Musician Patience Higgins has played with everyone from Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to the Duke Ellington and Count Basie Orchestra. Along the way, he has played many venues, including outside at Hudson River Park.

“I’ve played everything from smoky clubs to Carnegie Hall, and music anywhere is wonderful, but music out in the outdoors is really special,” said Higgins, who has played a number of times for the free concerts at Hudson River Park.

The park offers a variety of free shows throughout the summer, including Jazz at Pier 84, a collaboration with the Jazz Foundation of America.

What You Need To Know

  • Hudson River Park offers a number of free concerts throughout the summer months at different locations within the park

  • Highlights include Jazz at Pier 84, the annual Blues BBQ Festival at Pier 76, and Sunset on the Hudson Concerts at Pier 45

  • Hudson River Park runs for more than four miles along the waterfront from Chambers Street to West 59th Street

  • The park is celebrating 25 years of welcoming New Yorkers and visitors from around the world after the transformation of the Hudson River waterfront

“That is a weekly series that features local jazz legends, and it is a wonderful opportunity for people to come and bring their families, enjoy an evening of jazz in Hell’s Kitchen right at Pier 84,” said Kira Levy, senior director of marketing and events at Hudson River Park. 

There’s also the Blues BBQ Festival on Aug. 19, the largest free blues festival in New York, with eight groups on two stages.

There’s a Sunset Salsa series Thursday nights at Pier 76, and Friday nights are the Sunset on the Hudson concerts in the West Village section of the park, with an eclectic lineup of artists performing.   

“Jazz or Roots, or a little bit more of a Samba or even some house music, we present that on Friday nights on Pier 45 in the village,” Levy said.

Higgins says he hopes folks not only enjoy the music, but perhaps are inspired to pick up an instrument themselves.

“It’s been many times when kids come up to me and say wow, I really like that, ‘How do you do that,’ and the journey begins,” Higgins said.

Start your journey to free live music on the Hudson, head to the park's website to find out more.