New York’s Kool Jazz Festival, which commenced on June 23, 1983, and continued for 11 days, brought out dozens of classic and contemporary jazz and blues makers.

Miles Davis performed at Avery Fisher Hall as Miles Davis and VSOP II, which included Davis'  sextet and the VSOP II Quintet. Ray Charles and B.B. King were also among the many performers at the festival.

The festival was originally titled The Newport Jazz Festival and was established in 1954 in Newport, Rhode Island. The first festival incorporated academic panel discussions and featured live jazz performances.  

After moving to New York City in 1972 then back to Newport in the 1980s where it remains, the Kool Jazz Festival features more genres and is still popular today.

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(Photos from left: Ron Wolfson /Landov, CBS/Landov, Larry Busacca/Getty Images)