PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Bill Warfield and the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra Seek Support in the 90th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll

New York, NY – August 2025 – Bill Warfield and the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra, a long-standing mainstay of the New York City music scene, proudly announce their nomination in the Best Large Ensemble category of the 90th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll, to be featured in DownBeat Magazine’s December 2025 issue.

This marks the fourth consecutive year the ensemble has been voted into the Best Large Ensemble category, affirming its role as one of the most vital, dynamic large jazz/funk orchestras on the scene today.

“We’ve had a wonderful year,” says Warfield. “Following our release of Chesapeake featuring Gary Bartz, I did my first Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra gigs in Europe. We humbly request that if you are so inclined, please vote for us in the current Downbeat Readers Poll. In the independent artist world, self-promotion is the only promotion. Thank you for your support.”

Warfield’s career has been nothing short of stellar. A celebrated trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator, he has worked with jazz greats including Ornette Coleman, Mel Lewis, and Phil Woods. As a bandleader, Warfield has consistently championed projects that bridge jazz tradition with contemporary flair. His dedication to keeping great music alive through both performance and education has made him a cornerstone figure in the jazz community.

For over a decade, the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra has been electrifying audiences with its trademark blend of jazz, funk, Latin, and soul. Known for its fiery horn sections, intricate arrangements, and grooves that bring audiences to their feet, the ensemble has become a staple at NYC’s most revered venues.

Supporters and fans can cast their vote in the DownBeat Readers Poll through the link below. Participation is free, and voters do not need to be subscribers to DownBeat—only signed up for the newsletter.

👉 Click here to vote: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DB90thReadersPoll

🎥 Experience the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra in action:
“The Man In The Green Shirt” (comp. Joe Zawinul, arr. Bill Warfield) performed live at the Zoellner Arts Center. 
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9jBN2LBEQ8 

You can also choose to subscribe to the magazine and support one of the oldest and most honored publications, DownBeat Magazine. The Readers Poll is one of the rare opportunities where the public has the power to vote for their favorite artists, rather than have winners selected behind closed doors. You’ll likely find many of your favorite artists already listed—or you can write in your own choice.

Learn more about Bill Warfield and the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra at www.billwarfield.net