John Batiste To Curate Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World Festival
The hit show all jazz lovers are vigorously expecting is definitely Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World Festival.
Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College announced that the fourth annual Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World Festival will take place on Saturday, 8th July at the Flushing Meadow Corona Park. Later this year there is another concert coming up – on 22nd October in Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa and you can already grab tickets for this event.
While Louis was born and bred in New Orleans, he spent 28 years in the borough of Queens and this festival celebrating his life and legacy is happening near his House Museum that will feature a new exhibit at the time. The show is opened to the public but Premium viewing areas are available with Preferred Access and VIP tickets. It is also handicap accessible.
The Fourth Annual Festival paying tribute to the icon of jazz is curated by Jon Batiste, contemporary jazz torchbearer. He will also headline it with his band Stay Human. Following it will be Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks, and also the members of The Dap Kings. This eclectic mix of influential musicians will only show how great the influence that Armstrong had on the variety of music genres was.
Jon Batiste, an MA from Julliard, is not only a worldwide celebrated piano and harmonaboard musician and tv personality, but someone with an artistic vision, energetic charisma and limitless potential. He performed in over 40 countries and is among ‘30 under 30’ most influential people in the art world.
“Louis Armstrong was a God-gifted cultural amalgamation of all the best that America has to offer: He was an artist and humanitarian of the highest order,” Batiste said in a statement.
“Armed with visionary, interpretational genius, and an irrepressible charisma, he broke down artistic, racial, social, and cultural barriers. Using his nonpareil trumpet ability, he reinvented American music. This festival is a celebration of what his legacy means to me… I couldn’t be more excited to light up Queens, his home away from home.”, he added.
In addition to music on the main stage, the audience can also enjoy The Big Apple Circus, live DJ’s, arts and crafts, face painting and Cumbia for kids. This all-day event will end in Batiste’s signature ‘love riot’ street parade. These family friendly activities throughout the park and DJ sets recreate famous garden parties Louis himself hosted for his friends.
Louis Armstrong first hit the jazz scene from the 1920s and had been a vital presence up to the 1960s.
With the impeccable sound of his trumpet and instantly recognizable gravelly voice, he dominated jazz scene for five decades. His influence on popular music in general is unmeasurable. His mantra was ‘you gotta listen to all types of music’.
Louis Armstrong What A Wonderful World Festival
Show date and time: Saturday, 8th July 2017, 1pm
Show location: New York, Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Show length: 7 hours
Age restriction: There are no age restrictions placed on this show
Get Louis Armstrong What A Wonderful World Festival tickets here.
