Hartford Jazz Society

Guillermo Klein Quintet
2026-06-21 20:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
One of jazz’s most celebrated composer-pianists brings his quintet to The Side Door for a rare and intimate performance

Guillermo Klein – Piano/Vocals
Vinicius Gomes – Guitar
Sebastian De Urquiza – Bass
Rogerio Boccato – Percussion
Rodrigo Recabarren – Drums
Born in Buenos Aires and trained at Berklee College of Music, Argentine pianist and composer Guillermo Klein is one of the most quietly revered figures in contemporary jazz — a musician whose music has earned the devotion of peers and critics alike while defying easy categorization. NPR describes his writing as “an intuitive hybrid of big band jazz, Argentinean folk rhythms and the modern classical idiom,” while All About Jazz calls him “an erudite visionary.” Over the past three decades, some of New York’s most celebrated jazz musicians have sought out the chance to play his challenging and deeply original music.
Klein spent the 1990s in New York leading his acclaimed 17-piece big band at Smalls and the Jazz Standard, before scaling the group down to the celebrated ensemble Los Guachos — featuring the likes of Miguel Zenón, Chris Cheek, Ben Monder, and Jeff Ballard — which has maintained a yearly residency at the Village Vanguard since 2007. He has been commissioned by Carnegie Hall, MIT, and the Library of Congress, and his arrangements appear on Miguel Zenón’s Grammy-nominated Alma Adentro. As a composer and arranger he has been described as “the Gil Evans of Argentina” — and like Evans, his music rewards deep listening with seemingly endless discovery.
The Side Door Jazz Club is a dedicated jazz listening room located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT. Tickets are reserved seating. Guests dining at the Old Lyme Inn prior to the show receive 10% off their dinner bill.

Tuxedo Junction
2026-06-22 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-06-29 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.

Hartford Jazz Orchestra
2026-06-22 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-06-29 19:30 - 21:30 | Elicit Brewery, 165 Adams Street, Manchester, CT
Every Monday at Elicit Brewery in Manchester CT. No cover.

Jazz at Cafe Nine
2026-06-23 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.

Michael Palin's Other Orchestra
2026-06-23 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-30 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/

Allen Lowe & The All-Stars
2026-06-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Best Video Film and Cultural Center, 1842 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT

Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Jam - Derek Lewis
2026-06-24 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

Montreal Jazz Weekend
2026-06-25 - 2026-06-28 | CT
Montreal Jazz Weekend – June 25-28, 2026
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest jazz festival on the planet, the Festival has been synonymous with musical passion and memorable moments for over 40 years. It’s where living legends rub shoulders with the finest up-and-coming artists, and jazz explodes at the crossroads of genres and influences. Located in the heart of downtown Montreal, closed to traffic and opened each evening until midnight, the Festival site becomes the meeting place for jazz lovers worldwide for ten days. Together, they enjoy close to 150 indoor concerts and the famous outdoor component, consisting of more than 350 free, open-air shows, presented on the Place des Festivals, which has been specially redesigned and set up for the event. This festival impresses with its numbers: there are over 2 million visitors, 3,000 musicians, and 600 concerts. Every year at the end of June to the beginning of July, Montréal becomes the epicentre of the jazz world. Long live jazz!!!!!!
Space is Limited! Book Now! Contact:
Tonya Knight
860-922-7220
tonanite@gmail.com
Package Includes:
Round Trip Motorcoach Transportation

3 Nights Quality Accommodations at the Holiday Inn Select Montreal Centre-Ville
235 rooms
Health & Fitness Center
Indoor Heated Swimming Pool, Sauna, Whirlpool
Spa Facilities
Full Buffet Breakfast each morning

Transportation to the Casino de Montreal – Friday evening
Hotel taxes and Gratuities
DISCOUNT PRICE PER PERSON
$1,100 per person based on 1 per room
$ 695 per person based on 2 per room
$ 600 per person based on 3 per room
$ 550 per person based on 4 per room
Passports are required
Bus Departs: 8:00AM
From: Poquonock Commuter Lot, Windsor CT (91N Exit 38)
Make checks or money orders payable to: Tonya Knight
Mail payments to:
Tonya Knight
P.O. Box 94
Poquonock, CT 06064
Other Payment Options: CashApp $Tonanite; Venmo @Tonya1514 or Zelle 860-922-7220
Payment schedule per person: January 31st $100, February 28th $100, March 31st $200, April 30th $200, any remaining balances must be paid by May 31st.
Deposits are non-refundable unless trip is cancelled

Somi
2026-06-25 19:30 - 21:00 | University Theatre, 222 York Street, New Haven
Vocalist, composer, actor, and playwright Somi Kakoma is the daughter of immigrants from Uganda and Rwanda. A true renaissance woman, she is known in the jazz world simply as ‘Somi’. Her fifth studio album, Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba, is a companion project to the critically acclaimed original musical “Dreaming Zenzile” that Somi also wrote and starred in Off-Broadway as a tribute to the great South African singer and activist. Prior to Zenzile and at the height of the 2020 global lockdown, Somi released an unplanned live album called Holy Room featuring the Frankfurt Radio Big Band that ultimately earned her a 2021 Grammy® nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album and made her the first African woman ever nominated in any of the Grammy® jazz categories.
Somi is a recipient of the 2023 Doris Duke Artist Award, two NAACP Image Awards for Best Vocal Jazz Album, and the inaugural Jazz Music Award for Best Vocal Performance. She is also a Soros Equality Fellow, a United States Artist Fellow, a TED Senior Fellow, a Sundance Theatre Fellow, and the founder of Salon Africana – a boutique cultural agency and record label. Recently, Somi made her Broadway debut in the title role of the critically acclaimed new play “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” by Joceyln Bioh.
Somi holds degrees in Cultural Anthropology and African Studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master’s degree in Performance Studies from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, and is currently working on her PhD at Harvard University’s Department of Music. In her heart of hearts, she is an East African Midwestern girl who loves family, poetry, and freedom.

Fridays with Frank
2026-06-26 17:15 - 19:00, 2026-07-03 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.

Jeff Fuller Quintet
2026-06-26 19:00 - 22:00 | Small Batch Cellars, 37 Nettleton Avenue, North Haven, CT
Jeff Fuller (bass), Naomi Wharry (trombone and vocals), Nigel Regan (saxophones), Darren Litzie (keyboard), and Ryan Sands drums)
Whether performing, teaching, or composing, Jeff Fuller brings great joy and a wealth of experience to his musical endeavors. A highly sought-after jazz bassist, his long career has found him working as both leader and sideman with diverse groups playing all styles of jazz.
Fuller has toured worldwide and recorded with saxophonists Lou Donaldson and Paquito D’Rivera. He has also played with jazz masters from all eras, including such historic artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Mose Allison, “Papa” Jo Jones, Gerry Mulligan, and Clark Terry.
His working trio, featuring Darren Litzie on piano and Ben Bilello on drums, has released five CDs of original music and standards. In 2014, Fuller was presented with the Jazz Haven Award, “For all you have done in presenting and preserving the culture and music of jazz.”
This September, Fuller and his group will kick off the prestigious Ellington Jazz Series at the Yale School of Music. Jeff’s compositions are frequently performed by jazz and classical ensembles, and his Latin jazz arrangements are published by Three-Two Music. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Music, where he taught at the YSM Jazz Initiative.
Hailing from Oklahoma, Naomi Wharry is a multi-faceted trombonist and vocalist. Having just received her Master of Music degree in classical trombone from the Yale School of Music, Naomi enjoys playing both classical and jazz music, believing that beautiful music comes from everywhere and should be explored freely.
She will begin work this fall as the principal trombonist of the Boston Ballet Orchestra. She has shared the stage with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, John Daversa, Patrick Bartley, and many others. Back in Oklahoma City, she regularly brought jazz shows to the city, including gigs with her quartet as well as her tribute to Billie Holiday. Her musical influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Frank Rosolino, J.J. Johnson, and many others.
Nigel Regan is a saxophonist, composer, and educator born and raised in the New Haven area. After receiving a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at The Hartt School of Music, Nigel received his Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas, where he was a Teaching Fellow and played lead alto saxophone in the internationally renowned, seven-time Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band.
He is featured on flute, alto saxophone, and soprano saxophone on the band’s album Lab ’24. Nigel has played with Miguel Zenón, Helen Sung, Steve Davis, and others. He is currently a teaching artist at Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, where he began his jazz journey as a young man. During his high school years, he was an outstanding soloist with Jeff Fuller’s Premier Jazz Ensemble at NMS and frequently played with celebrated percussionist Jesse Hameen II.
Pianist and composer Darren Litzie holds a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from The Hartt School’s Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from Western Connecticut State University.
He has performed and recorded with artists such as John Riley, Dave Santoro, Mike DiRubbo, Jeff Fuller, Frank Basile, Harvie S, Phil Palombi, Marlene VerPlanck, and Tom Melito. An avid composer, Darren completed a three-year stint as a member of New York’s prestigious BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, where several of his works were selected to be premiered in concert by the BMI Jazz Orchestra.
As a recording artist, Darren has appeared on six records as a sideman and has released two albums under his own name on Summit Records: My Horizon (2022) and In My Own Time (2026). Since 2013, Darren has served as an Adjunct Professor of Music at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, where he teaches music classes and piano lessons.
A native of Orange, Connecticut, Ryan Sands is a passionate, energetic drummer on the rise. Ryan is a graduate of the New England Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music. His thunderous performance style has landed him work with Phil Markowitz, Zach Brock, John Escreet, Geoffrey Keezer, and as a rotating member of the Christian Sands Trio.
Ryan currently holds the drum seat for the New York-based jazz collective Altus, featuring David Adewumi, Neta Ranaan, Nathan Reising, and Isaac Levien. They released their debut EP, Riot Cycles, in July 2021. As a bandleader, Ryan released his debut album, Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow, followed by his sophomore release, Forest Road: Live at the Side Door, in 2025.

Rich Baratta Latin Jazz Sextet
2026-06-26 19:00 - 23:00 | Palace Theater Poli Club, 100 East Main Street, Waterbury, CT
7:00 PM & 9:00 PM – $38
Savant Records announces the release of Another Kind of Bird, the compelling new album from drummer and bandleader Richard Baratta. Baratta revisits music associated with Charlie Parker, reimagining the repertoire through inventive new arrangements and a forward-looking ensemble approach. Baratta’s standout band features GRAMMY-nominated pianist and arranger Bill O’Connell, saxophonist Vincent Herring, guitarist Paul Bollenback, bassist Michael Goetz, and percussionist Paul Rossman.
A musician long before he became a film producer, Richard Baratta has built a career defined by range and reinvention. He began playing professionally more than four decades ago, performing with big bands and ensembles around New York before transitioning into film, where he became a highly respected producer with credits including The Wolf of Wall Street, The Irishman, Joker, and several Spider-Man films.

Corcoran Holt Quintet: Freedom of Art
2026-06-26 20:00 - 22:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
One of jazz’s most dynamic bassists and bandleaders brings his quintet to The Side Door

Corcoran Holt – Bass
Stacy Dillard – Tenor & Soprano Saxophone
Josh Evans – Trumpet
Benito Gonzalez – Piano
Kweku Sumbry – Drums & Djembe
Corcoran Holt is a force of nature on the bass — a musician whose commanding presence, deep groove, and musical intelligence have made him one of the most sought-after players on the New York scene. A son of Washington, D.C., Holt began his musical journey at age four playing djembe and West African percussion before taking up the upright bass at ten with the renowned DC Youth Orchestra. He attended the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and went on to earn his B.A. in Jazz Studies from Shenandoah Conservatory and his M.A. from Queens College under the tutelage of Buster Williams. His connection to the music runs deep — legend has it that his great-grandfather, a bassist who grew up in High Point, North Carolina, lived next door to a young John Coltrane and gave him his first music lessons.
Holt has performed and recorded with some of the most celebrated names in jazz, including Kenny Garrett, Roy Hargrove, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, Delfeayo Marsalis, Carmen Lundy, and Jazzmeia Horn, among many others. He appears on three Grammy-nominated recordings — Kenny Garrett’s Pushing the World Away (2013), Jamison Ross’s Jamison (2014), and The Baylor Project’s The Journey (2017) — and on Kenny Garrett’s Sounds from the Ancestors, which won the NAACP Image Award for Best Jazz Instrumental in 2021. In 2009 he represented the United States as a Jazz Ambassador with the U.S. State Department, touring the Middle East as both performer and clinician. He has performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, the Village Vanguard, the Blue Note, and Dizzy’s Club, and has toured across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Jazz Bass at Arizona State University and is the DC Jazz Festival’s Artist-in-Residence.
As a bandleader, Holt channels that same depth of spirit and vision into his own music. His debut album The Mecca (2018) paid homage to his D.C. roots, and his acclaimed sophomore release Freedom of Art stands as his most personal statement yet — a testament to transformation, family, and the enduring principle at the heart of jazz: freedom itself. The compositions emerged during the 2020 pandemic, drawing from the loss of his father, the steadfast love of his family, and the deep musical brotherhood forged over years of touring with this very ensemble. Stacy Dillard delivers soulful, inventive saxophone work throughout, Josh Evans brings virtuosic trumpet firepower to the group, Benito Gonzalez anchors the harmony with brilliance and warmth, and Kweku Sumbry — a percussionist of extraordinary range — holds it all together on drums and djembe. This is a rare opportunity to experience this extraordinary project live in an intimate setting.
The Side Door Jazz Club is a dedicated jazz listening room located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT. Tickets are reserved seating. Guests dining at the Old Lyme Inn prior to the show receive 10% off their dinner bill.

Jazz Jam at Cafe Nine
2026-06-27 16:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-04 16:00 - 19:00 | CT
Every Saturday, 4-7

Bob Ahern Quartet
2026-06-27 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-04 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.

Blue Lion Trio
2026-06-27 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-04 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

Joe Carter's Brazilian Jazz Trio
2026-06-27 19:00 - 22:00 | Twelvenote Brew Co., 3389 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT
Internationally acclaimed guitarist Joe Carter blends straightahead jazz and bebop with the rhythms of Samba and Bossa Nova, creating a rich, authentic Brazilian Jazz sound. Having performed and recorded with legends like Art Farmer and Lee Konitz, and recorded in Rio with top Brazilian artists, Carter brings global experience and masterful musicianship to every stage.
Expect smooth grooves, warm harmonies, and effortless improvisation—perfectly paired with a fresh pour at 12N.

Javon Jackson's Meet the Masters All Stars
2026-06-27 20:00 - 22:00 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Javon Jackson brings his Meet the Masters All Stars to The Side Door — an all-star ensemble of faculty from his celebrated summer jazz camp

Javon Jackson – Tenor Saxophone
Rich Goldstein – Guitar
Jeremy Manasia – Piano
Corcoran Holt – Bass
McClenty Hunter – Drums
The Meet the Masters Summer Jazz Workshop is one of Connecticut’s most beloved jazz education programs — an intensive annual week-long program held at the Hartt School at the University of Hartford that connects jazz students between the ages of 13 and 18, as well as adult musicians, with internationally recognized jazz masters. Under Jackson’s direction, the mission of the camp is to offer participants advice, feedback, playing tips, and historical narrative on America’s greatest art form, culminating in a public performance by all participants at the end of the week. This performance at The Side Door brings that same spirit to the stage — the Meet the Masters All Stars are the faculty of the camp itself: Rich Goldstein, Jeremy Manasia, Corcoran Holt, and McClenty Hunter — a group of master musicians who work together each summer to pass the tradition forward.
One of the most storied saxophonists in jazz, Javon Jackson left his studies at Berklee College of Music in 1986 to join Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers — one of the most celebrated bands in the history of the music — where he played alongside pianist Benny Green, trumpeter Philip Harper, and trombonist Robin Eubanks. He remained a fixture in the Jazz Messengers until Blakey’s passing in 1990, and has since built one of the most distinguished careers in contemporary jazz. He joined Elvin Jones’ group in 1992, recorded his Blue Note debut in 1994 under the direction of Betty Carter, and has gone on to release over 22 recordings as a leader — touring and recording on over 150 albums with jazz greats including Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Haden, Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, McCoy Tyner, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Stanley Turrentine, and Ben E. King. He was the recipient of the prestigious Benny Golson Award from Howard University in 2012 for recognition of excellence in jazz. Since 2013, Jackson has served as Director of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School — one of the country’s most respected jazz programs — and in 2016 founded the Meet the Masters Summer Jazz Workshop. As Jackson has said of his educational mission, “Today’s students won’t get to know Art Blakey or Freddie Hubbard or Elvin Jones. But they can know them through me.”
This is a rare opportunity to hear this extraordinary ensemble in an intimate setting — a night that honors both the tradition and the future of jazz.
The Side Door Jazz Club is a dedicated jazz listening room located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT. Tickets are reserved seating. Guests dining at the Old Lyme Inn prior to the show receive 10% off their dinner bill.

JHunter Group
2026-06-28 17:00 - 20:00 | Steak Loft, 27 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT, United States
Live Jazz, Blues and other grooves and Great Food
Dawn Dumas vocalist
Christ Leigh guitarist
James Hunter bassist
Randy Cloutier drums

New Haven Improvisers Collective workshop
2026-06-29 19:30 - 21:30 | Never Ending Books/Vol. 2, 810 State Street, New Haven, CT
The New Haven Improvisers Collective meets every month to explore the nexus of improvisation across all genres of music. Our workshops are open to anyone who’s interested – from sqronking saxophonists to knob-twisting laptop rockers; our members have improvised on everything from vocals to theremins to African drums (and yes, we actually had these last two jamming together at a workshop – and it was awesome!) The New Haven Improvisers Workshop is a great place to network with like-minded musicians, to test out new composition ideas, and to learn to play your instrument in new ways. We get a few new faces every time, so come on down! You don’t need to be able to read music to be able to play! All you need is a pair of ears and a sense of adventure.
The Collective meets on the last Monday of every month at 810 State St., New Haven, CT.

Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Jam
2026-07-01 19:00 - 22:00 | Black-eyed Sally’s Southern Kitchen & Bar, 350 Asylum St., Hartford, CT, 06103

Eight Men Swinging Concert
2026-07-01 19:30 - 21:30 | Milford Arts Council, 40 Railroad Avenue S, Milford, CT
Eight Men Swinging Concert brings you the cool jazz sounds of the Dave Pell Octet, featuring hip and clever arrangements of the Great American songbook by such notable arrangers as Marty Paich, Bill Holman, Shorty Rogers and John Williams.
Dave Arezzini – Tenor Sax
Mark Dennis – Trumpet
Jamie Finegan – Piano
Jeff Fuller – Bass
Joe Letizia – Trombone
Gabe Nappi – Drums
Mike Nunno – Guitar
John Smayda – Baritone Sax

Eight Men Swinging began as a series of sessions to read and perform the music of the Dave Pell Octet. Pell formed his octet in 1953, starting with innovative arrangements by Marty Paich and Shorty Rogers that created a big band sound with guitar augmenting the four horns. Gaining popularity very quickly, other notable arrangers such as Bill Holman, Bob Florence, Andre Previn and John Williams began contributing superb arrangements to the ensemble. After several fits and starts, our current ensemble began meeting in late 2025. Finding a time and rehearsal space, as well as eight musicians willing and able to get the project rolling was no easy task. The members of the octet have performed together for years in a variety of ensembles from duos to 17 piece big bands and everything in between.

The Pell catalog is extensive, and we look forward to presenting more concerts in the future!

Jazz at Three Sheets
2026-07-03 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.
