APRIL VARNER

JAZZ ON THE PLAZA / JULY 9

A New York-based vocalist with a voice that moves between tenderness and authority with effortless control, April has been building a following on the New York scene through exactly the kind of performance that Jazz on the Plaza was designed to present. The series at 1221 Avenue of the Americas has become one of the most reliable free jazz programs in the city — a lunchtime concert that draws devoted listeners who know exactly what they're there for. No reservation required.