Hartford Jazz Society

Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Jam - Ohm Soni Group
2026-02-25 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Black-eyed Sally’s Southern Kitchen & Bar, 350 Asylum St., Hartford, CT, 06103
Located in downtown Hartford, for the aficionado, musician, or the curious first-timer, Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Jams are the best taste of live jazz in Hartford. Set in the southern juke joint atmosphere of Black-eyed Sally’s, these jam sessions will strike a chord as you hear what our local talent has to offer, with regular special appearances by big city jazz names. Experience the cool original music of the jam session while you enjoy the hot fierce cookin’ of Hartford’s favorite BBQ joint.
After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, regularly scheduled jazz jams have returned to Black Eyed Sally’s every Wednesday. There will be a featured jazz ensemble followed by an open jam session. Bring your axe and be ready to jam!
The music begins at 7:00 PM, jam session begins after 1st set. No cover charge most nights, under 21’s welcome.
Presented by the Hartford Jazz Society and Neefjazz Entertainment

Michael Palin's Other Orchestra
2026-02-24 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-02-17 20:00 - 22:00 | The Hungry Tiger, 120 Charter Oak Street, Manchester, CT
It’s a funky Big Band thang, a large jazz ensemble that rocks the house. Playing music from Tower of Power, Frank Zappa, The Brecker Brothers, Jaco Pastorious, Steely Dan, The Yellow Jackets, Bob Berg…..You’ll want to see them again and again!
https://www.facebook.com/OtherOrchestra/

Jazz at Cafe Nine
2026-02-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Cafe Nine, 250 State Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Presented by New Haven Jazz Underground on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday every month.

Hartford Jazz Orchestra
2026-02-23 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-02-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Elicit Brewery, 165 Adams Street, Manchester, CT
Every Monday at Elicit Brewery in Manchester CT. No cover.

Tuxedo Junction
2026-02-23 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-02-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Guilford VFW Post 9666, 104 Mill Road, Guilford, CT
For over 24 years, hosting public rehearsals every Monday night, now at Guilford VFW Post 7666.
Tuxedo Junction was started in 1989 by Pete Jacobs (trumpet) and Will Tayler (drums), WWII veterans who set up an 8-piece Dixieland jazz band in the basement of the senior citizens center in Madison, CT. Pat soon joined on piano.
The band quickly grew into a full swing band as Pete added big band arrangements and people joined: everyone from high school students to retired music teachers started to fill out the sections. Tuxedo Junction moved its practice home to the Westbrook Elks briefly, and in 1997 Paul James suggested that Bill’s Seafood restaurant in Westbrook would be a great place to share the sounds of swing. After more than 20 years of Monday nights at Bill’s, originally outnumbering the customers and staff before turning it into the most happening place on the Shoreline for a Monday night, we moved outside to Town Greens, Overlook Farm in Killingworth, and the Guilford VFW.
Tuxedo Junction plays original big band arrangements from the 30’s through the present, including charts from Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Sy Zentner, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and more. We focus on danceable tunes from swing to waltz, foxtrot to two-step, Latin and even some rock. The band has weekly open rehearsals at local venues on the Eastern Connecticut shoreline. The public is invited to dance and listen in at no charge. We are also available for hire at public and private events throughout Connecticut.
After more than 1,001 performances, Tuxedo Junction has become a musical success story. We are now eighteen passionate musicians, men and women of all ages, following the great jazz tradition and warmly welcoming visiting jazz musicians to sit in.

Baby Grand Jazz at Hartford Public Library - CANCELLED
2026-02-22 15:00 - 16:00 | Center for Contemporary Culture (Main Floor) – Hartford Public Library, 500 Main Street, Hartford, CT
Concerts will be held at HPL’s Downtown Library on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. from January through April, excluding Easter Sunday on April 5. Performances will take place in the Center for Contemporary Culture, 500 Main Street, Hartford. Doors open at 2:00 p.m., and each concert lasts about an hour. Shows will also be streamed on Hartford Public Library’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
2026 Lineup

January 4 – Iftah Kary Trio
January 11 – Lee Fish & Friends
January 18 – Koan
January 25 – Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet

February 1 – Matt Parker
February 8 – Meg Okura & The Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble
February 15 – Jen Allen and Heart Alchemy
February 22 – Jamile Trio

March 1 – The Hartford Sound
March 8 – Nigel Bello Band
March 15 – Laszlo Gardony Trio
March 22 – Rodney Jones
March 29 – Ben Bilello Quartet
April 5 – No concert
April 12 – Japanese MicroJam
April 19 – Tyler Sherman and Friends
April 26 – Rene McLean: Music of the Spirit

Cyrus Chestnut Trio
2026-02-21 20:00 - 22:30, 2026-02-20 20:00 - 22:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Join us for a special night of jazz with Pianist Cyrus Chestnut and his Trio!

Cyrus Chestnut is one of the most gifted and innovative jazz pianists of his generation. With a musical style that effortlessly combines the influences of gospel, classical music, and straight-ahead jazz, Chestnut has garnered acclaim from critics and peers alike for his soulful, virtuosic playing. His career spans decades of performances and recordings, establishing him as a pivotal figure in contemporary jazz.
Raised in the heart of Baltimore in a musical family, Chestnut’s gospel roots have been a key influence on his musical development. His father, a pianist, and his mother, a singer, were both deeply involved in the church, where Chestnut first encountered the powerful, emotional connection between music and spirituality. This early exposure to gospel music provided him with a rich, emotive foundation that continues to permeate his jazz performances, infusing them with a soulful, dynamic energy that resonates deeply with audiences. Chestnut has often described how the gospel tradition taught him not only how to play the piano but also how to connect with listeners on a deeper, more emotional level. He has said, “I want to spread some feel good… I want to be able to spread the feel good”—a sentiment that echoes the uplifting, transformative nature of gospel music.
Chestnut’s talent is further showcased in his upcoming album, Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony, released on April 25, 2025, via HighNote Records. This piano quartet recording demonstrates his signature blend of rhythmic precision, emotive expression, and improvisational mastery. Joined by saxophonist Stacy Dillard, bassist Gerald Cannon, and drummer Chris Beck, Chestnut continues to push boundaries with his original compositions, which form the core of this album. The album adds to his already impressive discography, which includes critically acclaimed works like Kaleidoscope and My Father’s Hands.
In addition to his recording career, Chestnut has performed with a diverse array of artists and ensembles, spanning the genres of jazz and classical music. He has recently graced the stage with classical groups such as the Cecilia Chorus of New York and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, further showcasing his versatility as an artist and his ability to bridge genres. Whether performing in intimate jazz settings or collaborating with large orchestras, Chestnut’s music continues to captivate audiences with its depth and complexity.
As a Steinway Artist, Chestnut joins an esteemed group of musicians known for their artistry and technical skill, further solidifying his reputation as a master of the piano.
A graduate of the renowned Baltimore School for the Arts, Chestnut’s early exposure to both jazz and classical music shaped his unique approach to the piano. His career as a sideman has included collaborations with jazz giants such as Wynton Marsalis, Betty Carter, and Donald Harrison, while his leadership of the Cyrus Chestnut Trio has solidified his place as one of the foremost jazz pianists today.
Chestnut’s contributions to the jazz world have earned him widespread praise, with JazzTimes describing his playing as “virtuosic” and Down Beat calling him “one of the finest jazz pianists of his generation.” His music remains a testament to the power of jazz as an expressive and transformative art form, deeply rooted in the spiritual and emotional traditions of gospel, while extending outward into new musical horizons

Nate Smith (livestream)
2026-02-21 19:30 - 21:30 | CT
Smith won two Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Jazz Album for LIVE ACTION and Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for the song “Big Fish” featuring säje
LIVESTREAM ONLY at vtjazz.org
Join us on Saturday, Feb 21, to see five-time Grammy-nominated drummer Nate Smith, one of the most dynamic and versatile voices in modern music. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, he began touring professionally after joining Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program at age 20.
Smith’s most recent recording as a leader (LIVE ACTION) earned two Grammy nominations in 2025. His most recent recordings as a sideman are with Jon Batiste and Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes. He is well known to crossover fans for his work with Fearless Flyers, Vulfpeck, Childish Gambino, Michael Jackson and Norah Jones. He is well known in the jazz community for his work with Dave Holland, Pat Metheny, Chris Potter, José James, Gretchen Parlato, Lionel Loueke, Ravi Coltrane, Nicholas Payton, Regina Carter and others.
Smith’s most recent release, LIVE ACTION, showcases his inventive approach to rhythm, groove, and production, featuring an all-star lineup including Lalah Hathaway, Michael League, and Charlie Hunter. Known for his infectious pocket, Smith continues to redefine the role of the drummer as bandleader, producer, and educator.

Bob Ahern Quartet
2026-02-21 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-02-14 18:00 - 21:00 | Lighthouse Inn, 6 Guthrie Pl, New London, CT
The Bob Ahern Quartet will be performing the last Saturday of each month at the legendary Lighthouse Inn from 6-9. The group features Lisa Marien on vocals and Bob Ahern on drums along with various Jazz artists each month.

Jazz Jam at Cafe Nine
2026-02-21 16:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-14 16:00 - 19:00 | CT
Every Saturday, 4-7

Waberi Jordan & Friends
2026-02-20 20:00 - 22:00 | Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center, 605 Main Street, Middletown, CT, United States
Waberi Jordan is a vocalist and songwriter whose signature is rooted in the Leimert Park Jazz Community of Los Angeles. Raised on a steady diet of straight-ahead jazz, at a time when R&B dominated the airwaves, Waberi’s sound bridges two pivotal eras of artistic expression.
Waberi studied and played with Horace Tapscott along with The Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra and The Great Voice of UGMAA (Union of God’s Musicians and Artists’ Ascension), many notable performers and scholars like Dr. Art Hillary, McCoy Tyner, Azar Lawrence, Nate Morgan, Pharoah Sanders and many more.
Waberi has also performed around the world with various bands and ensembles, from SoulBop (an L.A. based collective of jazz musicians), R&B to West African Drum and Dance bands; 50-piece Jazz arkestras in L.A. and Europe to solo acapella sets. She has also been featured on numerous recordings, including the Jazz CD “Living Water” by extraordinary vocalist DWIGHT TRIBLE, and classic Reggae CD “Good’s Gonna Happen” Sahra Indio.
In 2009 Waberi released her debut album, The Trajectory of Starah. The accompanying video, Sunflowers in my Garden premiered the same year, to critical acclaim. The song has become beloved worldwide. Her second video release, Put it Right There was released in 2014, and as an added bonus, was co-directed and shot by Tim Russ, noted for his role as Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager.
2015 saw Waberi exchanging the West Coast for the East Coast and settling into playing shows in NYC with Grammy nominated artists and local artists alike.
An opportunity came to play in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2017, during the Sundance Film Festival. Two on Tour was born, as a duo with long-time friend and collaborator Shena Verrett. They met almost a decade ago in Los Angeles when Alt Rocker Shena performed there and later presented Jazz Songstress Waberi as a featured musical artist for a festival in NYC called The Urb Alt Festival.
“The IDEA of Two On Tour came about in an organic and cosmic manner, beginning in 2008 when Shena and I first met. Her lyricism, accompanied with her bad-ass stage persona was so inspiring and I think the feeling was mutual. I wanted her to write for me and I was kinda embarrassed to ask. Then and there, in 2008, we decided that somehow we would play and sing together.”
Waberi has been embraced by the East Coast jazz and live music community, with residencies at The Buttonwood tree and at The Middletown Music Festival. With shows booked well into 2020 and beyond, Waberi Jordan is looking forward – once the tide has turned on this most urgent occurrence of our lifetimes – to live performance, collaborative in-person projects, and the joy that life offers.

New Black Eagles Jazz Band
2026-02-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Proprietor’s Lodge, 22 Waubeek Road, Pittsfield, MA
A cabaret concert with the New Black Eagle Jazz Band
(pub menu, desserts, and beverages available separately)
Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential figures in the history of American music. With a career spanning five decades, he was a cross-genre sensation, a member of the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. From “Hello, Dolly” to “Stompin’ at the Savoy” to “When the Saints Go Marching in”, everybody has a favorite tune by Satchmo. It’s no wonder he also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His music is still performed today by any jazz group that is serious about their art.
The New Black Eagle Jazz Band brings faithful recreations of Armstrong’s music to the Berkshires, performing ten of his most notable numbers in this cabaret concert (dancing optional; to some, it will be inevitable). The concert takes place in Proprietor’s Lodge music hall, on the shores of Lake Pontoosuc, 22 Waubeek Road, Pittsfield. Light snacks {charcuterie for all) are included in the ticket price; pub menu and dessert menus will also be available starting at 6:30pm.
For more than 50 years, from Symphony Hall to Singapore, the New Black Eagle Jazz Band has been delighting audiences worldwide with its infectious, soulful and uplifting style of traditional New Orleans jazz. Paying homage to the greatest musicians of the early jazz era, the band has also developed its own eclectic sound, incorporating spirituals, and 1920’s and 30’s popular music. They have played for Berkshires Jazz three times over the years, and we’re delighted to be welcoming them back.
And now, here’s your chance to hear that marvelous music performed by –as the New York Times wrote– a band that is “… “so far ahead of other traditional bands… there is scarcely any basis for comparison”.

Jazz at Three Sheets
2026-02-20 18:00 - 21:00 | Three Sheets, 372 Elm Street, New Haven, CT
New England Jazz Underground presents jazz on the 1st and 3rd Friday every month.

Fridays with Frank
2026-02-20 17:15 - 19:00, 2026-02-13 17:15 - 19:00 | Institute Library, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT
Join renowned jazz historian and Jazz Haven Board member Frank Cochran for BYOB “Fridays with Frank.” Happy Hour jazz listening sessions are held every Friday from 5:15 to 7:00 pm at the Institute Library in downtown New Haven. Each Friday Frank selects iconic jazz LPs to play from the Library’s extensive collection. Discussion follows. BYOB and please give a modest donation towards the IL’s spiraling utilities. A $5.00 contribution is welcome.

Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Jam - Peter Greenfogel Birthday Bash
2026-02-18 19:00 - 22:00 | Black-eyed Sally’s Southern Kitchen & Bar, 350 Asylum St., Hartford, CT, 06103

Jimmy Greene Quartet
2026-02-15 20:00 - 22:30, 2026-02-14 20:00 - 22:30, 2026-02-13 20:00 - 22:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Join us for a special night of jazz with Saxophonist Jimmy Greene and his Quartet!

A native of Connecticut, Jimmy Greene is one of the most respected saxophonists of his generation. His most recent recording, As We Are Now, was released on July 25, 2025. His 2014 release, Beautiful Life (Mack Avenue), garnered two Grammy® Award nominations: one for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and one for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for Greene’s song “When I Come Home.” Greene has performed selections from the album on CBS This Morning, NBC’s The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, and the nationally syndicated Meredith Vieira Show. His other releases as a leader, While Looking Up (Mack Avenue), Flowers: Beautiful Life, Vol. 2 (Mack Avenue), Live at Smalls (SmallsLive), Mission Statement (RazDaz/Sunnyside), The Overcomers Suite (NuJazz), Gifts and Givers (Criss Cross), True Life Stories (Criss Cross), Forever(Criss Cross), Brand New World (RCA Victor), Live at Birdland (RCA Victor) and Introducing Jimmy Greene (Criss Cross) were also met with much critical acclaim. In fact, Tony Hall of Jazzwise Magazine (UK) calls Greene “ . . .without doubt one of the most striking young tenors of recent years.”
The Jimmy Greene Quartet/Quintet performs in concert venues, festivals and clubs worldwide, including the Village Vanguard, Smoke and Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in New York, the Alexanderplatz Jazz Club (Rome, Italy), Sunside Jazz Club (Paris, France), Newport Jazz Festival (USA), Detroit International Jazz Festival (USA), Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival (USA), Red Sea Jazz Festival (Israel), Lapataia Jazz Festival (Uruguay) and Amazonas Jazz Festival (Brazil). In one such appearance, Jim Macnie of the Village Voice said, “[Greene] is good for a couple of body chills every time you see him. He’s got a big barrelhouse sound, and a way of negotiating changes that make academic moves seem natural.”
In addition to his recordings and appearances as a leader, Greene appears on over 100 albums as a sideman and is a member of legendary bassist Ron Carter’s Foursight Quartet. He has also toured and/or recorded in the bands of Horace Silver, Tom Harrell, Freddie Hubbard, Harry Connick, Jr., Avishai Cohen, Kenny Barron, Lewis Nash, Steve Turre, Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, among many others. As a member of Harrell’s quintet, Greene was featured on CBS’s benchmark news magazine, 60 Minutes. As a member of Harry Connick Jr.’s Big Band, Greene is a featured soloist on 2 DVD releases, Harry for the Holidays, and Only You. He was featured as a soloist on Connick’s 2003 holiday special aired on NBC, in addition to NBC’s Today Show, and BBC’s Parkinson Show.
As a composer, Greene was awarded the prestigious 2005 ASCAP / IAJE Commission in honor of Ornette Coleman. Greene is the 2013 recipient of the State of Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award in Music as well as the 2012 recipient of the City of Hartford’s Innovator Award in Music. Greene was twice named a winner of Chamber Music America’s New Works: Creation and Presentation grant for jazz composition – in 2004 and again in 2023, awarded a 2005 Artist Fellowship in Music Composition by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, and awarded a 2009 Individual Artist Grant by the Greater Hartford Arts Council. Seventy of Greene’s original compositions and arrangements have been recorded on the Mack Avenue, RCA Victor, SmallsLive, Criss Cross, NuJazz and RazDaz / Sunnyside labels. In addition, Greene’s performance of his composition “Mr. McLean” was aired throughout the US and Canada on ABC-TV during a NASCAR pre-race broadcast in September 2007.
Down Beat Magazine named Greene the Winner of the Rising Star – Soprano Saxophone category in its 66th Annual Critics’ Poll
Greene is Professor of Music at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT.

Baby Grand Jazz at Hartford Public Library
2026-02-15 15:00 - 16:00 | Center for Contemporary Culture (Main Floor) – Hartford Public Library, 500 Main Street, Hartford, CT

Instantiations Monthly Music Series at Real Art Ways
2026-02-15 14:30 - 16:30 | Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor St, Hartford, CT
Instantiations, formerly known as Improvisations Now, is a monthly series of concerts conceived and programmed by Joe Morris (guitarist, bassist, improviser, composer-wearer of many hats). Joe invites dynamic, innovative musicians – important members of the global improvised music scene – and performs with them. The music is completely improvised. Every concert, every instance is a unique experience.
Sunday, 2/15, 2:30 pm: Adam Matlock-accordion; Diane Buettner-bass clarinet, clarinet; Yoona Kim-Ajaeng; Joe Morris-guitar
Sunday, 3/15, 2:30 pm: L. Mixashawn Rozie-tenor, soprano saxophone, mandolin, voice; Michael Larocca-drums; Joe Morris-bass
Sunday, 4/12, 2:30 pm: Melanie Dyer-viola; Solomon Caldwell-bass; Joe Morris-guitar
Sunday, 5/3, 2:30 pm: Selendis Sebastian Alexander Johnson-vibraphone; Lemuel Marc-trumpet; Joe Morris-bass
General Admission $15 / Members $12 / Students $8
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Jazz Brunch Sundays
2026-02-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT
Bring your valentine for live jazz in Avery Courtyard with the Aidan Slate Trio and Bourassa’s extravagant brunch, along with a complimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa.

$49; $39 members. Kids 12 and under $39/ $29 members. Includes museum admission. Tickets at thewadsworth.org.

Central City Stompers
2026-02-14 18:00 - 21:00 | Middletown Elks Lodge No 771, 44 Maynard Street, Middletown, CT
The Central City Stompers are known for their good-time jazz and ability to make people of all ages smile. They are a 10-piece ensemble from central CT that plays at various festivals, town concerts, fairs, and other events. They have especially been a big hit at the Durham Fair, Branford Jazz, Haddam Neck Fair, and Vinnie’s Jump & Jive in Middletown.
We are thrilled that the Central City Stompers will be joining us for the Sweetheart Soiree! Be sure to grab your tickets ASAP so that you can enjoy this incredible act live and in person!
Join St. Vincent de Paul Middletown for our inaugural Valentine’s Day fundraising event: the Sweetheart Soiree! Bring your spouse, significant other, a friend, or simply come as you are, and get ready to dance the night away to the sounds of the Jazz Age. Guests can look forward to a live swing band (the Central City Stompers), a delicious banquet dinner, and a robust raffle.
100% of the proceeds will go to SVDM and allow us to continue meeting needs and offering hope in Middlesex County!

Ryan Sands & Altus
2026-02-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center, 605 Main Street, Middletown, CT, United States
Drummer and Composer Ryan Sands will perform with Altus, a fusion of five gifted musicians—Dave Adewumi, Isaac Levien, Neta Raanan, Nathan Reising, and Ryan Sands—embarks on sonic journeys rooted in a decade-long musical bond. Inspired by Black American improvisational techniques, Altus creates narratives that blur the line between immediate experience and timeless mythologies.
Hailing from Orange, CT/New Haven County, Ryan Sands has worked his way to becoming one of the top young drummers in his field. His emphatic performances have landed him performances with Terell Stafford, Geoffrey Keezer, Wayne Escoffrey, Tamir Hendleman, Lucy Yeghiazaryan, and Jason Marsalis. He holds the drum chair for Christian Sands and Altus. Ryan has performed in the pit of the Ain’t Misbehavin, under the direction of Jeffrey Page, and done music for Dominique Morisseau’s Paradise Blue under the direction of Alphonso Horne.
Ryan’s musical education includes a BA in Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory and an MA in Jazz Arts from the Manhattan School of Music. For teaching, he has taught for Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, CT, and iSchool of Music and Art in Shanghai. He currently teaches private drums at Yale University for their Yale Undergrad Jazz Collective.
Ryan’s recording credits include Christian Sands’ Risin’, Christmas Stories, and his upcoming record in 2024. Altus’ Riot Cycles and Mythos. David Knowles’s Blackest Night. Shihai Li’s Inner Rhythm. As a bandleader Ryan released his debut record, Standing On the Edge of Tomorrow, and will be releasing his sophomore record, Forest Road: Live at the Side Door, in 2024.
Links: Website | YouTube | Instagram
