CUNY Jazz Festival 2026 featuring Chris Potter and Adam Cruz

The CUNY Jazz Festival celebrates jazz and jazz education at the City University of New York through promoting an exchange of ideas and experiences among the various jazz programs in a non-competitive atmosphere.

May 7 & 8, 2026.

The festival includes performances by City College of New York (CCNY) faculty and student ensembles, as well as ensembles from across CUNY, along with master classes and special sessions with guest artists.

On Thursday, drummer Adam Cruz will be in residence, joining the CCNY faculty ensemble for the faculty concert, leading a master class, performing in the evening with student ensembles, and participating in the festival’s jam session.

On Friday, saxophonist Chris Potter will lead a master class, and the festival culminates in a featured performance by the Chris Potter Quartet—with Potter joined by Adam Rogers, Scott Colley, and Marcus Gilmore.

The event is sponsored by the Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts and the CCNY Division of Humanities & Arts and will take place at Aaron Davis Hall, Theater B at The City College of New York.

Tickets:

• Thursday Day-Pass

• Friday Day-Pass [Does not include Chris Potter Concert]

• Chris Potter Concert [Friday, May 8, opens @ 7 PM]

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 7

11:30 | CCNY Faculty Jazz Ensemble | Jason Rigby (tenor sax); Pete McCann (guitar); Ray Gallon (piano); Aidan O’Donnell (bass); Adam Cruz (drums); Suzanne Pittson (voice)

12:30 | Hunter College Jazz Performances Jazz Combos (Directors: Priscilla Owens, David Demotta, Ike Sturm); Jazz Ensemble (Director: David Demotta); Vocal Jazz Ensemble (Director: Priscilla Owens)

2:10 | York College Jazz Improvisation Ensemble | Director: Tom Zlabinger

2:55 | City College Jazz Vocal Ensemble | Director: Will Gorman

3:45 | Master Class with Adam Cruz

5:15 | BMCC Jazz Combo | Director: Jon DeLucia

6:00 | Dinner Break —

7:30 | City College Small Jazz Ensemble - The Music of Wayne Shorter | Director: Mike Holober; Guest Artist: Adam Cruz (drums)

8:30 | Jam Session Featuring Adam Cruz

Friday, May 8

11:30 | City College Small Jazz Ensembles - The Music of Thelonious Monk | Director: Ray Gallon

1:30 | City College Graduate Ensemble - Group 1 | Director: Pete McCann

2:20 | Tribute Performance to Sheila Jordan

3:10 | Master Class with Chris Potter

4:40 |City College Graduate Ensemble - Group A | Director: Pete McCann

5:30 | Dinner Break —

7:00 | City College Graduate Ensemble | Director: Ingrid Jensen

8:00 | Headline Performance | The Chris Potter Quartet: Chris Potter (tenor sax); Adam Rogers (guitar); Scott Colley (bass); Nasheet Waits (drums)

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Host or Publisher City College Center for the Arts