Dance Party All-Stars

Alfredo De La Fé is internationally recognized as the world’s premier salsa violinist and one of the most influential violinists in Latin music history. Born in Cuba and raised artistically between Havana and New York, he revolutionized the role of the violin in salsa, transforming it from a background instrument into a powerful lead voice on the world stage.

With a career spanning  six decades, Alfredo De La Fé has performed in over 95 countries and has shared the stage and studio with many of the greatest artists in Latin music history. His legendary musical journey includes collaborations with Eddie Palmieri, Típica 73, and the iconic Fania All-Stars, Celia Cruz, as well as performances alongside some of the most celebrated Latin artists in the world.

A pioneer of Latin jazz and salsa violin, Alfredo became known for his explosive improvisation, virtuosity, emotional expression, and unmistakable stage presence. Throughout his extraordinary career, he has helped shape the sound of modern salsa while bringing the violin into territories where it had never been before.

His musical legacy includes performances in the world’s most prestigious theaters, festivals, and concert halls across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Alfredo’s artistry bridges cultures, generations, and musical traditions, combining Afro-Caribbean rhythms, jazz, classical training, and deep emotional storytelling into a unique and unforgettable sound.

Today, Alfredo De La Fé continues to perform internationally, inspire new generations of musicians, and celebrate 60 years of artistic excellence as one of the true living legends of Latin music.

A native New Yorker, George Gee always loved music. He grew up with rock’n’roll and R&B but in his teens, he also developed a powerful passion for jazz -- especially the big band styles of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway and other legends. At renowned Stuyvesant High School, George played the double bass in the school’s jazz band, where he demonstrated an early flair for showmanship.

This passion continued into his first year at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. George created a big band music hour for the school's radio station; off-air, he often spoke of his true long-time dream: leading his own big band. It's easy to imagine this idea would not be readily accepted by college students in the early 1980's, but in fact, George and his show were a huge hit!

The station manager asked George to interview William "Count" Basie before a campus concert in 1979. This inspiring conversation changed George’s life... the very next day, he reached out to fellow jazz players to create a 17-piece big band, which quickly became a darling of the campus community.

After spending a decade in Pittsburgh honing his craft, George returned to his NYC hometown in 2000 just in time to continue his Big Band aspirations. As faith would have it, swing Big Band jazz unexpectedly (to everyone except Gee) became a cultural phenomena sweeping across the country and world! Swing Dancing and Music became the rage among a younger audience and a generation nostalgic for it. With a wink and a nod, bandleader GG held court weekly at New York City (Times Square) swing jazz nightspot SWING46, where nearly three decades later they still dominate the Big Apple Big Band swing scene!

Bryant Park lends out hundreds of free blankets on a first come, first served basis, or bring your own cotton or fleece blanket. To protect the lawn, please do not sit on waterproof materials such as plastic tarps, yoga mats, or inflatable chairs. 

Take a seat in one of the pre-set chairs on the lawn or grab a chair from the gravel. You can use a chair anywhere on the lawn except for the center lawn blanket zone. 

Purchase food and drinks from tents on the east side of the lawn or bring your own picnic. Look for Stout NYC and Heaster Street Fair vendors, and be sure to visit the Bryant Park Shop, too!

Visit the Bryant Park Shop tent for exclusive Picnic Performances merchandise and more.

Find a parachute, hula hoops, and more fun on the east side of the lawn at select events. 

Dogs are welcome on the gravel and bluestone, but not on the lawn.

Performances are cancelled when it is unsafe to be outdoors. In some cases, the lawn may be too wet to open but the performance may continue. Follow @bryantparknyc for day-of event updates. You can also check the lawn status on the bryantpark.org homepage.