You may remember Yoav Eshed from our stage — he was a featured performer at A Night at the Triad 8, where a chance meeting turned into something lasting: a collaboration with vocalist June Cavlan, whom he met performing that night. (June takes the very same plaza the following weekend, August 13.) These are exactly the connections we hope our shows spark — so we're delighted to point you toward Yoav's.
Yoav brings his quartet, Guitar Hearts, to New York City's beloved community jazz festival:
Yoav Eshed (guitar) · Gadi Lehavi (piano) · Alex Claffy (bass) · Ari Hoenig (drums)
Yoav's story starts at a piano at age five — Haydn, Bach, Mendelssohn — and at thirteen he picked up the guitar and found a singular, pianistic voice on it. Since moving to New York he's played the city's best rooms (Blue Note, Birdland, Smalls) and festivals around the world, recorded five albums as a bandleader, and become one of the city's most distinctive guitarists. With Guitar Hearts, he performs his own compositions: jazz tradition woven with lyrical, Romantic-era melody, moving from the most energetic moments to the most intimate and delicate.
About Jazz on the Plaza: for over 20 years, these free midday concerts have filled the outdoor plaza at 601 Lexington Avenue. Bring a lunch (or grab one from a nearby vendor) and enjoy an hour of world-class jazz. In case of rain, the concert moves indoors to the Sanctuary of Saint Peter's Church, where guests are asked not to bring food or opened beverages.
12:30 PM (about one hour) · Free · RSVP
601 Lexington Avenue Plaza (rain location: the Sanctuary of Saint Peter's Church)
Jazz on the Plaza is sponsored by The Arts and Architecture Conservancy, Grand Central Partnership, and BXP (Boston Properties). This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
