About Jazz at the Lake

Lake George Arts Project previous Executive Director John Strong (1984 – 2020), and Paul Pines, previous  Jazz Weekend Artistic Director (1983 – 2018), planned the first ever Lake George Jazz Weekend over 35 years ago. We were blessed having Paul Pines, artist, writer, poet, Jazz enthusiast and advocate, curate this event all those years. He never missed a beat – making magic happen every time. Paul passed on June 27, 2018. He created a remarkable legacy for this annual event, and he will be missed by so many artists, musicians and Jazz fans, just to name a few. Please click here for more info and links on Paul’s creative life.

Paul’s vision for Jazz at The Lake continues. Paul’s friend and colleague, Daniel Kelly, jazz pianist/composer, continues Paul’s work in his 3rd year as LGAP’s Jazz Weekend Artistic Director and Curator. Daniel performed at the 2010 Jazz Festival with his EMERGE TRIO and again in 2015 with his trio WORKS featuring saxophonist Joe Lovano. He also performed at our Summer Concert Series in 2016 with violinist Gretchen Koehler.

Daniel Kelly and Paul Pines became close friends during their association over the years.

Said Paul:  “I remain convinced that Daniel Kelly is one of the most stunningly original talents both as an improviser and a leader that I have known in a long career of promoting this art form. His musical ideas spring naturally from a visionary imagination.”  

Daniel Kelly is also the co-founder and co-Artistic Director of Connection Works, an artist-run non-profit organization based in Brooklyn that, since 2007, has presented workshops for young people and produced over 250 concerts, featuring artists such as Grammy award-winner Joe Lovano, NEA Jazz Masters Dave Liebman & Shelia Jordan and MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipients Dafnis Prieto & Steve Coleman.