Heart of the City: In their Own Words and Music
Bill Charlap
Aaron Diehl
Arturo O’Farrill
As our celebration of 60 years at Saint Peter’s continues, we asked each of the performers for the Heart of the City Gala Concert and Awards–Bill Charlap, Aaron Diehl, and Arturo O’Farrill–to reflect and share some music to listen to in advance of our October 26 event. Listen to this playlist with tracks selected by each of our performers to introduce themselves, followed by the albums and tracks that are on repeat to fill their days.
There is a long list of jazz musicians who have found a home and safe haven within Saint Peters, many from a young age. O’Farrill reflects saying, “St. Peter's is seared into my memory from seeing my father, Chico, cry at the memorial for Jorge Dalto, the great Argentinian pianist. Years later, we celebrated Chico's transition there in a concert featuring Wynton, Paquito, and The Chico O'Farrill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra.” Holding space for musicians and others to celebrate the lives of jazz greats and play their respects has been a tradition since Billy Strayhorn’s memorial in 1967.
“All Night Soul, Jazz Vespers, and the Duke Ellington Society were transformative experiences during my early years in New York,” says Diehl. “Hearing greats such as Dr. Billy Taylor, Gene Bertoncini, Carline Ray, and many others left a lasting and meaningful impression about the significance of Saint Peter’s as a community deeply committed to this rich heritage.”
This celebration year has brought more than 70 free jazz events for all who love this music. For musicians, there is the opportunity to communicate through their music in an atmosphere of understanding, acceptance, and pride. For audiences, there are free access concerts of jazz greats and up-and-coming musicians alike. As director of the Jazz Studies Program at William Paterson University, Charlap brings an ensemble to perform at Jazz on the Plaza, our free community-based concert series. [Learn more about the 2026 season performance on September 17.]
Jazz at Saint Peter’s is poised for an exciting and challenging future: The upcoming Heart of the City Gala and Awards is key towards supporting our ever-expanding jazz programming. It will celebrate jazz as a vibrant, creative and cohesive force.
“I am privileged to play this regal music and celebrate the genius of Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington and all the real revolutionaries that saw a vacuum in the conversation about culture and music and filled it with their genius,” says O’Farrill. “Most of all I am blessed to see wood, metal, skin, muscles, fingers, and other technical/pedestrian realities transform into sacred space where human beings are brought together to become a momentary, inextricable, part of each other's lives.”
As Diehl notes, “Its continuation is vital.”
Explore more from each performer:
Bill Charlap: Spotify, Apple Music
Aaron Diehl: Spotify, Apple Music
Arturo O’Farrill: Spotify, Apple Music
