PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Berkshire Theatre Group welcomes Pittsfield CityJazz Festival: Veronica Swift with Stephanie Nakasian at The Colonial Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the 15th annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival. Tickets are $25 and $39.
The keystone event of the festival features a rare pairing of legendary vocalist Nakasian, a Berkshires favorite, with her daughter, Swift, the fastest-rising vocalist on the jazz scene. The show will include material from Nakasian’s newest release, Confessions. The Berkshires Jazz Youth Ensemble will open the show.
At just age 25, Swift has built a résumé that many late-career jazz singers would envy: tours as a featured vocalist with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Chris Botti; a guest collaboration with Michael Feinstein; engagements at A-list clubs like Birdland, Jazz Standard, Dizzy’s Club and Jazz Showcase; and headlined at top festivals including Monterey, Montreal and Telluride. As a child, she began performing with her musician parents, the late pianist Hod O’Brien, and the singer/educator/author Stephanie Nakasian, and in 2015, she earned second place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, the most prestigious contest in the art form. In other words, her command of the vocal-jazz tradition is astounding.
Known as one of the world’s leading jazz singers, Nakasian will take you on a fresh and authentic swing voyage that transcends the Great Ladies of Song in both tribute and originality. Capturing the hearts of audiences with her extensive repertoire, reaching from Jazz to Broadway, Stephanie creates an atmosphere of romance and excitement that will transport you to another place and time.
There will be pre-show entertainment by Ben Kohn in The Garage -- located in The Colonial lobby -- at 6 p.m. Refreshments and snacks will be available at the bar there.
You can purchase tickets in person at the Colonial ticket office, 111 South St., Pittsfield, or via 413-997-4444 or www.berkshiretheatregroup.org. The ticket office is open Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and on performance days from 10 a.m. until curtain.
Stephanie Nakasian and Veronica Swift