Albany Honors 'Queen of Capital District Jazz' Lee Shaw

Tribute concert celebrating the life and music of pioneering jazz pianist set for this Sunday.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:24pm

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An abstract, minimalist illustration using bold black shapes and high-contrast colors to represent jazz instruments, conceptually honoring the musical legacy of pioneering pianist Lee Shaw.A tribute concert celebrates the life and music of pioneering jazz pianist Lee Shaw, who helped establish Albany as a hub for innovative jazz.Albany Today

Lee Shaw, a renowned jazz pianist who made the Albany, New York area her home in the 1970s, will be honored with a special tribute concert this Sunday. Shaw and her husband, drummer Stan Shaw, were deeply influential in the local jazz scene, and her impact on the region's music is still felt today.

Why it matters

As one of the most important women in the history of American jazz, Lee Shaw's legacy as a pioneering pianist and educator deserves to be celebrated. The tribute concert will recognize her significant contributions to the art form and the vibrant jazz community she helped foster in New York's Capital District.

The details

The concert, titled 'Honoring the Queen of Capital District Jazz: A Tribute to Lee Shaw', will feature performances by local and regional jazz musicians paying homage to Shaw's musical legacy. Shaw and her husband Stan were fixtures on the Albany jazz scene for decades, mentoring young musicians and helping to establish the area as a hub for innovative jazz.

  • Lee Shaw and her husband Stan made the Albany area their home in the 1970s.
  • The tribute concert is scheduled for this Sunday, April 20, 2026.

The players

Lee Shaw

A renowned jazz pianist who was a pioneering figure in the American jazz scene and helped establish Albany, New York as a hub for innovative jazz music.

Stan Shaw

Lee Shaw's husband, who was a drummer and collaborator in shaping the vibrant jazz community in Albany's Capital District.

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The takeaway

The tribute concert honoring Lee Shaw's legacy as a pioneering jazz pianist and educator will celebrate her vital contributions to the art form and the enduring jazz scene she helped cultivate in New York's Capital District.