An 8495Jazz Smorgasbord
A new venue, a gala birthday, and a chill new experience
Somehow I got tangled up in the spring bronchitis/pneumonia festival and have been out of action for the past two weeks – can’t do interviews if you have no voice.
That said, we do have some exciting news items to share with jazz fans in the 8495. We’ll look ahead a couple weeks, as next Sunday is Easter and we’ll be taking the week off from publishing. Let’s go!
River Room Opens in Willimantic
Eastern Connecticut will welcome its newest performing arts venue Friday (April 18) with the opening of The River Room at 50 Riverside Dr. in Willimantic.
Opening day festivities include a ribbon-cutting at 11 am, opening reception and open house from 11:30 am -1 pm, and an evening open house featuring live music from Bruce John (5 - 6:30 pm) and the UConn Jazz All-Stars (6:45 - 8 pm).
The 65-seat "speakeasy-style" venue will present live music (from blues to Latin, jazz, rock, and alternative), dance classes and events, open mics, comedy, spoken and written word, art galleries and exhibitions, and documentary screenings. It’s run by partners Chris Beaudry and Daniela De Sousa. Chris is a jazz saxophonist with years of experience on the business side of the music, including a stint as manager of The Side Door in Old Lyme.
They’ll bring in Tony Bennett’s longtime guitarist, Gray Sargent, and his trio for their grand opening concert Friday, April 25 at 8 pm. Gray, a Boston area native, got his start as a teenager with Illinois Jacquet, after he “sat in” with the saxophonist’s combo at the legendary Lennie’s on the Turnpike in Peabody, and his resume is like a who’s who of the who’s who.
The River Room’s second show on Saturday, May 3, will be a unique combination of music and visual arts, as muralist Ben Keller creates a work of art while drummer Evan Wood and The Blueprint provide the music: “This extremely unique show will immerse your senses and leave you awestruck as music and visual art intertwine through the night, each artist feeding off not only each other's energy, but the energy of the live audience,” the River Room folks said in the show’s promotional materials.
Ben’s work will be auctioned to raise funds for the non-profit River Room at the end of the show.
Click this link for more information on The River Room.
Happy birthday, JazzFC!
The Jazz Society of Fairfield County will celebrate its third anniversary with a Birthday Blowout Bash Thursday, April 24 at 6 pm at VFW Post 399 in Westport with 25+ musicians jamming the night away. The roster of performers includes Melissa Newman, Giacomo Gates, David DeJesus, Mike Mossman, Greg Wall, Boots Maleson, and more.
The evening is a benefit to support JazzFC Young Musician Clinics, music college scholarships and senior center outreach throughout Fairfield County. In addition to the music itself, the night will include a silent auction and a festive New Orleans dinner with corn bread, smoked brisket, beer can chicken, mac and cheese, beans and rice, Caesar salad, watermelon, homemade cookies, banana cream pie, key lime pie and Southern style pecan pie, plus vegetarian options. Tickets start at $125, with additional swag and perks for $250 and $500 tickets.
For those who can’t make it out that night but still wish to support JazzFC, a donation supports weekly club nights at Jazz at the Post, outreach to students and seniors, maintenance of the club’s legendary Village Gate piano, scholarships, and special events.
New spin on jazz in Hamden
These days, when you think of club deejays, you think hip hop, house, and electronica mostly. But jazz?
In January, the folks down at Cellar on Treadwell at 295 Treadwell St. in Hamden, CT started serving up an intriguing monthly series featuring resident spinmeister Ben Lovejoy and a guest deejay. Called “Between The Notes: A Night of Jazz on Vinyl,” they are no-cover events usually held the third Thursday of the month (doors at 6 pm, music starts at 7), with a selection of libations and Detroit-style pizza from Jam City Pizza.
The March event, for instance, featured guest Buffalo-based deejay knew’d and tunes from the golden era of Blue Note, deep cut jazz funk and international gems from the Middle East and Africa. I don’t know about you, but there’s a certain mellow vibe one gets when one has discovered classic Ethiopian jazz from the likes of Mulatu Astatke and Hailu Mergia.
This month’s event, on Thursday (April 17) features Hartford’s own Paladin, the artist's pseudonym of Max Gigle, an avid audiophile and curator of listening experiences.
“Paladin has spun deep cuts on WHUS 91.7 FM UConn, downtempo on WCBN 88.3 FM Ann Arbor, and dance tracks on the streets of DC,” the Cellar folks said in the night’s promo materials. “He currently is helping grow Hartford's vinyl record community while moonlighting with the local band Home By Ten. He joins resident selector Lovejoy for a curated set of jazz funk, downtempo, Japanese jazz, and rare cuts.”
At its best, a local jazz expedition is an adventure, and a night of no-cover eclectic deep cuts has us marking the calendar.
Deep-cut gems similar to this funk-loaded groover from Ethiopian jazz giant Hailu Mergia may be just the sort of thing you’ll hear at the Cellar on Treadwell’s monthly “Between The Notes: A Night of Jazz on Vinyl” events.
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
MAC Downtown, Milford, CT
Benny Benack III Quartet (trumpet, combo), Friday, April 18, 7:30 pm. GA $44 including service fee.
Benny Benack III is no stranger to the 8495 and always puts on a mood-brightening show; guaranteed to lift your spirits and make your toes tap.
8495Jazz Spur of the Moment Gigs TODAY
Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT, Baby Grand Jazz Series
Dave Potter & Retro Groove (drums, combo), 3 pm. Free.
Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
Improvisations Now (Matt Mitchell piano, Kim Cass bass, Joe Morris guitar), 2:30 pm. GA $16.50 including service fee.
Other Shows This Week
VFW Post 399, Westport, CT
Melissa Newman (vocals, combo), Thursday, April 17, 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, April 14, 7:30 pm. Free.
Firehouse 12, New Haven, CT
Daniel Levin (cello), Laurent Estoppey (saxophones) Friday, April 18, 8:30 pm ($20) and 10 pm ($15).
The Side Door, Old Lyme, CT
Julieta Eugenio Trio (sax, combo), Friday, April 18, 8 pm. GA $49.16 including service fee, students $22.68 including service fee (All ages show). For this show, Julieta is accompanied by Connecticut stalwarts Matt Dwonszyk on bass and Jonathan Barber on drums.
Uncle Cheef, Brewster, NY
Uncle Cheef’s Empire Gumbo Band (eclectic NOLA brass band-inspired w/NYC edge, composed by Questlove and Ian Hendrickson-Smith), Thursday, April 17, 7:30 and 9 pm. GA $20-$30. Ticket for first set guarantees a seat for both sets, walk-in seating for the 9pm set is based upon availability. $25 food/beverage minimum per person/per set.
United Theater, Westerly RI
Start Making Sense & Ocean Avenue Stompers (Talking Heads tribute and more, including horns), Saturday April 19, 8 pm. Balcony $48 including service fee, SRO floor $30 including service fee.
Shows coming up April 20-26
Alchemy, Providence, RI
John Allmark Jazz Orchestra, Monday, April 21, 8 pm doors, show at 9. GA $20.77.
Bushnell Theater, Hartford, CT
Fire Shut Up In My Bones, Hartford Symphony Orchestra w/Terence Blanchard and the E-Collective, Thursday, April 24, 8 pm. GA $44-$77. Student-child $10.
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
URI Jazz Combos IV, Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 pm. GA $17.85 including service fee.
URI Jazz Big Band II, Thursday, April 24, 8 pm. GA $17.85 including service fee.
Side Door, Old Lyme, CT
Kirk Edwards Quartet (saxophone, combo), Friday, April 25, 8 pm. GA $59.75 including service fee, students $27.98 including fee.
Arts at the Armory, Somerville, MA
Takuya Kuroda (trumpet, combo), Wednesday, April 23, 8 pm. GA $35.23 including service fee.
Jazz Forum, Tarrytown, NY
Bill Mays Quintet Duke Ellington Tribute (piano, combo), Froiday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26, 7 and 9:30 pm. GA $37.75 including service fee.
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
Wesleyan Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble, Friday, April 25, 8 pm. Free.
Jams
The Falcon, Marlboro, NY
New location for Hudson Valley jam: The Falcon in Marlboro, NY hosts a midweek jazz jam led by drummer Bryan Kopchak, Wednesday, April 16. Sign-up at 6 pm, music starts at 7. Suggested donation $5.
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.
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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