Hartford Jazz Society

Michael Palin's Other Orchestra
2026-01-13 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-01-20 20:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | 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
2026-01-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Best Video Film and Cultural Center, 1842 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT

Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Jam - Maximilian Wilfinger
2026-01-14 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

Fridays with Frank
2026-01-16 17:15 - 19:00, 2026-01-23 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.

Jazz at Three Sheets
2026-01-16 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.

Chris DePino Quartet
2026-01-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Milford Arts Council, 40 Railroad Avenue S, Milford, CT
A vibrant figure in the jazz harmonica world, New Haven native Chris DePino blends technical mastery with a soulful narrative that resonates with audiences across genres and continents.
Get ready for an unforgettable musical journey with Chris and the Just Jazz Quartet! Dive into the vibrant heart of the Connecticut jazz scene, where Chris, a master of the chromatic harmonica, crafts electrifying performances with the finest local talent. This isn’t just jazz—it’s a one-of-a-kind experience, blending soulful improvisation and dazzling artistry that will leave you spellbound. No two events are alike, and neither are the quartets! Chris handpicks from a roster of Connecticut’s most exceptional musicians to create a custom ensemble tailored to the performance.
Chris was born in New Haven. He is a distinguished blues and jazz harmonica player, music educator, and session musician whose versatile career spans jazz, blues, and classical music. DePino has been a regular session player at Cafe Nine in New Haven. He has also made guest appearances with the George Baker Experience, and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, where he was a featured soloist for two “Concerts in the Park”.

Haneef Nelson Quintet
2026-01-16 20:00 - 22:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Haneef Nelson – Trumpet
Nathan Edwards – Tenor Saxophone
Andrew Wilcox – Piano
Luques Curtis – Bass
Akin Hobson – Drums
Haneef N. Nelson works as a Composer/Arranger, Bandleader, Sideman, Musical Curator, and Educator based out of Hartford, CT. He was introduced to the trumpet at age 12 and has stuck with it ever since. His earliest education in Jazz came from the Jazzmobile where he studied with Eddie Preston, Cecil Bridgewater, and Donald Byrd among others. He also studied with Dave Burns at the Long Island High School of the Arts and then attended The Hartt School to study with Jackie McLean, Raymond Williams, Steve Davis and Nat Reeves as well as other faculty.
His passion for the music also brought him to the classroom to teach the cultural significance of the music known as Jazz. He has taught at The Hartt School, UMASS Amherst, Amherst College, Keene State College and currently teaches at the University of Rhode Island. In addition to his own groups, he is a long-standing member of several other bands in multiple genres. He has also had the honor of sharing the stage with the likes of Rene McLean, Bill Saxton, Jimmy Owens, Donald Byrd, William Cepeda, Wilson “Chembo” Corniel, Nat Reeves, Steve Davis, Yoron Israel, Avery Sharpe, Winard Harper, Frank Lacy, Bill Lowe, Chico Freeman, Helen Sung, Wayne Escoffrey, Kris Allen, Abraham Burton, E.J. Strickland, Brandee Younger, Dezron Douglas, David Bryant, Stacey Dillard, Zaccai Curtis, Luques Curtis, Ray McMorrin, Josh Evans, Doobie Powell, Billy “Church Boy” Powell, Kevin Powell, Ace Livingstone, and Musiq Soulchild among many others.

Jazz Jam at Cafe Nine
2026-01-17 16:00 - 19:00, 2026-01-24 16:00 - 19:00 | CT
Every Saturday, 4-7

Zaccai Curtis Quintet - Cubop Lives! (livestream & in-person)
2026-01-17 19:30 - 22:00 | Vermont Jazz Center, 72 Cotton Mill Hill #222, Brattleboro, VT, 05301
Grammy Award–winning pianist Zaccai Curtis brings his celebrated Latin jazz quintet Cubop Lives! to the Vermont Jazz Center. Featuring piano, bass, and three master percussionists, the ensemble blends Afro-Cuban rhythms with the harmonic language of bebop. Curtis performs with the same group that recorded the Grammy-winning album Cubop Lives!. Tickets are $25+ (sliding scale) and available at vtjazz.org or by phone at 802-254-9088 x1.
Zaccai Curtis: Piano
Luques Curtis: Bass
Willie Martinez: Timbales
Camilo Molina: Congas/Pandero
Reinaldo De Jesus: Bongos/Percussion
LIVESTREAMS: Showing Your Support From Home
Livestreams of the in-person events can be found at www.vtjazz.org and Facebook Live. We ask that you make a tax-deductible donation in lieu of purchasing tickets. Your donation will go directly towards supporting the costs of providing world-class music and educational programs at the VJC. A ticket to the event is valued at $55-$60.
IN-PERSON: Sliding Scale Policy and Description of Ticket Prices
We feel that good music should be available to all, and that is why we have a sliding scale policy. The cost of production for a concert is from $55 to $60 a seat. In order to keep jazz accessible, we start our ticket price at $25. We have kept our base ticket price at a subsidized level, but are grateful to know that many listeners choose to purchase tickets at the actual cost of production. No matter what you choose, we are grateful for your support and interest in live music. We look forward to seeing you at the next concert!

Pat Bianchi Trio
2026-01-17 20:00 - 22:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Pat Bianchi – Organ
Troy Roberts – Saxophone
Colin Stranahan – Drums
Grammy nominated organist Pat Bianchi has established himself as one of the premier organists on the international scene today. Bianchi is the winner of Downbeat Magazine’s 2016 rising star poll, Hot House 2019 poll and nominee of the 2024 Jazz Journalists Association as Keyboardist of the year. Known for fearlessly taking the jazz organ into new and exciting directions, Pat’s playing blends tradition with forward-thinking creativity, drawing inspiration from legends like Dr. Lonnie Smith and Joey DeFrancesco. With a career that includes touring with Steely Dan, performing alongside icons like Pat Martino and Lou Donaldson, and leading his own acclaimed trio, Pat’s artistry is unmatched!
Joining Bianchi is three-time GRAMMY nominated saxophonist, Troy Roberts who is quickly becoming one of the most widely recorded touring artists of his time. As a go-to first call saxophonist, his name adorns several essential recordings ranging from the legendary Joey DeFrancesco, to Van Morrison, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Kurt Elling and Veronica Swift as well as numerous others. Drummer Colin Stranahan was one of the winners of the 2012 Thelonious Monk Drum Competition. Colin is among the most sought-after drummers in the world having worked with such artist as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jonathan Kreisberg, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Fred Hersch, Terence Blanchard, Dave Kikoski, Kevin Hays, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and many others.
Bianchi, Roberts and Stranahan have defined their voices as individual artists and when they come together, the musical result sets this group apart from most, if not all of the organ trios on the scene today.

Mark Kaplan Quartet
2026-01-17 21:00 - 23:00 | Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center, 605 Main Street, Middletown, CT, United States
The Mark Kaplan Quartet is an established luminary on the local and regional jazz scene. Mark Kaplan, tenor saxophone; Martin Carter, piano; Adam Anderson, bass; and John Rispoli, drums.

Dr. G’s Jazz Brunch
2026-01-18 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.

Instantiations Monthly Music Series at Real Art Ways
2026-01-18 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, 1/18, 2:30 pm: Hidemi Akaiwa-piano; Hery Paz-tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute; Joe Morris-bass
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
Join us on Facebook and Instagram to get the latest!

Baby Grand Jazz at Hartford Public Library
2026-01-18 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

Tuxedo Junction
2026-01-19 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-01-26 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
2026-01-19 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-01-26 19:30 - 21:30 | Elicit Brewery, 165 Adams Street, Manchester, CT
Every Monday at Elicit Brewery in Manchester CT. No cover.

Black Eyed Sally’s Jazz Jam - Mentorship VII: Mike Carabello
2026-01-21 19:00 - 22:00 | Black-eyed Sally’s Southern Kitchen & Bar, 350 Asylum St., Hartford, CT, 06103

Anna Webber Nonet
2026-01-22 19:30 - 21:30 | Iron Horse, 18 Center Street, Northampton, MA
Anna Webber (tenor sax, flute), Yuma Uesaka (clarinets), Ingrid Laubrock (tenor and soprano sax), Ryan Easter (trumpet), DoYeon Kim (gayageum), Mary Halvorson (guitar), David Virelles (piano), Chris Tordini (bass), Ches Smith (drums)
Anna Webber (b. 1984) is a flutist, saxophonist, and composer whose interests and work live in the aesthetic overlap between avant-garde jazz and new classical music. Her new album, Shimmer Wince, explores Just Intonation in a jazz setting, and is a follow-up to her critically-acclaimed release Idiom. That album earned Webber the accolade of being named the top composer of the year by JazzTimes in 2021. Her music has been called called “visionary and captivating,” (Wall Street Journal), and “heady music [that] appeals to the rest of the body” (NPR). Her album Clockwise was voted #6 Best Album of 2019 in the NPR Jazz Critics Poll, and her 2020 release, Both Are True (Greenleaf Music), coled with saxophonist/composer Angela Morris, was named a top ten best release of 2020 by The New York Times.

Anna Webber Nonet
2026-01-22 19:30 - 21:30 | Iron Horse, 18 Center Street, Northampton, MA
Anna Webber (tenor sax, flute), Yuma Uesaka (clarinets), Ingrid Laubrock (tenor and soprano sax), Ryan Easter (trumpet), DoYeon Kim (gayageum), Mary Halvorson (guitar), David Virelles (piano), Chris Tordini (bass), Ches Smith (drums)
“The music Webber writes is dizzying and convoluted in the best ways, a jagged slalom of meticulously notated, interlocking patterns and riffs that demands pinpoint concentration on the part of the musicians and great focus and openness on the part of listeners. The pieces generate a hurtling tension, flying downhill with inexorable motion, but rarely in a direct line—the performances feel like a deftly choreographed simulacrum of a pinball game.” -Peter Margasak
Anna Webber (b. 1984) is a flutist, saxophonist, and composer whose interests and work live in the aesthetic overlap between avant-garde jazz and new classical music. Her new album, Shimmer Wince, explores Just Intonation in a jazz setting, and is a follow-up to her critically-acclaimed release Idiom. That album earned Webber the accolade of being named the top composer of the year by JazzTimes in 2021. Her music has been called called “visionary and captivating,” (Wall Street Journal), and “heady music [that] appeals to the rest of the body” (NPR). Her album Clockwise was voted #6 Best Album of 2019 in the NPR Jazz Critics Poll, and her 2020 release, Both Are True (Greenleaf Music), coled with saxophonist/composer Angela Morris, was named a top ten best release of 2020 by The New York Times.
The band featured on Shimmer Wince is a new group, consisting of Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, Mariel Roberts on cello, Elias Stemeseder on synthesizer, and Lesley Mok on drums. A prolific bandleader, Webber also has been working with her Simple Trio, featuring John Hollenbeck and Matt Mitchell, for over a decade, as well as leading many other groups, such as a large ensemble, a septet, and the afore-mentioned big band. She has performed and/or recorded with projects led by artists such as Dan Weiss, Roscoe Mitchell, Ranja Swaminathan, Jen Shyu, Dave Douglas, Matt Mitchell, Ches Smith, John Hollenbeck, and Trevor Dunn, among others.
Webber is originally from British Columbia. She is co-director of Jazz Studies at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Christopher Casey
2026-01-23 17:30 - 19:00 | American Mural Project, 90 Whiting Street, Winsted, CT
Christopher Casey earned a bachelor’s degree from The Hartt School and studied under Jackie McLean, Jackie Byard, and Hotep Galeta. An active pianist, composer and arranger, Chris performs extensively throughout New England and the New York area. He has performed with such greats as Jackie McLean, Nat Reeves, Steve Davis, Claudio Roditi, Slide Hampton, Houston Person, Jacomo Gates, Bob Berg, Jimmy Greene, and Greg Banaszak. His works have been commissioned by Jackie McLean, Curtis Fuller, Steve Davis, PBS Television, and The Polish National Chamber Orchestra of Slupsk. Recordings include “Double Vision”, “Jazz in the Wild”, “Sounds of Hartford”, “Head over Heals”, and “Imagination”.

Tyreek McDole Quintet
2026-01-23 20:00 - 22:30, 2026-01-24 20:00 - 22:30 | Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, United States
Tyreek McDole – Vocals & Keys
Dylan Band – Tenor & Soprano Saxophones
Joe Block – Piano/Keys
Dan Finn – Bass
Gary Jones III – Drums
Tyreek McDole, a 25-year-old Haitian-American vocalist from Florida, is making waves on the New York and international music scenes. His artistry is rooted in the belief that music is the highest form of communication a powerful tool for healing, reflection, and collective dreaming.
He first gained attention at Jazz at Lincoln Centers 2018 Essentially Ellington Competition, where he was awarded Outstanding Vocalist by Wynton Marsalis. Since then, he’s performed alongside an impressive roster of artists including Rodney Whitaker, Theo Croker, Gary Bartz, Maurice Brown, Joey Alexander, Terri Lyne Carrington, Nicholas Payton, and many others.
Tyreek has appeared at many of the world’s most hallowed stages such as Blue Note New York, Salle Pleyel, Nublu, Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Ronnie Scott’s, Birdland Jazz Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, and major international festivals such as the Newport Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Jazz in Marciac, and the Nice Jazz Festival.
In 2023, he won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, joining the ranks of standout vocalists like Cyrille Aimee, Lucia Gutierrez Rebolloso, and Samara Joy.
His debut album, Open Up Your Senses, released in June 2025 on Artwork Records, is #1 on Jazz Week, received 4 stars in DownBeat Magazine, and is being celebrated as one of the most thoughtful and spiritually resonant jazz debuts in years. He hopes you enjoy.

Warren Byrd’s Birthday Celebration
2026-01-24 17:30 - 21:30 | The Flying Monkey, 2095 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT
Saskia Laroo – trumpet, sax, vocals

Warren Byrd – keys, vocals, bongos

Doug “Basszilla” Long – bass

Willis Moore – drums

Warren Byrd is a Hartford legend and an internationally touring artist, composer, and producer with a career spanning over 40 years. Together with his wife and musical partner Saskia Laroo, he has performed around the world, blending straight-ahead jazz with funk, hip-hop, and Latin grooves — always rooted in soul, rhythm, and deep musical connection.

This is a rare chance to see Warren up close and live, sharing his creative improvisations, impressive vocals, and joyful musical spirit — while celebrating his life, his music, and ours together. Come enjoy great food, drinks, warm vibes, and an unforgettable night of live music with friends old and new.

Let’s celebrate — with groove, love, and community.

Baby Grand Jazz at Hartford Public Library - CANCELLED
2026-01-25 15:00 - 16:00 | Center for Contemporary Culture (Main Floor) – Hartford Public Library, 500 Main Street, Hartford, CT
January 25 concert is CANCELLED
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

New Haven Improvisers Collective (workshop) - CANCELLED
2026-01-26 19:30 - 22:30 | The Sandbox, 70 Audubon Street, New Haven, CT
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
https://www.facebook.com/groups/95225530822
Notes and directions about The Sandbox. It’s a great space, but has it’s challenges. Its on the second floor (with elevator).
Door is locked so everyone will need to be let in, so try to get there by 7:30. Someone will check after every exercise for latecomers.
Parking is as follows There is a paid garage right at the building, otherwise street parking, mostly metered. Similar costs. There is some free parking on Lincoln Street, and a pathway at the end so you can walk directly to the building.
