Baby Grand Jazz at Hartford Public Library – Jonathan Suazo Quartet

Join us for the 21st season of the Baby Grand Jazz series, beginning on Sunday, January 5, 2025. The free series runs from January to April, except Easter Sunday, April 20. Enjoy Sunday afternoon concerts at 3:00 p.m. (doors open at 2:00 p.m.) at the Downtown Library’s Center for Contemporary Culture at 500 Main Street, Hartford.

Jonathan Suazo – alto saxophone
Zaccai Curtis – piano
Luques Curtis – bass
Lee Fish – drums

Jonathan Suazo is an award-winning saxophonist, composer, cultural advocate, and educator who leads his RICANO project. This unique Afro Caribbean Jazz concept blends the sounds of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Jonathan was named one of the top ten Emerging Jazz Artists of 2023 by the GRAMMYS, and his debut album RICANO of Ropeadope Records was listed at #6 in the best jazz albums of 2023 by The New York Times. As a Berklee Global Jazz Institute graduate, he’s received many honors, including the 2024 Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant, The WBUR Makers Series Award for generating impact in Boston’s community, The Winter 2023 South Arts Jazz Road Tours Grant, the 2023 New Music USA Creator Fund Grant, a full tuition scholarship to attend the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Master’s Program, The Project Support Grant for Program Alumni by the Fundación Banco Popular for his RICANO album, and the Berklee Urban Service Award for using the arts to support humanitarianism. In connection with his RICANO project, Jonathan has become an ally of several organizations like Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Escuela Libre de Música San Juan, Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, El Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, Fundación Banco Popular, and Music Project to impact more than 600 students since 2023. Suazo’s work includes collaborations/performances with Miguel Zenón, Terri Lyne Carrington, David Sánchez, Charlie Sepúlveda, and more.

Concert Schedule:

January 5 – Chloe Madrak
January 12 – MNM Trio with Josh Bruneau
January 19 – Charlie Apicelli & Alexis Marcelo
January 26 – Michelle Tucker Quintet & Strings
February 2 – Chris Beaudry Quartet
February 9 – Aja Moyé
February 16 – Elan Mehler Trio
February 23 – O3 featuring Zaccai Curtis
March 2 – Leala Cyr Group
March 9 – Aja Moyé & Tony Davis
March 16 – Jonathan Suazo & RICANO
March 23 – Iftah Kary Trio
March 30 – NALEDI
April 6 – Lewis Porter/Phil Scarff Group
April 13 – Dave Potter & Retro Groove
April 20 – No Concert (Easter Sunday)
April 27 – Chembo Corniel Quintet