Courtesy KCA
MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
Queens’ storied jazz legacy will take center stage once again this summer with the return of the Queens Jazz Trail Concert Series, a free outdoor music event running from June through August across parks throughout the borough.
Presented by the Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College in partnership with NYC Parks, Flushing Town Hall, and the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the series celebrates Queens’ vital role in jazz history, showcasing performances by acclaimed artists tied to the borough’s rich musical tradition.
Kupferberg Center for the Arts (KCA) is dedicated to offering high-quality, accessible, and affordable cultural experiences to both the Queens College community and the borough’s 2.4 million residents. As the largest indoor, year-round, multidisciplinary arts organization in Queens, KCA presents world-class artists and performances on its main campus stages, while also highlighting emerging and regional talents through off-site events in neighborhood venues. Recognized as a cultural leader in one of the nation’s most ethnically diverse areas, KCA fosters connections between residents and their unique cultural backgrounds, sharing these rich traditions with wider audiences and celebrating the vibrant contributions that shape both the campus and the broader community.
The concert series is inspired by the Queens Jazz Trail Map, a treasured cultural resource originally printed in 1998 by Flushing Town Hall. The map traces the homes, venues, and landmarks connected to over 125 jazz legends who once called Queens home—including icons such as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie.
“The launch of a digital Queens Jazz Trail Map will inspire greater visitorship to Queens, a borough rich in musical history and home to a diverse and thriving cultural scene today,” Seth Bornstein, Executive Director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation said. “I encourage map followers to come for the jazz, delight in our history, and discover all else that Queens has on offer, including beautiful parks and restaurants serving up authentic cuisines from around the world. You name it, it’s in Queens—the world’s borough!”
The new website, launched in September 2024 with support from the Queens Economic Development Corporation and Queens Tourism Council, offers users the ability to explore detailed biographies, historical photos, and venues by clicking points on an interactive map. Visitors can also contribute their own stories and media, further enriching the evolving digital archive.
“We’re proud to celebrate the extraordinary jazz history of Queens with this concert series,” said Jon Yanofsky, Director of Kupferberg Center for the Arts. “After a successful launch in 2024, we’re excited to bring the series back this summer. It’s a joy to share this music in local parks with audiences of all ages across the borough.”
The 2025 concert series invites audiences to experience this living legacy in the very neighborhoods that shaped jazz’s evolution. Highlights include Grammy-nominated trumpeter Wayne Tucker opening the series on June 19 at Astoria Park; Queens native vibraphonist Bryan Carrott performing July 10 at Baisley Pond Park; the energetic Rubén Coca Quintet at Rockaway Beach Park on July 17; Alí Bello & The Charanga Syndicate bringing Cuban rhythms to Flushing Meadows Corona Park on July 20; bassist and bandleader Kim Clarke at Jackson Heights’ Travers Park on August 7; The High and Mighty Brass Band electrifying Forest Park Bandshell on August 14; and the series finale featuring the Mingus Big Band honoring Charles Mingus at Archie Spigner Park on August 28.
Seth Bornstein, Executive Director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation, praised the series and the digital map for promoting Queens as a cultural destination. “The Queens Jazz Trail Concert Series and interactive map showcase a borough rich in musical history and vibrant with diverse cultural experiences,” Bornstein said. “We invite jazz fans and curious visitors alike to explore Queens — its parks, eateries, and world-class music — through these free performances.”
All concerts are free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic snacks to enjoy quality live jazz outdoors.
For more information about the Queens Jazz Trail Map and concert series, visit kupferbergcenter.org/qjt.
