Monday July 9 was the opening night for the Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz Series. You could not ask for a more perfect evening. It was a gorgeous summer evening in beautiful Bushnell Park. The crowd was large and attentive throughout the nearly 4 hour night of music. As is the tradition, friends and families came to the park with their lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets to enjoy the night of great jazz music and great community.

After a brief delay due to some challenges of setting up sound for an 18 piece big band, the music commenced. This wasn’t your grandfathers big band. This band, The Michael Palin Other Orchestra played modern arrangements of music from Weather Report, Jaco Pastorious and electric Miles Davis. During one number the band was joined by a quartet of great singers that rocked the stage. Michael Palin’s Other Orchestra can be heard most Tuesday evenings at Black Eyed Sally’s in downtown Hartford.

The headliner for opening night was trumpeter Jason Palmer and his quartet. This progressive jazz band played Palmer’s original music with high intensity and an emotive delivery. Jason penned great compositions with unique melodies, harmonies and the room for soloists to stretch out and make their own musical statements. Jason Palmer was backed by protean saxophonist Donny McCaslin, hometown fav bassist Luques Curtis and long time collaborator, drummer Lee Fish. Check out Jason Palmer’s latest CD release Live at Wally’s Vol I and II. 

This was a great start to an iconic music series, now in its 51st year in Hartford. For more information on the next five concerts that run till August 13, check out the PBMNJ web page.

For more pics go to: Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz Photo Gallery