The Hartford Jazz Society is proud to present our 60th Anniversary Concert and Fundraiser, Friday November 13th, 7pm on HJS Facebook Live. Our special guest is trombonist/seashellist Steve Turre. Mr Turre will be leading an all-star sextet with: Orion Turre, drums; Wallace Roney Jr., trumpet; Emilio Modeste, tenor saxophone; Isaiah Thompson, piano; and Corcoran Holt, acoustic [...]
After the success of our virtual Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz (PMMNJ) concert series, we are proud to continue our virtual Monday Night Jazz concerts on a monthly basis through the rest of 2020. Schedule of Events September 14 - Dan Liparini Quartet October 12 - Warren Byrd and Saskia Laroo November 13 - Special [...]
photo by Tré Davis The piano trio is a format with a deep history in jazz music. There is Erroll Garner, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans and countless other historic trios. It's the essence of jazz improvisation; Piano, Bass, Drums. And while the Zaccai Curtis Trio may not yet be enshrined in jazz history, [...]
by Ken Laster It was 5:30 pm August 10; an hour and a half before the live-stream concert was to begin. The HJS and "The Library" staff were setting up lights, cameras, mics and technology (I was fortunate to be part of the production staff). The band had arrived and were getting instruments ready. [...]
by Ken Laster It was Latin Jazz night on August 3, 2020 at the Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz series, and Nelson Bello brought the heat to this live-streamed concert. He also brought his new purple sparkle finished congas with him, which he played with fire and intensity. With the rhythm section of Damian Curtis [...]
by Ken Laster Matt DeChamplain brought his drummer-less trio project to the Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz series on July 27. It was a display of magnificent virtuosity from all three musicians. This format was inspired by the classic trios from Oscar Peterson and Nat King Cole from the late 50's, early 60's. The band [...]
The year 2020 has been so different on many levels. We are all embroiled in a public health crisis and heightened social and political unrest. These issues have affected all aspects of our lives, even our love of live music and traditional summer jazz festivals. Thus, due to COVID-19, the 53rd Paul Brown Monday Night [...]
by Ken Laster In 1967, bassist Paul Brown brought world famous musicians to downtown Hartford for free concerts during July and August. Monday nights were ideal to book these artists, because gigs in NYC were sparse on that day of the week. For the first concert, saxophonist Cannonball Adderley performed on Barbour Street. "PB" had [...]
The COVID-19 pandemic, state-wide quarantines, and an abrupt end to the school year have had a devastating impact on music education as well as other school programs. Despite these obstacles, virtual classrooms with dedicated students and instructors keep jazz music education alive! Here are a couple of examples of teachers and students making the best [...]
by Ken Laster During this COVID-19 isolation, I must have way too much time on my hands. I have been obsessed with DIY facemasks. Since I don't sew, either with a machine or by hand (despite actually trying), I spent way too much time watching YouTube in search of the best "no-sew" face covers. After [...]