Hartford Jazz Society

JHunter Group
2025-11-09 17:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Steak Loft, 27 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT, United States
Live Jazz, Blues and other grooves and Great Food
Cecil Carter vocalist
Steven Marien saxophonist
Rufus Davis pianist
James Hunter bassist
Jacob Grahm drums

Omar Sosa Quarteto Americanos
2025-11-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity, 130 Pine Street, Northampton, MA
Featuring Josh Jones, Sheldon Brown, and Ernesto Mazar Kindelán
Quarteto Americanos is Omar Sosa’s first U.S.-based jazz ensemble since the 1990s! Featuring drummer Josh Jones, bassist Ernesto Mazar Kindelán, and saxophone / clarinet / flute player Sheldon Brown, the group came together in February 2021 when Omar was in the Bay Area for several live streams. Connecting with Josh and Sheldon was a gratifying reunion for Omar, as he played extensively with them during his early days in San Francisco and Oakland in the late 1990s. Josh Jones’ Trio at the time, including Omar and bassist Geoff Brennan, played frequently at Bay Area clubs. Josh remains one of Omar’s favorite drummers – a versatile musician and educator equally at home in Latin, jazz, hip-hop, and fusion styles. Sheldon Brown was a member of Omar’s first Septet ensemble in the Bay Area, performing in San Francisco and Oakland and around the world in support of Omar’s earliest recording projects, ‘Free Roots’, ‘Spirit of the Roots’, and ‘Bembón’, also known as the Roots Trilogy. Sheldon is a talented composer, arranger and producer whose first recording, ‘Shifting Currents‘, caught Omar’s ear when he first moved to San Francisco in 1995. Ernesto Mazar Kindelán is a dynamic Cuban musician who came to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2014 following a ten-year stint with Charanga Habanera, the celebrated Cuban timba band from Havana.
Omar’s Quarteto Americanos plays a number of arrangements of Omar’s signature compositions from his early career, including ‘My Three Notes’, ‘Angustia’, and ‘Toridanzón’, as well as new songs written by Omar in Barcelona during the lockdown in 2020. Like Omar’s oeuvre, Quarteto Americanos’ repertoire is eclectic and energizing. Its improvisational approach seamlessly fuses elements of jazz, Latin, hip-hop, and electronica into an exciting, passionate, contemporary sound.

Zaccai Curtis Quintet
2025-11-08 20:00 - 22:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Zaccai Curtis – Piano
Jeremy Bosch – Flute
Alex Ayala – Bass
Reinaldo De Jesus – Percussion
TBD – Drums
Zaccai Curtis is an acclaimed recording artist and producer, recently honored with the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album. He leads his own groups, the Zaccai Curtis Quintet and Sonido Solar, and after five successful releases, is set to release his new album Sonoluminescence in 2026.
Together with his brother Luques, Zaccai co-founded the record label TRRcollective, a collaborative space for musicians to produce and release their own music. He is also proud to have produced the Grammy-nominated album Entre Colegas by Andy González (2016).
A native of Connecticut, Zaccai moved to New York City in 2005, where he has performed with renowned artists including Christian Scott, Donald Harrison, Cindy Blackman Santana, Eddie Palmieri, Lakecia Benjamin, Brian Lynch, the Mambo Legends, Avery Sharpe and many others.
In addition to his performance career, Zaccai is a respected educator, teaching at the University of Hartford’s Jackie McLean Jazz Studies Division. He is also an author, having written two instructional books: Art of the Guajeo and Theory of the Common Voicing, which support students in their Jazz and Latin Jazz studies.
A three-time ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award winner, Zaccai is a prolific composer and arranger for his own groups, as well as artists like Little Johnny Rivero, Steve Kroon, Waitiki 7 and Sonido Solar. His quartet was chosen by the U.S. State Department for the American Music Abroad (Jazz Ambassadors) program twice, touring South Asia in 2006. In 2007, he received the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism’s Artist Fellowship for original composition. In 2017, he was awarded the Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works grant, and in 2020, he was named Rising Star in the DownBeat Critics Poll.

Zaccai Curtis Quintet
2025-11-07 20:00 - 22:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Zaccai Curtis – Piano
Jeremy Bosch – Flute
Alex Ayala – Bass
Reinaldo De Jesus – Percussion
Willie Martinez – Drums
Zaccai Curtis is an acclaimed recording artist and producer, recently honored with the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album. He leads his own groups, the Zaccai Curtis Quintet and Sonido Solar, and after five successful releases, is set to release his new album Sonoluminescence in 2026.
Together with his brother Luques, Zaccai co-founded the record label TRRcollective, a collaborative space for musicians to produce and release their own music. He is also proud to have produced the Grammy-nominated album Entre Colegas by Andy González (2016).
A native of Connecticut, Zaccai moved to New York City in 2005, where he has performed with renowned artists including Christian Scott, Donald Harrison, Cindy Blackman Santana, Eddie Palmieri, Lakecia Benjamin, Brian Lynch, the Mambo Legends, Avery Sharpe and many others.
In addition to his performance career, Zaccai is a respected educator, teaching at the University of Hartford’s Jackie McLean Jazz Studies Division. He is also an author, having written two instructional books: Art of the Guajeo and Theory of the Common Voicing, which support students in their Jazz and Latin Jazz studies.
A three-time ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award winner, Zaccai is a prolific composer and arranger for his own groups, as well as artists like Little Johnny Rivero, Steve Kroon, Waitiki 7 and Sonido Solar. His quartet was chosen by the U.S. State Department for the American Music Abroad (Jazz Ambassadors) program twice, touring South Asia in 2006. In 2007, he received the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism’s Artist Fellowship for original composition. In 2017, he was awarded the Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works grant, and in 2020, he was named Rising Star in the DownBeat Critics Poll.

Thames River Big Band
2025-11-07 19:30 - 21:30 | Norwich Arts Center, 62 Broadway, Norwich, CT, 06360
The Thames River Big Band is a musical ensemble known for performing classic big band jazz, swing, and contemporary arrangements. Based in the Thames River region, the group features talented musicians who pay tribute to the rich tradition of big band music through energetic live performances. Their repertoire often includes timeless hits from legendary artists such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Glenn Miller, as well as modern jazz standards. The band is popular for entertaining audiences at local events, festivals, and private celebrations, bringing the vibrant sound of the big band era to contemporary listeners.
​$10 Adults
$8 Seniors/Military/Student
$5 Members

New Jazz Underground
2025-11-07 19:30 - 21:30 | Morse Recital Hall – Yale University, 470 College Street, New Haven, CT
The bold and innovative trio infuse modern jazz with hard bop, hip-hop, and pop for a sound that’s “classy and classic” (NPR) — bringing fresh perspective while honoring tradition.
Abdias Armenteros, saxophone
Sebastian Rios, bass
TJ Reddick, drums
Tickets start at $26, Yale faculty/staff start at $19, Students start at $11

David Finck & Alexis Cole
2025-11-07 19:00 - 23:00 | Palace Theater Poli Club, 100 East Main Street, Waterbury, CT
$37 (plus fees) – 7PM & 9PM
Known as one of today’s most versatile bassists, David Finck has performed with legends across genres—from Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, and Michel Legrand to Rod Stewart, Dionne Warwick, and George Michael.
Joining him is the celebrated Alexis Cole, an acclaimed jazz vocalist who has shared the stage with artists like Fred Hersch, Bucky Pizzarelli, Don Braden, and Matt Wilson. For six years, she served in the U.S. Army as the vocalist for the West Point Band’s Jazz Knights, and her career since has taken her to prestigious venues around the world.
Together, Finck and Cole promise an evening of world-class jazz, exceptional artistry, and intimate musical connection.
The Poli Club provides the perfect backdrop for this experience—an intimate venue with excellent sound, affordable drinks, and convenient parking just across the street. It’s the ideal setting for a night out with friends or fellow jazz lovers.

Joe Carter / Jeff Fuller
2025-11-07 18:00 - 21:00 | Bangkok Room, 76 Main Street, Ansonia, CT
Brazilian music

Jazz at Three Sheets
2025-11-07 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.

Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Jam - Trailways
2025-11-05 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

Ned Rothenberg
2025-11-02 17:00 - 19:30 | Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA
Ned Rothenberg (saxophone, clarinet, shakuhachi flute)
“Rothenberg pushes sonic and spatial barriers… as he explores combinations of vacillating intervals and knotty melodic kernels, and balances evolving patterns with ripe arpeggios and colorful harmonics.” – Fred Bouchard, DownBeat
“Rothenberg reconciles an unapologetically cerebral approach with accessibility and emotional expression. No mean feat, indeed.” – Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader
Hailed as “America’s most intimate composer and improviser” (All Music Guide), multi-instrumentalist Ned Rothenberg has evolved a singular and deeply personal language on an array of woodwinds – primarily alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, and shakuhachi flute – over the course of four and a half decades of investigatory musicianship. On Looms & Legends, his first solo recording since 2012’s clarinet-focused World of Odd Harmonics (Tzadik), Rothenberg once again reveals himself to be a captivating storyteller and an unparalleled sonic architect.
To be released on September 5, 2025 via Pyroclastic Records, Looms & Legends hints in its title at the fundamental elements that make Rothenberg’s unaccompanied excursions so compelling: its deft, multi-hued weaving and the spellbinding eloquence of its unfolding narratives. “I think of those elements as the X and Y axes of my approach,” Rothenberg explains. “In my improvisations, there are the more melodic pieces that have a definite sense of starting at a certain place and taking you along a storyline. Then there are the ‘loom’ pieces which present the listener a rich and atypical aural environment in which to weave their own subjective narrative.”
Rothenberg’s travels have taken him across five continents, he has studied deeply the diverse traditions of African and Asian music, and has communicated his discoveries to students through his Global Perspectives course at The New School. He has so imbibed this never-ending research that it resists the lure of pastiche, instead emerging as something uniquely his own, an embrace of the idea of “future primitivism.”
As he explains, “I like to imagine my music as the indigenous sounds of a country that hasn’t been discovered yet. I love the idea that there’s some weird culture out there whose traditions are built on circular breathing through reed instruments, and it sounds like what I’ve been doing in New York since the early ‘80s.”
While he stops short of offering Looms & Legends as an outright political statement, Rothenberg does allow that it is an oasis of concentration and immersion at a moment when our culture is oriented to short attention spans and instant gratification. “I feel like musicians who are doing work of depth need to push back against the TikTok culture,” he says. “In many ways an album like this goes against the grain of our current culture, where music has to grab you in 30 seconds. I can unapologetically say that’s never what I’ve been about.”
Composer and performer Ned Rothenberg has been internationally acclaimed for both his solo and ensemble music, presented for the past 40 years on five continents. He performs primarily on alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, and the shakuhachi. Rothenberg’s solo work utilizes an expanded palette of sonic language, creating a kind of personal idiom all its own. In an ensemble setting, he leads the quartet Crossings 4, with Sylvie Courvoisier, Mary Halvorson and Tomas Fujiwara, as well as his longstanding trio Sync, with Jerome Harris (guitars) and Samir Chatterjee (tabla). He has collaborated around the world with fellow improvisers including Evan Parker, Marc Ribot, Sainkho Namchylak, Masahiko Sato, Samm Bennett, Kazu Uchihashi, Paul Dresher and John Zorn. Notable recordings include Lockdown, with Courvoisier and Julian Sartorius on Clean Feed; Quintet for Clarinet and Strings with the Mivos Quartet, World of Odd Harmonics, Ryu Nashi (new music for shakuhachi) and Inner Diaspora, all on John Zorn’s Tzadik label; and Live at Roulette with Evan Parker, The Fell Clutch, and Are You Be on Rothenberg’s own Animul label.

Montgomery Variations
2025-11-02 15:00 - 17:00 | Woolsey Hall – Yale University, 500 College Street, New Haven, CT
This powerful program explores themes of resilience and remembrance through Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations, community singing, and Sanctum by NHSO Composer-in-Residence Courtney Bryan.
Music Director Perry So says, “In this concert I am thrilled to welcome our new composer-in-residence, Courtney Bryan, to New Haven. Over the next two seasons we will explore Courtney’s music, and get to know her multifaceted musical world that encompasses everything from concert music and jazz, to spirituals, improvisations and collaborations with visual artists. We will begin this exploration with her piece Sanctum, which weaves together recorded sermons and Courtney’s musical response to police brutality. The concert closes with a rediscovered masterpiece, Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations, written at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, that takes us into the heart of a composer’s experience of the heroic struggle the brutality of the Jim Crow South.”
Tickets to this concert start at $15 for adults. Kids under 18 go free with the purchase of an adult ticket.

Dr. G’s Jazz Brunch
2025-11-02 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.

Dave Pietro Quartet
2025-11-01 20:00 - 22:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Dave Pietro – Alto Saxophone
Gary Versace – Piano
Jay Anderson – Bass
Billy Drummond – Drums
A native of Southboro, Massachusetts, Dave Pietro has been on the New York music scene since 1987. His talents as a gifted saxophonist, composer, and educator have made him an in-demand musician who has performed at jazz clubs, jazz festivals, schools and concert halls in more than 30 countries throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. Pietro is a member of the GRAMMY® Award-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra, and two GRAMMY®-nominated groups – Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society and the Gil Evans Project. From 1994-2016 he played lead alto saxophone and recorded six albums with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. He has also performed, toured, and/or recorded with the bands of Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Louis Bellson, Anita Brown, Harry Connick Jr., John Fedchock, Mike Holober, Jihye Lee, Michael Leonhart, Pete McGuinness, Arturo O’Farrill, Jared Schonig, Helen Sung, and Chris Zuar. Pietro has worked with many other well-known musicians such as Paul Anka, Blood Sweat & Tears, David Bowie, Bobby Caldwell, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, Chaka Khan, Liza Minnelli, James Naughton and John Pizzarelli. In addition, he has studied East Indian music and performed with various groups led by Indian tablist Sandip Burman.
As a leader, Pietro has released 11 albums and his latest recording Satori (East 15 th -2025) features Michael Rodriguez, Gary Versace, Johannes Weidenmueller and Johnathan Blake. Esteemed jazz critic Bill Milkowski says “Satori is imbued with ebullience, crackling interplay and virtuosic displays of soloing. It’s a feast for the ears.” In 2024 Pietro released The Talisman, his first album for the storied Steeplechase label, featuring Scott Wendholt, Gary Versace, Jay Anderson and Billy Drummond. Stamish Malcuss of Jazz Sensibilites said of it… “The Talisman is a fine addition to the jazz canon, a beacon for Pietro’s discography, and it embodies the spirit of exploration and innovation at the heart of the genre.”
Hypersphere (ArtistShare-2020) features Alex Sipiagin, Gary Versace, Johannes Weidenmueller and Johnathan Blake, with guests Ryan Keberle and Rogerio Boccato. “With it Pietro has emerged as a leader of importance” says Thomas Conrad of Stereophile. Pietro’s first ArtistShare release New Road: Iowa Memoirs (2017), co-sponsored by the University of Iowa, was called “a carefully measured balance between structure and spontaneity, filled with inspirational performances by a top-flight ensemble” by Mark Holston of Jazziz magazine.
Embrace: Impressions of Brazil (A Records-2004), which features a host of musicians including Brazilian pianist Helio Alves and renowned Brazilian drummer Duduka DaFonseca was considered “a triumph…one of the most satisfying Brazilian jazz mixes since the first bossa nova tsunami” by Judith Schlesinger of AllAboutJazz. Standard Wonder: The Music of Stevie Wonder, (A Records), featuring Scott Wendholt, Pete McGuinness, David Berkman, Scott Colley and Brain Blade was voted one of the top-10 jazz albums of 2001 by Bob Blumenthal of the Boston Globe and Bill Milkowski of Jazz Times. Earlier A Records releases include Now Becoming Then (1999) with this same band except Mike Holober on piano, and his first two label releases for the label – Forgotten Dreams (1994) and Wind Dance (1998), both featuring the rhythm section of Kenny Werner on piano, Dave Holland on bass and Bill Stewart on drums.
Pietro co-led an international quartet “The New York-Tokyo Connection”(NYTC) with pianist Jonathan Katz; their third album Precious (Seven Steps) was released in 2014. In 2005 and 2007 Pietro received grants from Chamber Music America’s New Works Programs to compose and perform his new extended work The Chakra Suite (Challenge Records). Featuring Gary Versace, Rez Abbasi, Todd Isler, Johannes Weidenmueller and Adam Cruz, it was voted one of the top CD’s of 2008 by All About Jazz.
Pietro received a bachelor’s degree in music education from North Texas State University where he toured and recorded four albums with the school’s One O’Clock Lab Band. He has a Master of Arts degree in jazz composition from New York University where he is currently the Director of Jazz Studies. Pietro has given hundreds of workshops and concerts at schools around the world and is sponsored by D’Addario Woodwinds, the Conn-Selmer Instrument Company, and R.S. Berkeley Musical Instruments.

Ace Livingston
2025-11-01 18:00 - 22:00 | Infinity Hall – Hartford, 32 Front Street, Hartford, CT, 06103
Join Legacy friends and supporters at Infinity Hall, Hartford, for an unforgettable evening filled with elegance, entertainment, and purpose.

This year’s Little Black Dress event honors our Champions of Education—remarkable individuals and organizations making a lasting impact in the lives of young scholars.

🎶 Enjoy a live local music showcase featuring talented performers.
🍴 Savor delicious food and drinks crafted for the occasion.
💫 Celebrate with us as we uplift education, community, and the power of coming together.
Your presence supports the mission of Legacy to empower and inspire future leaders through education and opportunity.

Russell Hall Quintet
2025-10-31 20:00 - 22:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Mike Troy – Saxophone
Esteban Castro – Piano
Leo Larratt – Guitar
Russell Hall – Bass
Matt Lee – Drums
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Russell Hall migrated to the United States in 2007 where his double bass studies progressed quickly through the rigorous programs of The Dillard Center for the Arts and The Juilliard School. Russell deeply understands the jazz tradition, having studied with many of the double bass world’s most renowned artists including Ron Carter and Ben Wolfe. Still, he is also an artist looking forward with his own distinct approach to the double bass.
As a first-call bassist in New York City, Russell has performed with some of the biggest names in music including Joey Alexander, Wayne Shorter, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Jon Batiste, Roy Hargrove, Kathleen Battle, Christian McBride, Emmet Cohen, Russell Malone, George Coleman and many more.
Well known for his work with the Emmet Cohen Trio alongside drummer Kyle Poole, Russell also leads his own bands, including Bessie and the Rainbowkids to much critical acclaim.

Hey Love... Collective ft. Yunie Mojica & DJ OOOChild
2025-10-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Artists Collective, 1200 Albany Avenue, Hartford, CT
Get ready to immerse yourself in a dynamic fusion of hip-hop, R&B, electronic music, and jazz — bridging contemporary Black music with deep-rooted traditions. This special event celebrates the recent release of Hey Love… Presents: Volume 1, the highly anticipated collective album by DJ OOOChild and YunieMo, presented in collaboration with the independent label Sonic Messengers. This in-person event promises to be a night to remember. Don’t miss out on this unique experience! See you there!
Free with RSVP

Al Fenton Big Band directed by Kathy Neri
2025-10-30 18:15 - 20:15 | The Carousel Museum, 95 Riverside Avenue, Bristol, CT
Enjoy the vibrant and smooth sounds of the 18 piece Al Fenton Big Band. Their open rehearsal gives you a behind-the scenes look at their musical process, followed by a performance that will have you dancing on the beautiful wooden dance floor.
BYOB: Enhance your evening by bringing your own beverages and food. Relax and enjoy a lively night out with great music and company. While you are at The Carousel Museum, take some time to visit the museum’s exhibits before or after the rehearsal to discover the rich history and artistry of carousel.
Thursday, March 27th
Thursday, April 24
Thursday, May 29
Thursday, June 26
Thursday, July 31
Thursday, August 28
Thursday, September 25th
Thursday, October 30th (Boo Bash – Costumes Encouraged)
Thursday, November 20
Thursday, December 18th Holiday Spectacular
Admission Tickets available at the door.
Members: Free!
Adults $15
Seniors/Students $10
Kids 12 and Under: Free

The Sean Nelson Jazz Orchestra ft Atla DeChamplain
2025-10-29 19:30 - 21:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Saxes
Erik Elligers
Tyler Wilkins
Matt Parker
Josh Thomas
Matt Schmidt
Trombones
Sean Nelson
Leroy Loomer
Vince Yanovitch
Wes Mayhew
Trumpets
Don Clough
Seth Bailey
Luke Wingfield
Haneef Nelson
Rhythm
Jen Allen – piano
Gianni Gardner – guitar
Lou Bocciarelli – bass
Nathan Lassell – drums
Atla DeChamplain is a jazz vocalist, lyricist, and educator known for her compelling sound and sincere interpretations of jazz standards. A Connecticut native, she studied at the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School of Music and earned her Master’s degree from the University of Toledo, where she was mentored by the legendary vocalist Jon Hendricks. Specializing in vocalese—the art of setting lyrics to instrumental jazz solos—Atla is recognized for her original lyrics, expressive phrasing, vocal control, and authenticity on stage.
Her musical voice is a blend of American idioms, drawing from jazz, blues, gospel, and R&B. She credits her artistic development to the influence of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Jon Hendricks, Louis Armstrong, Kurt Elling, Dianne Reeves, Mel Tormé, Bobby McFerrin, José Feliciano, and Nat King Cole, as well as the lyrical legacies of Iola Brubeck, Billy Strayhorn, Burt Bacharach, and Fred Rogers. Atla has performed with many of her musical heroes, including Jon Hendricks, Kurt Elling, Lawrence Hobgood, José Feliciano, Paul Keller, and Steve Davis. Atla acknowledges the privilege to follow such luminary artists in the traditions of Black American music.
Alongside her husband, jazz pianist Matt DeChamplain, Atla co-leads a band that reimagines the Great American Songbook and presents original compositions. Together, they have appeared at renowned venues and festivals across the country, including Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola and the Louis Armstrong House Museum (NYC), the Bop Stop (Cleveland), the Provincetown Jazz Festival (Cape Cod), Steinway Gallery (Detroit), the Monterey Jazz Festival (CA), the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz (CT), and the American Stage Theatre Company (FL), among others. In 2015, Atla released her debut album Pause, which featured guest performance by Jon Hendricks. Her additional recording credits include work with Emmett Goods, Earl MacDonald, Norman Johnson, Jeff Fuller, Grayson Hugh, Jason Anick, and others.
A devoted educator, Atla serves as Associate Professor in Amplified Voice at the University of Rhode Island, where she teaches jazz and gospel music. She also teaches for the Yale University Jazz Collective. Previously Atla has held adjunct teaching positions at the Hartt School of Music, Western Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, and Capital Community College. She is a frequent clinician and advocate for inclusive, student-centered jazz education, and she authors a blog for aspiring jazz vocalists. Currently, Atla is working on a book about learning, writing, and performing vocalese.The Sean Nelson Jazz Orchestra is a “full bodied and polished brassy big band” (Jazz Weekly) made up of 17 of the finest musicians in New England. Formed in 2016 as the New London Big Band, for the past nine years they have played monthly for sold out crowds at the Social Bar + Kitchen in New London CT. The band has performed all over the country, including the Kennedy Center (Washington DC), the Birdland Jazz Club (NYC), Monks Jazz Club (Austin TX), and Hallowed Halls (Portland OR). The band has released three albums, the most recent of which, “Don’t Stop Now: the lost music of Thad Jones for Harry James,” reached #29 on the jazz radio charts.
The band’s sound is rooted in the Kansas City swing of Count Basie, “swinging high, hard, and hot” (All About Jazz.) “Nelson…has assembled a youthful, sharp, hip 17-piece ensemble as dedicated as he is to the belief that big band sounds can provide a fine musical experience — one best served up live, where the groove and excitement of the arrangements and instrumental interplay can energize and pack a dance floor across generations.” (The Day of New London)
Sean Nelson is the leader and founder of the band. By day, he is enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he plays trombone with the Coast Guard Band’s concert band and jazz ensembles, serves as staff arranger, and is music director for the Guardians Big Band.
Nelson was music director and arranger for the 2024 National Christmas Tree Lighting with the Coast Guard’s Guardians Big Band, creating over 500 pages of arrangements. This was performed in front of the White House and seen nationally on CBS. Sean was one of two composers that co-created the official song of the Space Force, Semper Supra, which is now part of every Armed Forces Medley. He also composed the official song for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officer corps (one of the eight federal uniformed services). He has won the National Band Association Young Composers Jazz Composition Contest and is a two time winner of Downbeat Magazine’s jazz arranging award. He currently works as the arranger for Sam Houston State University Bearkat Marching Band. Sean’s big band arrangements are published at iJazzmusic.com.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Sean received a Bachelor of Music degree from Sam Houston State University and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas. While at North Texas, he was trombonist and composer for the One O’Clock Lab Band and sang with the Jazz Singers I. Sean’s trombone quartet won the International Trombone Association Quartet Contest. He spent his summers and winter breaks playing in house bands on cruise ships for Princess Cruises and Cunard Cruises.
Sean lives in Quaker Hill, Connecticut, with his wife Megan and children Lucinda, Giles, McCoy, and Cab.

Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Jam - Mentorship Series
2025-10-29 19:00 - 22:00 | Black-eyed Sally’s Southern Kitchen & Bar, 350 Asylum St., Hartford, CT, 06103

Jazz at Cafe Nine
2025-10-28 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.

New Haven Improvisers Collective (workshop)
2025-10-27 19:30 - 22:30 | Ely Center of Contemporary Art, 51 Trumbull St, New Haven, CT
Last Monday of every month, 7:30-10:30 PM
The New Haven Improvisers Collective is dedicated to bringing improvised music to New Haven. Bring your instrument to the next NHIC improvised music workshop. Visit the website below and send your contact information to info@nhic-music.org
https://www.nhic-music.org

Javon Jackson Band
2025-10-25 20:00 - 22:30, 2025-10-24 20:00 - 22:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Javon Jackson – Tenor Saxophone
Jeremy Manasia – Piano
David Williams – Bass
McClenty Hunter – Drums
Born on June 16, 1965, in Carthage, Missouri, Javon Jackson was raised in Denver, Colorado and chose saxophone at the age of 10. At age 16 he switched from alto to tenor and later enrolled at the University of Denver before spending part of 1985–86 at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He left Berklee in 1986 to join Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, where he later played alongside pianist Benny Green, trumpeter Philip Harper, trombonist Robin Eubanks and bassist Peter Washington. Jackson remained a fixture in the Jazz Messengers until Blakey’s passing in 1990.
In 1991, Jackson made his recording debut with Me and Mr. Jones, featuring James Williams, Christian McBride, and master drummer Elvin Jones. He joined Jones’ group in 1992, appearing on the great drummer’s albums Youngblood and Going Home. Jackson’s 1994 Blue Note debut, When the Time Is Right, was a straight-ahead affair produced by iconic jazz vocalist and bandleader Betty Carter. His subsequent four recordings for the Blue Note label through the ‘90s were produced by Craig Street and featured wildly eclectic programs ranging from Caetano Veloso, Frank Zappa and Santana to Muddy Waters, Al Green and Serge Gainsbourg. His subsequent four recordings for the Palmetto label had him exploring a blend of funk, jazz and soul with such stellar sidemen as organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, guitarists Mark Whitfield and David Gilmore, trombonist Fred Wesley and drummer Lenny White. In 2009, Javon was commissioned by the Syracuse International Film Festival to compose a full-length score for the Alfred Hitchcock film, “The Lodger,” a silent movie based on the hunt for Jack the Ripper. The original score had its debut at the festival, performed live by Jackson’s band (featuring pianist Manasia) at the film’s screening in October 2010.
In 2012, the saxophonist released a potent tribute to a towering influence, Celebrating John Coltrane, his inaugural release on his Solid Jackson Records which featured the venerable drummer and former Coltrane collaborator Jimmy Cobb. He followed later in 2012 with Lucky 13, which featured the great soul-jazz keyboardist Les McCann and included a mellow instrumental rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” along with a version of McCann’s 1969 hit, “Compared to What.” That same remarkably productive year, Jackson was the recipient of the prestigious Benny Golson Award from Howard University in Washington, D.C. for recognition of excellence in jazz. Jackson’s debut on the Smoke Sessions label, 2014’s Expression, was a live quartet recording from the Smoke Jazz & Supper Club in Upper Manhattan. On February 18, 2022, Javon will release, The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni, his fifth album for his Solid Jackson Records label.
Jackson finished and received his undergraduate degree from the Berklee College of Music and obtained a master’s degree from the State University of New York at Purchase, where he also taught. In 2013, he accepted the position of Professor of Jazz Saxophone; Director of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz Studies at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

Bob Ahern Quartet
2025-10-25 18:00 - 21:00 | Lighthouse Inn, 6 Guthrie Pl, New London, CT
The Bob Ahern Quartet featuring Jazz drummer Bob Ahern will be performing the last Saturday of every month for 2025 at the legendary Lighthouse Inn in New London. Each month, Bob features a different Jazz celebrity. Great jazz venue and restaurant.

Thread City Jazz Trio
2025-10-24 19:30 - 21:30 | Eastern CT State University – Fine Arts Instructional Center, 83 Windham Street, Willimantic, CT
Please join the Thread City Jazz Trio (Anthony Cornicello, piano; Rick O’Neal, bass; Matt Bronson, drums) and special guest Steve Ohm, guitar as they perform jazz classics, original material, and some surprises from the popular music repertoire. This is a live recording session, so the seating is limited. Reservations are strongly suggested. Tickets to this performance are FREE but limited

Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Jam - Mentorship Series led by Haneef Nelson
2025-10-22 19:00 - 22:00 | Black-eyed Sally’s Southern Kitchen & Bar, 350 Asylum St., Hartford, CT, 06103

Allen Lowe & The All-Stars
2025-10-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Best Video Film and Cultural Center, 1842 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT

Steve Dyer Quartet - Freedom Melody
2025-10-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Community Music School of Springfield, 127 State St., Springfield, MA
Steve Dyer (saxophones), Aaron Rimbui (piano), tba (bass), tba (drums)
“Steve Dyer …is a visionary, a pioneer and a symbol of a new Africa.” -Vasco Zama Ndebele, Cue magazine
Steve Dyer believes that no single culture owns the monopoly on human wisdom. Every human life born into whatever culture, ethnicity or spiritual belief system has the same value.
Steve was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in 1960. His parents listened consistently to music of the Western classical masters. He also remembers maskandi musicians walking the streets as they played their guitars, and the Soul Brothers and kwela” playing on the radio. He began composing music at the age of 10. Steve completed a B Mus degree in performance at the University of Natal in 1981, majoring in saxophone and flute. Refusing military conscription into the SADF he left South Africa and lived in Botswana for 5 years. Here he came into contact with the exile sounds blowing through the horns of Hugh Masekela and Jonas Gwangwa. He helped form Shakawe” led by Jonas Gwangwa and played in the band for 3 years, where he immersed himself in the mbaqanga music tradition. At this time Steve also listened to saxophonists such as John Coltrane and Winston Mankunku. In 1988 after a stint in the U.K. he settled in Zimbabwe where he formed the group Southern Freeway. Two albums were produced; Southern Freeway (1989) and Indlelayenkululeko (1992). Steve came into contact here with the more introspective and often rhythmically complex mbira based Shona music, as well as reliving some Nguni based music playing with musicians that had Ndebele cultural roots.
In 1990 he joined the Amandla cultural ensemble of the A.N.C on a 7 week tour of Japan. With democracy on the horizon in 1993 Steve returned to South Africa. After studying briefly at the University of Natal, he relocated to Johannesburg and directed the Soweto String quartet live performance that toured Europe and Australia/New Zealand.
He conceptualised, directed and performed with the first ever substantive Southern African music collaboration Mahube” in 1997. Mahube toured Southern Africa and Europe and recorded recorded 2 albums: Music from Southern Africa 1998 (SAMA nomination), Qhubeka 2003 (Kora award)). Steve went on to produce 6 Oliver Mtukudzi albums between 1998 and 2002 including the seminal “Tuku music”.
He has released 8 solo albums since his return to S.A: Down South in Africa – 2000, Son of the Soil – 2004, Lifecycle 2006 (SAMA nomination) Native Art 2007 (SAMA nomination), IAP (U.S.A.) finalist), Ubuntu music 2012 (SAMA nomination), Confluence 2014 and Genesis of a Different World – 2019 (SAMA, Mzansi jazz nominations), Revision 2021 (SAMA nomination) and Enhlizweni – song stories from my heartland (SAMA Award winner – Best Jazz Album of the year). Steve has also composed and performed for feature film and TV soundtrack, for modern dance companies Moving into Dance and Tumbuka, as well as conceptualising and directing numerous shows and collaborations, and conducting improvising/music workshops.
In 2010 he composed and performed Rebirth, a first African concerto for soprano saxophone, orchestra with saxophones, African percussion and marimbas. Rebirth premiered in Johannesburg on 1st May 2010 with an 118-piece Miagi youth orchestra.
In April 2014 Steve was musical director for the opening show at HIFA (Harare international festival of the arts). He conceptualised, directed and performed in a groundbreaking multimedia work called Colour Me Human” – a new world musical” that premiered at Soweto theatre in May. The production also did a run at the Jo’burg theatre from 12th to 30th November. Colour Me Human was nominated for 5 Naledi theatre awards: Best ensemble, music score, music director, choreographer, animation/AV.
Steve’s latest solo album – “Revision” also nominated for a SAMA award was released in September 2021. In April and May 2023 Steve toured the west and east coasts of the U.S.A. with Bokani Dyer in a series of duo concerts called Dyer-logue. He also performed at Dizzy’s Jazz club in New York with a 6-piece band performing the “Genesis of a different world” repertoire. In 2024 Dyertribe (co-led by Steve & Bokani Dyer) performed at a series of festivals in the US, including Unity Festival, NYC, and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, San Francisco, California.
In June 2024 his large-scale project, Visions of Ubuntu, was performed by an 8-piece band and a 40-strong Young People’s Chorus of New York City as part of the Summer for the City festival at Lincoln Center, NY. The project is presented in September 2025 at Joy of Jazz Festival, Johannesburg, South Africa. Steve Dyer’s next project, Freedom Melody, co-commissioned by Lincoln Center, will be performed at the Center in October 2025. Steve releases his 11th album as a leader entitled Multipolar in October 2025 on Ropeadope.

Dr. G’s Jazz Brunch
2025-10-19 12:00 - 15:00 | Quattro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar, 14 Water Street, Guilford, CT
Upcoming “special guests” for Dr. G’s Jazz Brunch held on the 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays from 12pm (noon) until 3pm at Quattro’s Italian Restaurant:

1/19- Ben Bilello -bebop drummer
2/02- Naomi Wharry– jazz vocal & trombone
2/16- Billy Cofrances– alto saxophone
3/02- Giacomo Gates-world renown jazz vocalist
3/16- Harvey Martin– trombone
4/06- John Brasile &- drums & vocals
Francesca
4/20- Michael Rabinowitz– jazz bassoon
5/04- Valerie Rogers– vocals
5/18- Tom Boates– trombone

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