A Great Day in the 8495
8495Jazz celebrates its first year – thank you!
Hey, 8495Jazz celebrates its first year this weekend. Thanks to all of you who have made it a going concern!
In August 1958 freelance photographer Art Kane assembled 57 of the greatest jazz musicians in the world in front of a brownstone at 17 East 125th Street in New York and created the enduring image “A Great Day in Harlem” for Esquire. Among those in the picture are Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Mary Lou Williams, Marian McPartland, and Charles Mingus – not just a who’s who, but the virtual patriarchs and matriarchs of jazz.
Today is also a great day – on a seismically more modest scale, of course – here at 8495Jazz world headquarters. Fifty-two Sundays ago, I hit the “send” button on the first edition of this newsletter. My lifelong pal, blues guitarist extraordinaire Pete Kanaras, had graciously agreed to share his love for the sound of the trumpet as a sort of test for my vision of a newsletter for jazz lovers in southern New England and southeastern New York. The post garnered 114 views, six new subscribers, and three pledges of financial support when and if I decided to turn paid subscriptions on.
Last week’s post, about Connecticut’s legendary swing/boogie band Eight To The Bar, had 400 views on the dot when I hit the send button on this one. Which, with modest goals still in mind (as many readers every week as a typical jazz club seats as a benchmark) – I deem a success.
In the interim, I have spoken with people well-known among jazz fans worldwide, the extremely talented musicians based in the 8495 who provide the foundation for jazz to thrive here every day, visionaries and builders without whom those with instruments in their hands would have a hard time finding a place to play, and next-generation talents.
I didn’t know a year ago if a regional jazz newsletter would be sustainable – and, given the realities of trying to keep it fresh, there are weeks I still wonder almost right up to writing time whether or not I’ll have anything timely and worth reading. Most the time I do, and I hope that continues. But I will not get cocky about that.
What I have tried to convey in this past year is a love for the music, and to encourage readers to get out there and see some of the incredibly talented people who bring it to us. The associate publisher and I have hit some of the places most known for jazz; The Side Door in Old Lyme, CT, the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, the now-closed (and lamentably so) Uncle Cheef in Brewster, NY. But we’ve also been to jams in small rooms on weeknights, to the VFW in Westport, CT, where Rabbi Greg Wall and his colleagues at the Jazz Society of Fairfield County bring in killer talent on Thursdays, and a field in Putney, VT, to see New Orleans-based trombone player Charlie Halloran entertain 250 New Englanders with the bounce of Caribbean dance tunes.
Maybe nothing in the year I’ve written 8495Jazz exemplifies the embarrassment of jazz riches in the region, and the extremely generous nature of those who bring it to us, than a jam session at Carmine’s Restaurant in East Hartford in February. The jam is a once-monthly event in memory of saxophonist Paisley Ramirez, run by bassist Matt Dwonszyk, with the intention of getting students up on stage with pro jazz players.
On this night in February, the “house band” consisted of Matt, guitarist Dan Liparini, vocalist Nicole Zuraitis and drummer Dan Pugach...and it was THE FIRST GIG for Dan Pugach and Nicole after Dan had won the Best Big Band Jazz Grammy. Nicole won her Grammy in 2024 for Best Jazz Vocal Album (I assume most 8495Jazz readers know they are married and work together often, no matter whose name is on the cover of the album).
That’s right – two Grammy winners, Connecticut residents, paying it forward at a tip jar gig on a cold Tuesday night. Nights like that are, believe it or not, not that rare here. So, please, after you read the feature profile on top of 8495Jazz every week, check out the curated gig list on the bottom of the column and try to get out to a show now and then. It is a balm for the soul.
Meet Philip: Speaking of tip jars, now that 8495Jazz has made it to the one-year mark, I am opening up paid subscriptions. Longtime readers may recall in the “On The List” edition, I said I would never put up a mandatory pay wall. That holds, folks. But like a tip jar at a jam – Matt Dwonszyk introduces the jar as “Philip D. Tip Jar” at the Paisley jams – I am opening up optional payments beginning next week. Rates will be very reasonable. For those so inclined to help fill Phil up, and to those who have already pledged support, many, many thanks.
And thanks to every single one of you who read 8495Jazz every week. It’s a purely word-of-mouth endeavor; I’m well on the far side of any “career goals,” and have a visceral distaste for the self-serving hustle of the “influencer” culture. But if you know folks you think would enjoy it, please spread the word. I appreciate it.
And it should go without saying the greatest thanks go to my associate publisher. A couple years ago, I took her to Woodbury Brewing to see Eddie 9 Volt, a young blues guitar player whose sound struck me as having “it.” The show was absolutely electric even though it was a Tuesday night and only 50 people showed up (last time he was up this way, Eddie sold out Daryl Hall’s club in Pawling, NY, so I guess I was right). Midway through the evening, the associate publisher turned to me and said “You need to start writing about music again. It’s what feeds your soul.”
She’s right, of course. So let’s get going on Year Two.
Guitarist Griffin Kelleher is among the incredibly talented musicians 8495Jazz has introduced readers to in the past year. Looks like Griff spent some of his summer honing chops at the Stanford Jazz Workshop. Keep an eye on him!
Out and About with 8495Jazz
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
Music Mountain, Falls Village, CT
Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton, live music to silent film “Sunrise,” Saturday, Sept. 6, 7 pm. GA $20-$35, student/teacher/veteran $0-$5, under 19 free.
8495Jazz Spur of the Moment Gig TODAY
Pump House Music Works, S. Kingstown, RI
Bobby Keyes Trio (guitar, combo), 7 pm. GA $23.18 including service fee.
Other Shows This Week
New England Conservatory, Boston, MA
Contemporary Musical Arts Faculty Opening Night Concert honoring founding chair Ran Blake, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 7:30 pm. Free, ticket required.
The Side Door, Old Lyme, CT
Peter Bernstein Quartet (guitar, combo) Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6, 8 pm. GA $59.75, student $27.98 including service fee.
VFW Post 399, Westport, CT
Janice Friedman (piano, combo) Thursday, Sept. 4, 7:30 and 8:45 pm. GA $10.76-$20.76, student/vets $15.76 for 7:30 show.
Chan’s, Woonsocket, RI
Funky Submarine (funkified Beatles with horns), Saturday, Sept. 6, 8 pm. Advance GA $15.38 including service fee, $20 at the door.
Scullers, Boston, MA
Arturo Sandoval (trumpet, combo), Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday Sept. 6, 7 and 9 pm. GA $59.25-$182.45 including service fee.
Jazz Forum Arts, Tarrytown, NY
Mike LeDonne Groover Quartet (Hamond B-3 organ, combo), Saturday, Sept. 6, 7 and 9:30 pm. GA $37.75, student $32.50 including service fee.
River Room, Willimantic, CT
Olli Soikkeli Trio tribute to Django Reinhardt (gypsy jazz guitar, combo), Friday, Sept. 5, 8 pm. GA $44.52, students $28.52 including service fee.
Iron Horse, Northampton, MA
New Jazz Underground (combo), Saturday, Sept. 6, 7 pm. Advanced GA $30 including service fee.
De La Luz, Holyoke, MA
Kassa Overall (drums, experimental), Saturday, Sept. 6, 8 pm. GA $28.50 including service fee, $30 at the door.
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, every Tuesday, 7 pm. Free.
Park City Music Hall, Bridgeport, CT (event premiere)
Scott Cushman and Friends followed by jam, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 7 pm house band, jam follows.
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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