Tilles Jazz Festival 2024

Tilles Center, nestled within Long Island University's Post campus in Brookville, New York, has long been committed to promoting, supporting and programming jazz. But this well-regarded venue took things to an entirely different level with its inaugural jazz festival on July 20, 2024. Working in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, Tilles put together an event to remember, hosting more than 70 musicians spread out across four stages.

Long Island University students offered sounds of welcome as the day began. Rising star vocalist Georgia Heers officially kicked off the festivities and captivated with a broad grasp of the tradition. And vibraphonist Jalen Baker's intimate duo came next, running opposite a pair of high school large ensembles representing both of Long Island's counties—Elmont's Global Jazz Orchestra and the Harborfields High School Jazz Band.

Matt Wilson's Good Trouble, with saxophonists Tia Fuller and Jeff Lederer, pianist Dawn Clement and bassist Mimi Jones, elevated the proceedings and created community via sunny thoughts, social activism and swing. Trombonist Mariel Bildsten's outfit and harpist Brandee Younger's duo played parallel sets in neighboring spaces, making it easy to walk from one to the other and catch a portion of each. And pianist Sean Mason's quartet moved with modernism and soulful grooves.

A second line parade, with brass and beats aplenty, brought the crowd to its feet, drawing enthusiastic audience participation and closing the outdoor event(s). But that didn't mark the conclusion of the festival. Saxophonist Branford Marsalis' celebrated quartet—a longstanding group featuring Joey Calderazzo, Eric Revis and Justin Faulkner—headlined and had audience members in the Krasnoff Theater on the edge of their seats. The band earned rave responses at the conclusion of the concert proper and after its Duke Ellington twofer encore. Tilles Center Executive and Artistic Director Tom Dunn noted that his goal was to make this entire festival appealing to both hardcore jazz fans and the casual/curious listeners, and he most definitely hit that mark. This writer, who had the pleasure of directing the Harborfields High School Jazz Band in its performance that day, soaked in as much music as possible...and used the opportunity to capture some images to commemorate the first of what promises to be an annual event.