Cynthia Sayer and Her Sparks Fly Quartet

The Jazz at the Plaza concert series is produced by Saint Peter's Church with the generous support of Boston Properties, Grand Central Partnership, The Coca-Cola Company, and Midtown Arts Common.

In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be held inside Saint Peter's Church. Jazz on the Plaza concerts will continue through the end of August.

About the Artist

Award-winning instrumentalist, vocalist and bandleader Cynthia Sayer defies all the banjo player assumptions as she single-handedly re-popularizes the 4-string banjo in jazz. Sayer is celebrated as one of the top 4-string jazz banjoists in the world today: soulful, edgy, both contemporary and classic, with a playing style that is all her own.

Praised for her “drive and virtuosity” by The New York Times, Sayer rose to prominence as a founding member of Woody Allen's New Orleans Jazz Band, all the while exploring her wider musical interests and playing with other legendary jazz, and popular artists, including Bucky Pizzarelli, Dick Hyman, Les Paul, Marvin

Hamlisch, Wynton Marsalis, Marian McPartland, Randy Sandke, Scott Robinson, Andy Statman, and others. Her eclectic, swing-based shows treat audiences to the rarely heard range and versatility of the 4-string banjo, America’s original jazz instrument, and her warm, engaging audience connection wins hearts wherever she goes.

Cynthia appears regularly in concert and at festivals internationally with her bands and as a guest artist. She can also be heard on feature film and TV soundtracks, most recently in Woody Allen’s 2014 release, “Magic In The Moonlight.” Sayer was inducted into the American Banjo Hall Of Fame, played for two U.S. Presidents (once at The White House), performed with The New York Philharmonic, at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, has received several honors and award nominations for her recordings, and is proud to be the subject of a Trivial Pursuit game question. Sayer endorses Ome banjos, GHS Strings, Blue Chip Picks, and The Realist Pickup by David Gage Instruments.

Cynthia Sayer & Her Sparks Fly Quartet includes Adrian Cunningham (clarinet/sax), Mike Weatherly (string bass) and Larry Eagle (drums).
www.cynthiasayer.com