Hartford Jazz Society

Fridays with Frank
2026-07-17 17:15 - 19:00, 2026-07-24 17:15 - 19:00, 2026-07-31 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.

Jazz at Three Sheets
2026-07-17 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.

Jazz Jam at Cafe Nine
2026-07-18 16:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-25 16:00 - 19:00, 2026-08-01 16:00 - 19:00 | CT
Every Saturday, 4-7

Bob Ahern Quartet
2026-07-18 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-25 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-01 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
2026-07-18 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-25 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-01 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

Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz
2026-07-20 18:00 - 21:30, 2026-07-27 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

Tuxedo Junction
2026-07-20 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-27 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.

Hartford Jazz Orchestra
2026-07-20 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-07-27 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.

Michael Palin's Other Orchestra
2026-07-21 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-28 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/

Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Jam
2026-07-22 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-29 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

New Haven Improvisers Collective workshop
2026-07-27 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.

Jazz at Cafe Nine
2026-07-28 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.

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

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.
