’re looking for swoon-worthy accommodations, book a weekend at Mirbeau Inn and Spa in Rhinebeck—less than a half hour from Poughkeepsie! For a full list of hotels, bed and breakfasts, boutique inns and more nearby, click here.
No car? No problem! Metro-North Railroad Poughkeepsie Station is just a short walk from Waryas Park. Start your day with a scenic train ride along the Hudson River on the Metro-North to Poughkeepsie. Walk toward the river from the train station as the gates open at 11 a.m.
About Jazz in the Valley
Jazz in the Valley began as an afternoon of music when TRANSART received an individual artist grant commission from the New York State Council on the Arts to commission Ahmad Jamal to create an original composition for the organization. Inspired by the natural beauty of the area, he created “Picture Perfect,” and it was first heard in a concert in the summer of 2000. Promoted as an afternoon of music and art the concert has since grown into an annual festival, showcasing music performed by world-class musicians, fittingly complemented by breathtaking views of the Hudson River Valley as backdrop.
