8495 Jazz Cats 'Spring' New Music On Us
'tis the season for growth, renewal, and fresh sounds
The Afro-Semitic Experience, seen here at Westport, CT Library in 2024, will be premiering its new cycle of songs, Exodus to Emancipation, May 13 at Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden, CT (8495Jazz photo)
Happy Dave Brubeck Day!
Spring is traditionally the season associated with growth and new life, and jazz bands in the 8495 are doing their part to observe that. To whit:
NLBB making the rounds with their new record
Sean Nelson and his New London Big Band are making big waves with the April 25 release of their newest collection, Don't Stop Now: The Lost Music of Thad Jones Written for Harry James – and lucky fans in the 8495 have two opportunities to join the band in CD/vinyl release shows.
They’ll be at Blackeyed Sally’s in Hartford Wednesday (May 7) at 7 pm, and then, for those who can’t make that gig, they’ll be doing it all again at their home bandstand at The Social Bar & Kitchen in New London May 28 at 6:30 pm.
The collection, recorded in 2023 at Power Station New England in Waterford, CT, also features two jazz titans, trumpeter Wayne Bergeron and drummer John Riley.
The record, literally still hot off the presses, hit the JazzWeek jazz radio charts at #19 (tied for #1 in “most added” music), and received kudos from Those Who Know Things in the jazz community.
“This is an important recording, not only because it brings to light Thad Jones’ artistic genius in these newly discovered arrangements, but also because of the high level of the New London Big Band’s performances with the great Wayne Bergeron and John Riley,” David Demsey, the curator of the Living Jazz Archive at William Paterson University, wrote in The Urban Music Scene.
8495Jazz profiled Sean and the NLBB last fall. Jazz fans here are very lucky to be able to call them hometown artists.
For all the information, you need about the upcoming gigs and how to snag a copy of the record, click here.
New cycle of songs from Afro-Semitic-Experience
The New Haven-based Afro-Semitic Experience, which has blended the sounds and feelings of the African and Jewish diasporas for nearly 30 years, will be presenting its latest cycle of songs, Exodus to Emancipation, which the band says “explores the deep musical roots of enslavement and liberation.”
“Since our first performance in 1998, we have often reflected on this theme – our first album was even titled Once We Were Slaves,” the band said in a release announcing the debut concert. “Now, we return to it once more, finding that, in many ways, the music we create resonates with the realities of today, both in the U.S. and worldwide.”
The debut performance will take place Tuesday, May 13 at 7 pm at Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Rd, Hamden, CT. The show is part of the congregation’s Confronting Racism series, which has been fostering understanding of systemic racism since 2020.
“Through spirituals, biblical sources, and archival recordings, we seek to weave a story of resilience, history, and hope – honoring the strength of those who transformed suffering into song,” the band said.
Tickets are $18 and available here.
Litchfield Jazz Festival looking for volunteers
Any big event needs volunteers to help it run smoothly (ask me some time about the extremely rainy day I ended up with 15 vouchers for beer and hamburgers at the Travelers Championship), and the Litchfield Jazz Festival is no exception.
The festival is celebrating its 30th birthday this year from July 25-27 at the bucolically gorgeous Frederick Gunn School in Washington, CT, and is looking for volunteers to help with pre-festival set-up, festival day operations, and post-festival breakdown.
Some slots are going fast – for more specifics on exactly what’s needed, check out the sign-up page here.
“Don’t Stop Now” is the title track from the New London Big Band’s new album, released April 25. The band is making two CD release appearances in Connecticut venues this month.
Out and About with 8495Jazz
To alleviate confusion, ticket prices quoted now mention service fees as included or as additional; if fees are not mentioned, there are none to our knowledge. Because fees differ according to ticket type, service fee amounts are not included here but are available on venue web sites.
These listings are a curated sampling of shows in the region. As an independent resource for jazz news, 8495Jazz does not receive any consideration, free tickets, or affiliate fees for these listings. Please confirm events are still happening directly with the venue.
8495Jazz Wild Card Gig of the Week
Park City Music Hall, Bridgeport, CT
Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds w/Tracy Jo, Friday, May 9, 8 pm. $32.75 including service fee.
8495Jazz Spur of the Moment Gigs TODAY
Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT
WCSU Jazz Fest Day 4, featuring area high school students in the honors jazz ensembles and the WCSU Faculty and Alumni Jazz Combo including the WCSU Alumni Jazz Educator of the Year Nate Edwards, 1:30 pm. GA $12.51 including service fee.
Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
Improvisations Now, Larry Ochs (saxophone, combo), 2:30 pm. GA $16.50 including service fee (Last IN show of the season).
Other Shows This Week
VFW Post 399, Westport, CT
David Berkman Quintet (piano, combo), Thursday, May 8, 7:30 and 8:45 pm. 7:30 show $20.76 adult, $15.76 students, 8:45 show $10.76.
Elicit Brewing Co., Manchester, CT
Hartford Jazz Orchestra, Monday, May 5, 7:30 pm. Free.
Firehouse 12, New Haven, CT
Pheeroan akLaff Global Mantra Quartet (drums, combo), Friday, May 9, 8:30 pm ($20) and 10 pm ($15).
Jazz Forum Arts, Tarrytown, NY
SUNY Purchase Music Student Showcase, today, vocalists with Kate Baker 4 pm, instrumentalists with Jon Faddis 6 pm. GA $27.25 including service fee.
The Falcon, Marlboro, NY
Analog Jazz Orchestra Star Wars Night, Saturday, May 10, 7:30 pm. $30 suggested donation.
Chan’s, Woonsocket, RI
Dan Moretti & Brazilia (sax, combo) feat. Christine Fawson, Friday, May 9, 8 pm. $25 plus ervice fee advance, $30 at the door.
Pump House Music Works, S. Kingstown, RI
Emmett Goods Quintet (trombone, combo), Friday, May 9, 7 pm. $23.18 including service fee.
Jams
Cafe Nine, New Haven CT
New Haven Jazz Underground jam, usually 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month: free admission
Saturday jazz jam most Saturdays, 4 pm. Free.
Blackeyed Sally’s, Hartford, CT
Jazz Wednesdays, featured set 7 pm, jam session afterward.
Carmine’s, East Hartford, CT
Paisley’s All Star Memorial Jam, 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7:30 pm. House band set followed by jam. Free.
Mahoney’s, Poughkeepsie, NY
Poughkeepsie Jazz Project Jam, every Tuesday, 7 pm.
Jazz Societies and Organizations (great info on events, festivals, and more)
Jazz Society of Fairfield County
Jazz Fridays at Three Sheets New Haven 1st/3rd Fridays from 6-9pm
Jazz Thursdays at The Cannon New Haven every other Thurs from 7-9pm.
8495Jazz takes its name from the two Interstate highways that cross our region, I-84 and I-95. Within short driving distances from either, you can find incredible entertainment, from local jams to world-famous festivals in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. 8495Jazz: From Newburgh to Newport!
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