J&R MusicFest Announces Lineup

  I  

J&R Music and Computer World in New York will host its annual MusicFest from Aug. 23-25. The free event will take place in Manhattan’s City Hall Park.

Headliners include R&B singer Chaka Khan on Aug. 23 and pianist Bruce Hornsby with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Jack DeJohnette on Aug. 25.

Here is the complete lineup:

Thursday, Aug. 23

5 p.m. - Israel & The New Breed

6 p.m. - Lyfe Jennings

7 p.m. -Chaka Khan

Friday, Aug. 24

5 p.m. - J. Holiday

6 p.m. - TBD

7 p.m. - Suzanne Vega

Saturday, Aug. 25

1 pm - Deemi

2 p.m. - Eldar

3 p.m. - Deborah Cox

4 p.m. - Carl Allen & Rodney Whitaker

5 p.m. - Bruce Hornsby w/ Christian McBride and Jack DeJohnette



  • Flea_by_Gus_Van_Sant_copy.jpg

    “Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”

  • Maria_Schneider_%C2%A92026_Mark_Sheldon_-07_copy.jpg

    “These days, with curated news, where people only get half the story, people can’t even speak to family members anymore,” Schneider laments.

  • JAM_posters_-_a_selection_cropped.jpg

    Each of the 25 JAMs has delivered a poster featuring a jazz legend that is sent out to schools across the nation. This year’s poster features Tony Bennett.

  • 2026_Cecil_McLorin_Salvant_Sullivan_Fortner_Big_Ears.jpg

    Cécile McLorin Salvant busts out Jelly Roll Morton’s “The Murder Ballad” at Big Ears, here with pianist Sullivan Fortner.

  • NikBaertschs_RONIN_by_Christian_Senti.jpg

    “We thought it’s important that Ronin has a new statement,” said Nik Bärtsch of his band’s latest album, Spin. “The sound is differently produced, so it reflects more of who we are.”