Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival 2020

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Twenty-four musical groups – 16 of whom will be staging Saratoga Jazz Festival debut performances – will appear at SPAC in June. 

The two-day lineup includes: Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Kool & The Gang, Ranky Tanky and Tiempo Libre, Taj Mahal, Drummer Omar Hakim’s “supergroup” Ozmosys, and “centennial celebrations” of the music of Charlie Parker and Dave Brubeck – the latter featuring performances by the Brubeck Brothers with Mike DeMicco and Chuck Lamb. 

The 43rd annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival takes place Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 at SPAC. 

 Nile Rodgers & CHIC, who headline Saturday night’s event pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits like “Le Freak,” and sparked the advent of hip-hop with “Good Times.” A typical CHIC set includes mega-hits written, co-written and/or produced by Nile Rodgers, including “Get Lucky” (Daft Punk), “Like A Virgin” (Madonna),
“We Are Family” (Sister Sledge), “Let’s Dance” (David Bowie), “Upside Down” (Diana Ross) and many others. 

Sunday’s amphitheater headliner Kool & The Gang are best known for their hit singles “Celebration,” “Cherish,” “Joanna,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Too Hot,” “Hollywood Swinging,” “Ladies Night” and “Fresh.” 

Acts will be staged during the daylong shows both inside the amphitheater, and atop a second outdoor performance space, known as the Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage. 

Founded in 1978 by jazz impresario George Wein, Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival is the fifth longest-consecutive-running jazz festival in North America. 

 Tickets are currently on sale to SPAC members. Tickets of the general public will be available online at www.spac.org beginning Feb. 11. Prices vary. For ticket information, and a full lineup of artists, go to: www.spac.org.