This week, the 92nd Street Y’s Jazz in July series kicks off its first run under new artistic director Bill Charlap. The series was founded by Dick Hyman 20 years ago as one of the city’s last bastions of traditional jazz and swing. Now Mr. Charlap, a Hyman protege, has given the festival a bit more of a modern bent. But there will still be composer-centric programs, notably at tonight’s premiere performance.

All concerts are at 8 p.m. at Lexington Avenue and 92nd Street.

Tuesday, July 19

The flagship event for this season is “Gershwin’s Vision,” a program of new interpretations of the great composer songwriter’s music by Mr. Charlap. Tonight’s show is sold out, but tickets may become available at the last minute. And you can still buy Mr. Charlap’s outstanding new CD, “Bill Charlap Plays George Gershwin,” which co-stars Phil Woods, Nicholas Payton, and longtime Basie band member Frank Wess.

Wednesday, July 20

Tomorrow night’s program, “Continuum,” takes its place in the long history of 92nd Street Y piano evenings. Five stellar keyboardists will play: Ray Bryant, Hank Jones, Mulgrew Miller, Renee Rosnes, and Mr. Charlap, each accompanied by the rhythm section of Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums.

Thursday, July 21

An indication of Jazz in July’s new modernist bent, this evening is built around the brilliant guitarist Jim Hall. His incredible trio includes Steve LaSpina on bass and Terry Clarke on drums, plus guests Joe Lovano on tenor saxophone and Tom Harrell on trumpet. They will be joined, Mr. Charlap promises, by a 12-piece string ensemble.

Tuesday, July 26

“Hoagy’s Children” takes as its point of departure Mr. Charlap’s great 2002 album of Carmichaeliana (“Stardust”). This will be the most traditional of the six shows, with great swing players and singers such as Ken Peplowski, Byron Stripling, Bucky Pizzarelli, Barbara Lea, and Scott Robinson – playing C-melody saxophone, no less!

Wednesday, July 27

Although Mr. Charlap is celebrated as the younger jazzman doing the most to keep the Great American Songbook alive and vital, he is also fundamentally modernist and a Blue Note recording artist. With “The Front Line: Small Group Jazz of Horace Silver & Kenny Dorham,” he honors two player-composers who helped define that label’s sound, as well as the entire hard-bop era. The lineup of young, powerful horns in the idiom is particularly strong: Joe Magnarelli and Jim Rotondi on trumpet and Jimmy Greene and Jerry Weldon on saxophone.

Thursday, July 28

“Unforgettable: Nat ‘King’ Cole” ends the series on high note with a tribute to one of the most influential instrumentalists and vocalists of the last 60 years. Mr. Charlap will be joined by Nat’s equally talented younger brother Freddy Cole, as well as drummer-conductor Dennis Mackrel leading his Manhattan Symphony Jazz Orchestra. I’m especially looking forward to hearing actual King Cole Trio arrangements played by Mr. Charlap with James Chirillo on guitar and Ben Wolfe on bass.