The inaugural NoMad Jazz Festival presented by The NoMad Alliance transformed Madison Square Park into a stage for the city and the world on August 9–10, 2025. Over two days, more than 75 world-class performers and thousands of attendees came together in a record-breaking celebration of music, culture, and community. From Mainstage magic to family-friendly programs, the weekend proved that there’s no place like NoMad for live jazz.
Relive the unforgettable weekend through these photo highlights.
Closing night one with soul-stirring grace, Lizz Wright delivered a transcendent performance that lingered in the summer evening air.
Lizz Wright – vocals, piano
Adam Levy – guitar
Kenny Banks – keys
Ben Zwerin – bass
Ivan Edwards – drums
Joined by Brandee Younger, Gadi Lehavi, Rashaan Carter, and Ele Howell, Ravi Coltrane’s tribute to his mother’s music was both homage and reinvention—a powerful statement on jazz’s enduring legacy.
Ravi Coltrane – saxophones
Brandee Younger – harp
Gadi Lehavi – piano + keyboards
Rashaan Carter – bass
Ele Howell – drums
This 17-piece powerhouse lit up the stage with boundless energy, channeling the late trumpet master’s spirit into a jubilant, roof-raising performance.
Willie Jones – drums
Danton Boller – bass
Tyler Bullock – piano
Saul Rubin – guitar
Nathan Eklund– trumpet
Eddie Allen – trumpet
Camerahn Alforque – trumpet
Duane Eubanks – trumpet
Jason Jackson – trombone
James Burton – trombone
Nate Jones – trombone
Max Seigel – bass trombone
Bruce Williams – alto sax
Mark Gross – alto sax
Mike Lee – tenor sax
Keith Loftis – tenor sax
Jason Marshall – baritone sax
With elegance and fire, Brandee Younger redefined harp in jazz, blending originals, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye into a set that transcended genre.
Brandee Younger – harp
Rashaan Carter – bass
Allan Menard – drums
Vocalist Michael Mayo pushed the boundaries of sound with a set mixing jazz standards and striking originals, showcasing the future of vocal improvisation.
Michael Mayo – vocal
Robin Baytas – drums
Kyle Miles – bass
Andrew Freedman – piano, keys
With warmth and Baltic soul, Arta Jēkabsone delivered poetic songs that carried the audience from intimacy to uplift, performing works from Searching for a Song and closing with Home.
Arta Jēkabsone – voice & compositions
Theo Walentiny – piano
Lucas Kadish – guitar
Hamish Smith – double bass
Connor Parks – drums
Sara Caswell – violin
Zosha Warpeha – viola
Kana Miyamoto – flute
Alfredo Colon – alto saxophone
Tamar Frankel Damari – harp
Pianist Dabin Ryu and her trio mesmerized with expressive interplay, highlighted by Taxi, a personal tribute to her grandfather.
Dabin Ryu – piano
Joe Martin – bass
Johnathan Blake – drums
Venezuelan rhythms met tap brilliance as the Caracas Trio invited dancer Melissa Almaguer to the stage, creating a joyful and unexpected fusion.
Gabriel Chakarji – piano
Juan Diego Villalobos – vibraphone
Daniel Prim – drums, percussions
+ Special Guest Melissa Almaguer – tap
A rhythmic and melodic journey through Haitian traditions and dance, bringing the park alive with infectious energy. And bringing audiences to their feet to join in.
Goussy Célestin – voice, piano
Markus Schwartz – Tanbou
Ernst “Junior” Blanc – Tanbou
Heather Ewer – Tuba
Akili Bradley – Trumpet
Juanga Lacuna – Trombone
Paul Carlon – Saxophone
Alexandre Jean-Joseph – dance
From African drumming and tap to gospel and house, Asase Yaa’s multi-part journey was a rhythmic celebration of heritage and evolution, inviting audiences to join in the movement.
GRAMMY®-winner Lucy Kalantari brought joy to families with swinging songs, while ABCirque’s acrobats turned the stage area into a circus of wonder.
Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats
Lucy Kalantari – voice
Darius Kalantari – cello
Evan Hyde – drums
Alicia Rau – Trumpet
Caylen Bryant – bass
ABCirque
Angela Butch
Yoni Kallai
Marico Iwasa
Art Konchakivskyy
Mariia Konchakivska
Dia
The inaugural NoMad Jazz Festival was only the beginning. Keep the memories alive with exclusive festival merchandise – collector’s edition posters, T-shirts, caps, water bottles, and more. And stay tuned for details on next year’s festival. The music continues, and we can’t wait to see you back in NoMad.
To support The NoMad Alliance, the nonprofit producer of The NoMad Jazz Festival, you can make a tax-deductible contribution here. We can’t do what we do without you.