The Gift of Music
The 8495’s jazz musicians have graced us with great recordings this year – pass them along!
Poughkeepsie Jazz Project co-founder Ben Basile (on bass) released his debut ska jazz album, Benergy, in May. It is, as The Mod Squad’s Linc Hayes might say, “solid.” (8495Jazz photo)
I was historically a last-minute Christmas shopper, almost literally. That has changed to the better to the point that I am now, metaphorically speaking, usually earlier than whatever the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday Clock reads (which is, coincidentally, 89 seconds from the Big Ka-Boom, but don’t let that bum your holiday mood out).
The folks who bring us top-notch jazz live and in person throughout the year in the 8495 also record regularly, and 2025’s melodic inventory is bursting at the seams. There’s no better time to click some of these links, dig some tunes, send the talented folks who created this music some ducats, and share the beauty of it with those on your gift list.
So, in no particular order, 8495Jazz brings you just some of this year’s models. We’ll bring you some more next week; you’ll still have time to pull the present-buying trigger, unless the atomic scientists are right.
Benergy (Ben Basile), released in May: Ben, a bassist who lives in the Hudson Valley, released Benergy, his debut album, in May. Like New Orleans-based Charlie Halloran, Ben, whose “day job” is holding down the bottom with Boston’s ska punk mainstays Big D and the Kids Table, connects the music of the Caribbean with the music of the mainland with this ska jazz collection. Every time we slide it into the CD player in the old Mazda, we remain impressed. Preview and buy here.
As We Are Now (Jimmy Greene), released in July: The album, released on Jimmy’s own Greene Music Works label, is his first since 2020 – a poignant musical statement addressing his personal well-being – and to some degree, the collective well-being of his household and community – more than 12 years after his daughter Ana’s life was violently taken at Sandy Hook School in Newtown, CT.
“My emotional path over the past 12 years has not been linear – in my experience, there isn’t a straight line from tragedy to triumph,” Jimmy said in releasing the album. “Instead, I have consistently experienced a range of emotions, over time, that occupy the spectrum between great joy and deep sorrow. I tried to reflect that spectrum of emotion in the composition of the various songs that comprise the suite.” Preview and buy digital release here; CD and vinyl here.
The Roar and the Whisper (Alexa Tarantino), released in July: Woodwind specialist Alexa, a West Hartford, CT native, is a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and The Roar and the Whisper, her fifth album, is her debut on the center’s Blue Engine Records: “Alexa Tarantino has crafted an intelligent, emotionally resonant album that explores a field of dynamic jazz forces,” Jeff Becker said in his review of the album for Jazz Sensibilities. “Her playing is technically immaculate, but more importantly, it is generous and searching.” Preview and purchase here.
Possibilities (Jen Allen), released in August: Possibilities is the third album from Jen, who is one of the most ubiquitous jazz pianists, composers, and arrangers in western New England. “This album is a lot more hopeful,’ Jen told 8495Jazz just before the album came out. “I feel a lot of possibilities and I think everybody needs to be able to see more of them. I hope this music is an offering to encourage people that when life feels very narrow and people are against you – it feels like everybody is against one another – really, that is not the truth. That narrative is not real. The hopefulness is what I am trying to get through.” Preview and purchase here.
Live At Vic’s Las Vegas (Nicole Zuraitis and Friends), released in August: Connecticut’s own Nicole Zuraitis and Dan Pugach are on a Grammy roll and it may not have stopped with their 2025 win. The 2026 nominations are out and the couple’s Live at Vic’s Las Vegas album has garnered two – Best Jazz Performance for “All Stars Lead To You,” and Best Vocal Album.
Billed as Nicole Zuraitis and Friends, the album includes, in addition to Nicole’s piano and vocals and Dan’s drumming, guitarist Idan Morim, bassist Samuel Weber, Keyon Harrold on trumpet, Tom Scott on sax, and Rachel Eckroth on organ, and has gotten across-the-board laudatory reviews. They handle a wide variety of music, including country, blues and rock numbers (“Got My Mojo Working,” “Jolene,” and “Rhiannon”). “All Stars Lead To You,” the nominated performance song, is a Nicole original. Preview here; purchase here.
Jessamine (Tony Davis), released in November: Jessamine is guitarist Tony’s homage to his origins in Hartford, not only with the music, but also with the band he plays it with. “It embodies a sense of home in general,” Tony told 8495Jazz from his home in upper Manhattan. “(Drummer) Jonathan Barber and (bassist) Matt Dwonszyk are guys I basically learned to play music with. They’re a little bit older than me, but yeah, in Hartford they were huge inspirations for me. Additionally, I included a song from one of my heroes, Brad Mehldau, who is from West Hartford as well. I saw him when I was about 16 and it was definitely a life-changing concert for me. So it’s not all specific to the actual house, though there is plenty of reference there, as there is to a sort of sense of homecoming – tracing my roots in a way, musically.” Preview and purchase here.
Don’t Stop Now: The Lost Music of Thad Jones Written for Harry James (New London Big Band), released in April: Bandleader Sean Nelson has since changed the name of his group to the Sean Nelson Jazz Orchestra, but there’s nothing small-time about the old moniker. Not only did Sean find music of historic significance, he also brought in titans Wayne Bergeron on trumpet and drummer John Riley as guest artists. Preview here; Purchase here.
Hartford, CT native Tony Davis pays tribute to another Hartford area-raised musician, Brad Mehldau, on his new album Jessamine, with Brad’s song “Unrequited.”
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 Gigs of the Week
Sacred Heart University Community Theater, Fairfield, CT
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party (swing combo), Thursday, Dec. 18, 7:30 pm. $76.50 - $86.50 including service fee. Low ticket alert, folks know they are money, baby.
Arch Street Tavern, Hartford, CT
John Hasselback III Quintet (trumpet, combo), Thursday, Dec. 18, 9 pm. Hartt School alum John is joined by the heaviest of Hartford heavyweights - Steve Davis on 'bone, Tony Davis on guitar, Matt Dwonszyk on bass, and Jonathan Barber on drums. Yowza.
8495Jazz Spur of the Moment Gig TODAY
Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
Instantiations (combo improvisation), 2:30 pm. GA $16.50 including service fee.
Other Upcoming Shows
VFW Post 399, Westport, CT
Kenny Wessel Quartet (guitar, combo), Thursday, Dec. 18, 7:30 and 8:35 pm. GA $10.76-$20.76, student/vets $15.76 for 7:30 show.
Alchemy, Providence, RI
John Allmark Jazz Orchestra (trumpet, combo), Monday, Dec. 15, 8 pm. GA $20.77.
Regattabar, Cambridge, MA
Merry Christmas from José James (vocals), Thursday, Dec. 18, 7:30 and 9:30 pm. GA $53.43, student $41.79 including service fee.
The Falcon, Marlboro, NY
Analog Jazz Orchestra’s 3rd annual Christmas Swing-A-Long, Thursday, Dec. 18, 7:30 pm. $30 suggested donation.
The Side Door, Old Lyme, CT
Eddie Allen’s Jazzy Brass for the Holidays, Saturday, Dec. 20, 8 pm. GA $65.04, students $33.27 including service fee.
Mahawie Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA
John Pizzarelli Trio (guitar, combo), “Tony Bennett – The Art of Excellence,” Saturday, Dec. 20, 8 pm. $44 - $89 plus service fee (low ticket alert).
The Parlour, Providence, RI
Clear Audience (combo), today, 5 pm. All ages, GA $10.
Elicit Brewing Co., Manchester, CT
Hartford Jazz Orchestra, Monday, Dec. 15, 7:30 pm. Free.
Jazz Forum Arts, Tarrytown, NY
Bill Charlap trio (piano, combo), Friday, Dec. 19 and Saturday, Dec. 20, 7 and 9:30 pm. GA $43, students $37.75 including service fee.
Blackeyed Sally’s, Hartford, CT
Jen Allen and Heart Alchemy (piano, combo), Friday, Dec. 19, 7 pm.
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
Scott Cushman and Friends followed by jam, first Wednesday of the month.
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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Love this regional focus on jazz releases. Ben Basile's ska jazz concept is genius becaue it highlights how Caribbean rhythms have always been in conversation with mainland improvisation, but rarely gets packaged this intentionally. I picked up Jimmy Greene's latest after reading this and the emotional honesty is overwhelming in the best way. Great curation here