DATE: Saturday, February 7, 2026
TIME: 7 PM Dance Lessons with Vanda Polakova, 8 PM Performance
Advance Tickets: $30 General Admission | $25 Members
Day Of: $35 General Admission | $30 Members
Get ready for a high-energy, pan-Jazz experience for a GLOBAL MASHUP between the George Gee Swing Orchestra and the Arturo O'Farrill Afro-Latin Octet. On February 7, these master musicians play together for the first time, igniting the stage with their signature sounds.
Before the show, acclaimed dance instructor Vanda Polokova will offer dance lessons to get everyone moving. All levels are welcome—from those who just want to have fun to seasoned dancers who came to FTH ready to cut a rug.
Each band will play a short set and then come together for a mashup designed to delight. FTH is honored to present these contemporary jazz legends in our space. Join us for an unbeatable event that celebrates jazz and community!
[Pictured, left to right: George Gee and Arturo O'Farrill]
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Octet is led by pianist, composer, and educator Arturo O’Farrill, hailed by Downbeat Magazine as “one of our greatest living pianists.” Born in Mexico and raised in New York City, his career began with the Carla Bley Band and expanded through collaborations with artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, and Harry Belafonte. O’Farrill is a multi-Grammy Award winner; his “Afro-Latin Jazz Suite” won Best Instrumental Composition and Best Latin Jazz Recording (2016), and “Three Revolutions” won Best Instrumental Composition (2018). His 2023 album Fandango at the Wall in New York also received a Grammy. He is the founder and artistic director of Belongó (formerly the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance).
The George Gee Swing Orchestra is led by bandleader, producer, and showman George Gee, a native New Yorker inspired by the big bands of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Lionel Hampton. His professional path was cemented after a life-changing interview with Count Basie in 1979, prompting him to form his own ensemble. After a decade refining his craft in Pittsburgh, he returned to New York City in 2000. Gee and his Orchestra have been a cornerstone of the city's swing scene for nearly three decades, most notably through their legendary weekly residency at the Times Square hotspot Swing 46, where they continue to define the Big Apple's big band sound for audiences of all generations.
