Experience the enchanting sounds that inspired White Lotus and Classic Exotica at the unforgettable HapaSymphony finale! Join Waitiki 7—a captivating fusion of Waikiki and Tiki—as they partner with Music and Artistic Director Dane Lam and your Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra for an extraordinary evening that celebrates mid-century Exotica music. Inspired by legendary figures such as Les Baxter, Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Gene Rains, and Robert Drasnin from the late 1950s and 1960s, Waitiki 7 is dedicated to recreating the timeless Tiki sound, ambiance, and sheer joy that defined an era.

Jeremy Bosch - Flute
Luques Curtis - Bass
Willie Martinez - Timbales
Reinaldo De Jesus - Congas
Carli Madonaldo - Bongos

The Music Series at South Church was founded in 1973 with the mission to present distinguished performers from local, national, and international stages. It evolved from a series of mid-week organ recitals launched in 1972—called “Enrich Your Lunch”—which featured local organists performing on the newly dedicated Cooper Memorial (Gress-Miles) Organ. These midday concerts, followed by a shared meal, drew enthusiastic audiences and inspired the South Church Music Committee to create a full season of concerts.

The new format debuted with a recital by internationally renowned organist Marie-Claire Alain, who performed to a standing-room-only crowd. Since then, the Series has presented sacred and secular music, welcoming audiences from across the Greater Hartford area.

Over the decades, the Series has featured vocalists, instrumental soloists, choral ensembles, and organists in performances ranging from classical to jazz. Most concerts are offered free of charge, with donations accepted to help offset costs. Notable performers have included organists Marie-Madeleine Duruflé, David Higgs, and Katelyn Emerson; pianists Peter Orth and Ignat Solzhenitsyn; and ensembles such as the American Boy Choir, Chanticleer, Lorelei Ensemble, the choirs of St. Paul’s Cathedral (London), and Connecticut’s Chorus Angelicus.

A highlight of the season is the annual Candlelight Festival of Lessons and Carols, a cherished service presented in partnership with South Church since 1973. Modeled after the tradition at King’s College, Cambridge, it combines scripture readings, carols, and music for choir and organ—welcoming all who wish to celebrate the Christmas season.

In 2003, the South Church Chamber Society was created under the artistic leadership of pianist David Westfall, establishing chamber music as a permanent part of the Series. Ensembles such as the American String Quartet, Jupiter String Quartet, and Chiara String Quartet have since been featured. Dr. Westfall concluded his tenure in 2019, but his artistic legacy continues to shape the Series today.

Recognized as a cultural cornerstone of New Britain, the Music Series was honored in 2006 by the New Britain Downtown District for its “successful and pioneering music and arts program... providing a wildly popular cultural resource to the entire region.”

The Eddie Palmieri Experience

presented by

Louis Fouché & Luques Curtis

Saturday May 30 

RWJBarnabas Plaza Stage @ 8pm

The Eddie Palmieri Experience is a one-of-a-kind project celebrating the groundbreaking legacy of music legend Eddie Palmieri. Known as “The Sun of Latin Music,” Palmieri revolutionized salsa and Latin jazz – recording over 40 albums, winning 10 Grammy® Awards, and performing across the globe until he passed at 88 years young in August 2025.

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In Palmieri’s signature fashion, this project blends the complex rhythms of Afro-Caribbean percussion with exciting arrangements and powerful improvisation, showcasing Palmieri’s revolutionary sound for lifelong fans and new listeners alike.

This Eddie Palmieri Experience has a

deep connection to the source, featuring stellar musicians who have performed and recorded with Palmieri’s ensembles. Each band member brings an authentic understanding of Palmieri’s unique musical language, from his fearless arrangements to the electrifying interplay between the rhythm section, horns, and vocals.

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The group’s musical directors – Louis Fouché on alto saxophone and Luques Curtis on bass – are longtime Palmieri collaborators and worked closely with him until his passing. Under their direction, the ensemble performs Palmieri’s music, spanning the different eras of his career in salsa and Latin jazz, including classics such as “Azúcar Pa’ Ti,” “Vámonos Pa’l Monte,” and “Palmas,” along with deeper cuts from his extensive repertoire of musical masterpieces.

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This all-star ensemble of Palmieri alumni includes Conrad Herwig and Jimmy Bosch on trombones, José Claussell on timbales, Vicente “Little Johnny” Rivero on congas, Orlando Vega on bongos and cowbell, Jeremy Bosch on vocals and flute, Ivan Renta on baritone saxophone, and Palmieri’s protégé on piano – 2025 Grammy® winner Zaccai Curtis. Also joining the ensemble for the Jersey City Jazz Fest is trumpet phenom Jesús Ricardo, known for his role in the Broadway musical Buena Vista Social Club.

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More than a tribute, this project is a celebration, honoring the global impact of one of music’s most influential architects while capturing the undeniable energy of the New York Latin music scene that he helped shape. Whether performing on festival stages, in clubs, or at dance halls, this group delivers an unforgettable experience – The Eddie Palmieri Experience – that keeps Palmieri’s legacy alive and well, and most certainly will make you dance!

Swinging Saturdays is run by Litchfield Performing Arts and its Litchfield Jazz Fest & Camp, with support from the CT State Department of Education’s Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships.
Swinging Saturdays is an exciting, Free, 18-week program held at New Haven’s Educational Center for the Artsfrom late January through late June.
Teachers and performers include many GRAMMY Winners and Nominees, such as:

Vocalist Nicole Zuraitis, Pianists Zaccai Curtis, Alejandra Williams, Jen Allen, Bassist Luques Curtis, Conway Campbell, Saxophonists Don Braden, Andrew Hadro, Wayne Escoffery, Guitarist Paul Bollenback, Charlie Sigler, Mike Godette, Drummers Matt Wilson, Richie Barshay, Joe Dyson…and many more top artists!

Jeremy Bosch - Flute
Luques Curtis - Bass
Willie Martinez - Timbales
Reinaldo De Jesus - Congas

Swinging Saturdays is run by Litchfield Performing Arts and its Litchfield Jazz Fest & Camp, with support from the CT State Department of Education’s Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships.
Swinging Saturdays is an exciting, Free, 18-week program held at New Haven’s Educational Center for the Artsfrom late January through late June.
Teachers and performers include many GRAMMY Winners and Nominees, such as:

Vocalist Nicole Zuraitis, Pianists Zaccai Curtis, Alejandra Williams, Jen Allen, Bassist Luques Curtis, Conway Campbell, Saxophonists Don Braden, Andrew Hadro, Wayne Escoffery, Guitarist Paul Bollenback, Charlie Sigler, Mike Godette, Drummers Matt Wilson, Richie Barshay, Joe Dyson…and many more top artists!

Swinging Saturdays is run by Litchfield Performing Arts and its Litchfield Jazz Fest & Camp, with support from the CT State Department of Education’s Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships.
Swinging Saturdays is an exciting, Free, 18-week program held at New Haven’s Educational Center for the Artsfrom late January through late June.
Teachers and performers include many GRAMMY Winners and Nominees, such as:

Vocalist Nicole Zuraitis, Pianists Zaccai Curtis, Alejandra Williams, Jen Allen, Bassist Luques Curtis, Conway Campbell, Saxophonists Don Braden, Andrew Hadro, Wayne Escoffery, Guitarist Paul Bollenback, Charlie Sigler, Mike Godette, Drummers Matt Wilson, Richie Barshay, Joe Dyson…and many more top artists!

Swinging Saturdays is run by Litchfield Performing Arts and its Litchfield Jazz Fest & Camp, with support from the CT State Department of Education’s Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships.
Swinging Saturdays is an exciting, Free, 18-week program held at New Haven’s Educational Center for the Artsfrom late January through late June.
Teachers and performers include many GRAMMY Winners and Nominees, such as:

Vocalist Nicole Zuraitis, Pianists Zaccai Curtis, Alejandra Williams, Jen Allen, Bassist Luques Curtis, Conway Campbell, Saxophonists Don Braden, Andrew Hadro, Wayne Escoffery, Guitarist Paul Bollenback, Charlie Sigler, Mike Godette, Drummers Matt Wilson, Richie Barshay, Joe Dyson…and many more top artists!

Overview

Grammy-winning saxophonist Darryl Yokley is coming to The Side Door — and this is not one to miss.

Darryl Yokley- Saxophones

Zaccai Curtis- Piano

Luques Curtis- Bass

Wayne Smith Jr.- Drums

Darryl Yokley has drawn praise from the New York Times, Downbeat Magazine, and beyond for a sound that resists easy labels. Jazz critic Brent Black put it best: Yokley is someone who "side steps standard categorization with ease," while Downbeat's Dave Cantor described him as "nakedly shuttling emotion through his instrument." However you try to define it, the consensus is the same — there is no one else who sounds quite like him.

The son of an African-American father and a first-generation Mexican mother, Yokley has woven his multicultural background into a compositional voice all his own. After touring with Motown legends the Four Tops, the Temptations, and the O'Jays, he moved to New York and quickly established himself as both a compelling bandleader and in-demand sideman, performing at venues including the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. He has shared the stage with Eddie Palmieri, Orrin Evans, Ralph Peterson Jr., and Nasheet Waits, among many others.

His latest album, Un Mundo en Soledad, pays homage to Gabriel García Márquez's beloved masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude, with song titles drawn from passages in the book and ordered according to the story's chronology. The record landed on multiple Best of 2024 lists and earned Yokley some of the strongest reviews of his career.

The Side Door Jazz Club is a dedicated jazz listening room located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT. Tickets are reserved seating. Guests dining at the Old Lyme Inn restaurant prior to the show receive 10% off their dinner bill.

Claude Diuallo presents “ 2 Grand Pianos/ 2 GRAMMY winners”
Claude Diallo
Luques Curtis
Tupac Mantilla
Keisel Jimenez

Jeremy Bosch - Flute
Luques Curtis - Bass
Willie Martinez - Timbales
Reinaldo De Jesus - Congas

Hope Center for the Arts in Springfield presents the Avery Sharpe Quintet, led by legendary bassist Avery Sharpe this Saturday night starting at 7:00pm.  The evening also features a special reading by Robert Meeropol, who will read a poem by his father and participate in a Q&A with the audience.

Join us for a special night of jazz with Saxophonist Jimmy Greene and his Quartet!

A native of Connecticut, Jimmy Greene is one of the most respected saxophonists of his generation. His most recent recording, As We Are Now, was released on July 25, 2025. His 2014 release, Beautiful Life (Mack Avenue), garnered two Grammy® Award nominations: one for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and one for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for Greene’s song “When I Come Home.” Greene has performed selections from the album on CBS This Morning, NBC’s The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, and the nationally syndicated Meredith Vieira Show. His other releases as a leader, While Looking Up (Mack Avenue), Flowers: Beautiful Life, Vol. 2 (Mack Avenue), Live at Smalls(SmallsLive), Mission Statement (RazDaz/Sunnyside), The Overcomers Suite (NuJazz), Gifts and Givers (Criss Cross), True Life Stories (Criss Cross), Forever (Criss Cross), Brand New World (RCA Victor), Live at Birdland (RCA Victor) and Introducing Jimmy Greene(Criss Cross) were also met with much critical acclaim. In fact, Tony Hall of Jazzwise Magazine (UK) calls Greene “ . . .without doubt one of the most striking young tenors of recent years.”

Join us for a special night of jazz with Saxophonist Jimmy Greene and his Quartet!

A native of Connecticut, Jimmy Greene is one of the most respected saxophonists of his generation. His most recent recording, As We Are Now, was released on July 25, 2025. His 2014 release, Beautiful Life (Mack Avenue), garnered two Grammy® Award nominations: one for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and one for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for Greene’s song “When I Come Home.” Greene has performed selections from the album on CBS This Morning, NBC’s The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, and the nationally syndicated Meredith Vieira Show. His other releases as a leader, While Looking Up (Mack Avenue), Flowers: Beautiful Life, Vol. 2 (Mack Avenue), Live at Smalls(SmallsLive), Mission Statement (RazDaz/Sunnyside), The Overcomers Suite (NuJazz), Gifts and Givers (Criss Cross), True Life Stories (Criss Cross), Forever (Criss Cross), Brand New World (RCA Victor), Live at Birdland (RCA Victor) and Introducing Jimmy Greene(Criss Cross) were also met with much critical acclaim. In fact, Tony Hall of Jazzwise Magazine (UK) calls Greene “ . . .without doubt one of the most striking young tenors of recent years.”

Join us for a special night of jazz with Saxophonist Jimmy Greene and his Quartet!

A native of Connecticut, Jimmy Greene is one of the most respected saxophonists of his generation. His most recent recording, As We Are Now, was released on July 25, 2025. His 2014 release, Beautiful Life (Mack Avenue), garnered two Grammy® Award nominations: one for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and one for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for Greene’s song “When I Come Home.” Greene has performed selections from the album on CBS This Morning, NBC’s The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, and the nationally syndicated Meredith Vieira Show. His other releases as a leader, While Looking Up (Mack Avenue), Flowers: Beautiful Life, Vol. 2 (Mack Avenue), Live at Smalls(SmallsLive), Mission Statement (RazDaz/Sunnyside), The Overcomers Suite (NuJazz), Gifts and Givers (Criss Cross), True Life Stories (Criss Cross), Forever (Criss Cross), Brand New World (RCA Victor), Live at Birdland (RCA Victor) and Introducing Jimmy Greene(Criss Cross) were also met with much critical acclaim. In fact, Tony Hall of Jazzwise Magazine (UK) calls Greene “ . . .without doubt one of the most striking young tenors of recent years.”

Zaccai Curtis - Piano, Luques Curtis - Bass, Jeremy Bosch - Flute, Willie Martinez - Timbales, Camilo Molina - Congas, Reinaldo de Jesus - Bongos

Zaccai Curtis - Piano, Luques Curtis - Bass, Jeremy Bosch - Flute, Willie Martinez - Timbales, Camilo Molina - Congas, Reinaldo de Jesus - Bongos

Please note:  If you do not purchase all seats at a table, other customers may be seated with you.

If you have any special requirements, please call the box office after purchasing your tickets or at least 72 hours prior to show time.

Dinner//Show packages are not being offered for this show, however we do have a menu in the jazz club.

Zaccai Curtis - Piano, Luques Curtis - Bass, Jeremy Bosch - Flute, Willie Martinez - Timbales, Camilo Molina - Congas, Reinaldo de Jesus - Bongos

Fresh off his 2025 Grammy win for Best Latin Jazz Album, pianist and bandleader Zaccai Curtis brings the exhilarating sound of Cubop Lives! to the stage. This performance features the powerhouse musicians from the award-winning recording, including Willie Martinez, Camilo Molina, Reinaldo De Jesus, Luques Curtis, and Jeremy Bosch. Expect a vibrant night of Afro-Caribbean rhythm, hard-driving swing, and the electrifying energy that made the album a Grammy standout.

Zaccai Curtis - Piano, Luques Curtis - Bass, Jeremy Bosch - Flute, Willie Martinez - Timbales, Camilo Molina - Congas, Reinaldo de Jesus - Bongos

Fresh off his 2025 Grammy win for Best Latin Jazz Album, pianist and bandleader Zaccai Curtis brings the exhilarating sound of Cubop Lives! to the stage. This performance features the powerhouse musicians from the award-winning recording, including Willie Martinez, Camilo Molina, Reinaldo De Jesus, Luques Curtis, and Jeremy Bosch. Expect a vibrant night of Afro-Caribbean rhythm, hard-driving swing, and the electrifying energy that made the album a Grammy standout.

Zaccai Curtis - Piano, Luques Curtis - Bass, Willie Martinez - Timbales, Camilo Molina - Congas, Reinaldo de Jesus - Bongos

The Vermont Jazz Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to creating, promoting, and preserving jazz for a broad constituency of artists, students, and the public through concerts, education, and workshops. Each year, the VJC hosts world-class artists and offers many educational opportunities to encourage and strengthen the jazz community for generations to come.

VJC Mission Statement

The Vermont Jazz Center is dedicated to creating, promoting, and preserving jazz for a broad constituency of artists, students, and the public through concerts, education, and workshops.

ABOUT THE CONCERT

Winter’s hottest jazz festival returns with an unforgettable weekend of music, energy, and community!

Headlining the festival is Kes and Friends, bringing their signature Caribbean sound and feel-good spirit to two exclusive concerts featuring Etienne Charles. These performances, held in Rose Theater on Thursday and the Appel Room on Friday, are included with the All-Access Pass, which gives you access to everything happening on your chosen night, including Kes’s concert with guaranteed assigned seating.

The Nightly Festival Pass (No Kes) offers access to all festival performances on your chosen night, except for the Kes concert. Experience sets celebrating the legacy of Eddie Palmieri, along with Tomeka Reid, DJ Logic, Solomon Hicks, Erena Terakubo, Gabriel Chakarji, Rajna Swaminathan, Kate Kortum, winner of the 2025 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, and more, plus the Jazz Legacies Fellowship Honors All-Star Concert, spotlighting over 15 masters of the music including George Coleman, Amina Claudine Myers, Akua Dixon, Herlin Riley, and Billy Hart.

With every space across our halls activated and buzzing, audiences can discover the full spectrum of jazz, from timeless tributes to bold new sounds, all under one roof. Choose your pass, find your rhythm, and join us for an unforgettable weekend of music!

Zaccai Curtis - Piano
TBD - Bass
TBD - Timbales
Reinaldo De Jesus - Congas
Jeremy Bosch - Flute

Zaccai Curtis - Piano
TBD - Bass
Willie Martinez - Timbales
Reinaldo De Jesus - Congas
Jeremy Bosch - Flute

JD Allen - Saxophone
Aurélien Budynek - Guitar
Zaccai Curtis - Keys
Jeremiah Kal’ab - Bass

JD Allen - Saxophone
Aurélien Budynek - Guitar
Zaccai Curtis - Keys
Jeremiah Kal’ab - Bass

JD Allen - Saxophone
Aurélien Budynek - Guitar
Zaccai Curtis - Keys
Jeremiah Kal’ab - Bass

JD Allen - Saxophone
Aurélien Budynek - Guitar
Zaccai Curtis - Keys
Jeremiah Kal’ab - Bass

JD Allen - Saxophone
Aurélien Budynek - Guitar
Zaccai Curtis - Keys
Jeremiah Kal’ab - Bass