Hartford Jazz Society

Fridays with Frank
2026-08-21 17:15 - 19:00, 2026-08-14 17:15 - 19:00, 2026-08-07 17:15 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | 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
2026-08-19 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-12 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-05 19:00 - 22:00 | 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
2026-08-18 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-11 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-04 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/

Hartford Jazz Orchestra
2026-08-17 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-08-10 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-08-03 19:30 - 21:30 | Elicit Brewery, 165 Adams Street, Manchester, CT
Every Monday at Elicit Brewery in Manchester CT. No cover.

Tuxedo Junction
2026-08-17 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-08-10 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-08-03 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.

Glenn Miller Orchestra
2026-08-15 20:00 - 22:00 | Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield , CT, 06877
The World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra returns to the Playhouse for their eighth career performance! The group is known as the most popular and sought after big band in the world today, for both concert and swing dance engagements. With its unique jazz sound, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is one of the greatest bands of all time. Come hear Glenn Miller classics like “In the Mood,” “Moonlight Serenade,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” and more!
Before the show, enjoy a tasting with Foley Family Wines & Spirits in our lobby!

Blue Lion Trio
2026-08-15 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Open Door Tea, 3552 Main Street, Stratford, CT
Every Saturday
Host & drummer Richard Sylvester has launched a remarkable jazz series (every Saturday!) at this cozy venue

Bob Ahern Quartet
2026-08-15 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-08 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
2026-08-15 16:00 - 19:00, 2026-08-08 16:00 - 19:00 | CT
Every Saturday, 4-7

Jeff Brock Trio
2026-08-13 17:00 - 23:00 | Yale Schwarzman Center, 168 Grove Street, New Haven, CT
Summer @ The Well is a summer social series presented at The Well, the pub located on the lower level of Yale Schwarzman Center, featuring live music and opportunities for social gathering. For this installment, Yale Schwarzman Center will present the Jeff Brock Trio.
Yale Professor Jeff Brock is an accomplished jazz musician, and will perform with his trio for our last Summer @ The Well before the start of the new academic year. Brock is Dean of the School of Engineering & Applied Science and the William S. Massey Professor of Mathematics and Professor of Statistics & Data Science.

Jazz at Cafe Nine
2026-08-11 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.

Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz
2026-08-10 18:00 - 21:30, 2026-08-03 18:00 - 21:30 | Bushnell Park, 1 Jewell Street, Hartford, CT, 06103
Presented by The Hartford Jazz Society, the 59th Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz Series will be held in Bushnell Park for six consecutive Monday evenings beginning Monday, July 6 and concluding on Monday, August 10, 2026.
The series, honoring the late, great bassist and series founder, Paul Brown, is referenced in the Library of Congress as the “Oldest, free, continuously-run jazz festival in the United States.” Each year the Hartford Jazz Society presents a diverse program featuring musicians exhibiting the highest artistic excellence, many of whom are new to the Greater Hartford audience.
Each concert opens at 6PM, featuring a local musician or ensemble followed at 7:30PM by a headliner of regional, national, or international prominence. The Series includes the celebrations of Latin jazz, women in jazz, jazz for social justice and one or more “venerated elder” jazz artists.
All concerts are free and will be held at the Thomas D. Harris IV Pavilion at Bushnell Park in Hartford, Connecticut. In case of rain, the concerts will be held at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Ave, Hartford. All concerts will be broadcast live on WWUH radio at 91.3FM or WWUH.org. Rain date information is posted by noon on the day of the concert at www.hartfordjazzsociety.com.

Date
July 6 – Aug. 10 (6:00 – 9:30 pm)
Opening Act (6:00 pm), Headliner (7:30 pm)

July 6
Opening Night and Venerated Elder Ed Cherry
O: Thread City Jazz Trio
H: Ed Cherry Organ Quartet

July 13
Celebrating Women in Jazz 1
O: Jen Allen and the ONE Project
H: Endea Owens and the Cookout

July 20
Jazz and Social Justice Night
O: Earl MacDonald’s Black Square Ensemble
H: The Kojo Roney Experience

July 27
Latin Jazz Night
O: Emmanuel Rivera Latin Jazz Quintet
H: Donald Vega Latin Jazz Quartet

August 3
Celebrating Women in Jazz 2
O: Nairobi Mouning Trio & Friends ​
H: The Ethel Lee Ensemble

August 10
Contemporary/Smooth Jazz
O: Doug Jones
H: Ronald Lashley & Oneiki – Notes of Fusion

Jazz at Three Sheets
2026-08-07 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.

Grace Kelly
2026-08-04 19:30 - 21:30 | Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT
Grace Kelly, an unequivocal musical prodigy, singer-saxophonist-songwriter-composer, and band leader, has rocked the jazz world with sold-out concerts, 15 acclaimed albums, and a resume that includes performing at the Hollywood Bowl as well as a member of the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – all before reaching her mid-twenties. In 2022, she became the youngest member of Berklee College of Music’s Board of Trustees.
Grace’s early career highlights featured performances at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration at age 16 and at age 14 as a soloist with the Boston Pops playing an original, arranged composition with the legendary orchestra. Since then, she has played over 1,000 shows as a bandleader in 35 countries at venues such as the Kennedy Center, Moscow Symphony Hall, and international jazz festivals. Touted for her scorching saxophone stylings and purring vocals, Grace has performed and recorded with renowned artists including Lin Manuel-Miranda, Dave Brubeck, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Huey Lewis, Harry Connick Jr., Jon Batiste, Gloria Estefan, Questlove, and Wynton Marsalis.
Grace won “Song of the Year” for her single, “Feels Like Home” in the 2018 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and has been named nine times consecutively in the Annual Downbeat Magazine’s Critics Poll “Rising Star Alto Saxophone” from the age of 17 and winning the poll in 2017 and winning the Critics Poll in 2023 for “Rising Star Baritone Saxophone. She has also won multiple ASCAP Composer Awards, Boston Music Awards, and International Songwriting Awards. Grace has appeared as a featured performer, as herself, in films and television, including acclaimed documentary Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story, Amazon’s Emmy-nominated original series Bosch, and the 2017 Emmy-winning Yamaha production The Right Note.
Featured by Vanity Fair as a millennial shaking up the jazz world, Grace’s state-of-the-art brand of electro jazz-pop and inventive digital content reaching millions of fans across her socials. Grace has been seen in national campaigns for M&M and Subaru.
Grace’s latest release, “At The Movies: Grace Kelly with Strings,” with her fifteen piece large ensemble was inspired by “Charlie Parker with Strings” – one of Grace’s all-time favorite albums as well as her love of classic and contemporary movies. In this album, she reimagines some of her favorite movie music (Disney Medley, Back To The Future, High Society, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mission Impossible) as well as songs by legendary film composers (John Williams, Ennio Morricone) and contemporary artists like Billie Eilish’s “No Time To Die” with fresh arrangements encompassing her signature sound. In preparation for this album, she played sold-out shows in Orange County, CA, Rockport, MA, and Clinton, CT showcasing her abilities in playing and singing with a large orchestra.
In Grace’s 2022 album, “All That I Need,” she draws inspiration from Maya Angelou’s empowering words, particularly for the anthem “We Will Rise,” which stands as a tribute to global women’s resilience. Reflecting on the challenges of the pandemic, Grace’s music embodies courage and optimism, serving as a beacon of hope and empowerment. Her commitment to advocacy is evident in her collaboration with grassroots non-profit organization, She’s the First, emphasizing the importance of amplifying female voices and defending women’s rights through her music.
Given Grace’s experience on the stage, she is a masterful clinician specializing in jazz improvisation and stage performance. She has taught thousands of students to become more confident performers and saxophone players both online and in person. She is the co-founder of Saxy School with Leo P (of Too Many Zooz), an innovative online saxophone school for beginners and seasoned players alike. She has held a guest teaching residency at The Berklee College of Music and spearheaded the establishment of the Fred Taylor Endowed Scholarship Fund by organizing, emceeing, and performing in the All-Star Benefit Concert in 2017 which raised over $70,000 for the fund.

Dr. G’s Jazz Brunch
2026-08-02 12:00 - 15:00 | Quattro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar, 14 Water Street, Guilford, CT
Dr. G’s Jazz Brunch held on the 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays from 12pm (noon) until 3pm at Quattro’s Italian Restaurant:

All events will also include jazz masters Jeff Fuller on bass and Barry Ries on drums &/or trumpet. “Dr. G” will provide guitar accompaniment.

Bus Trip to Newport Jazz Festival
2026-08-02 | CT
