Litchfield Jazz Fest - Trio
Jul
25
7:15 PM19:15

Litchfield Jazz Fest - Trio

Honoring the 30th Anniversary of Litchfield Jazz Camp

The festival continues July 25 at 2 p.m. with the Jimmy Greene Quintet.
"Greene was fresh out of college when he joined the very first Litchfield Jazz Camp faculty in 1997," according to a release.

A Connecticut native, his most recent recording, "As We Are Now," was released last year.  He has performed or recorded alongside Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, Harry Connick Jr., Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, according to the release. 

At 3:45 p.m., the Steve Davis Sextet takes the stage. Davis was the first music director of Litchfield Jazz Camp in 1997 and has since recorded and performed with Chick Corea, Jimmy Heath, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove and Horace Silver. He recently joined Berklee College of Music as a full professor. 

Davis will be followed at 5:30 p.m. by the Paul Bollenback Quintet. Bollenback has performed on "The Tonight Show" and "Good Morning America," according to the release.

At 7:15 p.m., the Curtis Brothers Trio will perform with Zaccai Curtis on piano, Luques Curtis on bass and Richie Barshay om drums. 

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Zaccai Curtis / Javon Jackson Duo in La Grua Center
Jun
20
5:00 PM17:00

Zaccai Curtis / Javon Jackson Duo in La Grua Center

An intimate evening bringing together two generations of masterful jazz storytelling.

Grammy Award-winning pianist Zaccai Curtis joins forces with acclaimed tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson for a special duo performance in Connecticut — an intimate evening bringing together two generations of masterful jazz storytelling.

Known for his explosive blend of Afro-Cuban rhythm, bebop language, and modern harmonic textures, Curtis has emerged as one of the most exciting pianists of his generation following his 2025 Grammy win for Cubop Lives! https://www.zaccaicurtis.com/

Jackson, celebrated for his powerful tone and deep roots in the lineage of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, brings decades of artistry shaped alongside legends including Elvin Jones, Ron Carter, and Freddie Hubbard. https://javonjackson.com/

Together, the duo setting creates a rare opportunity to hear spontaneous musical conversation at its purest — fearless improvisation, deep swing, and soulful interaction from two artists connected by a profound respect for jazz tradition while continuously pushing the music forward.

NO PAPER TICKET NEEDED. Simply give your name at the door. All seating is first come, first served.

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Avery Sharpe - Juneteenth Freedom Concert
Jun
19
3:00 PM15:00

Avery Sharpe - Juneteenth Freedom Concert

We're taking over center court in Tower Square for a powerful Juneteenth celebration in partnership with 6 Brick's LLC and @whitelionbrewing

Starting at 3 PM, join us for a concert filled with music, energy and celebration as we honor this important day together. Come early and stay awhile... enjoy local vendors, great music, and most importantly, community.

This is more than a concert. It's a day of connection, culture and celebration of freedom. Bring your friends, bring your family, and let's celebrate in the heart of this incredible city we call Springfield!

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Scullers w Sarah Hanahan
Jun
12
7:00 PM19:00

Scullers w Sarah Hanahan

Sarah Hanahan is a dynamic, soulful alto saxophonist swiftly emerging as one of the most compelling new voices in jazz. A graduate of both the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and The Juilliard School, she blends deep-rooted swing and bebop traditions with a bold, modern intensity—an approach shaped by her rigorous training and fearless artistic vision. Since stepping onto the scene, Hanahan has performed with an extraordinary range of jazz luminaries, including Jeff “Tain” Watts, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nicholas Payton, Peter Washington, and Joe Farnsworth. Her commanding tone, technical mastery, and melodic imagination have taken her to major stages across the U.S. and abroad, with regular appearances at premier New York venues such as Smalls Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club, and Smoke Jazz & Supper Club. Her debut album, Among Giants (2024)—featuring Marc Cary, Nat Reeves, and Jeff “Tain” Watts—earned critical acclaim, including a 5-star review in DownBeat magazine and placement in their Top Albums of the Year list in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, Hanahan was named DownBeat’s #1 Rising Star Alto Saxophonist and ranked #9 overall alto saxophonist in the DownBeat Readers Poll—placing her alongside legends such as Kenny Garrett and Gary Bartz and further cementing her status as one of the leading voices of her generation. Whether fronting her own quartet or collaborating with some of the music’s most revered artists, Sarah Hanahan plays with passion, precision, and an unwavering commitment to the ever-evolving art of jazz.

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HAPASYMPHONY FEATURING WAITIKI 7
Jun
5
7:30 PM19:30

HAPASYMPHONY FEATURING WAITIKI 7

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.

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Zaccai Curtis Quintet at South Church in CT
May
31
2:30 PM14:30

Zaccai Curtis Quintet at South Church in CT

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.”

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Jersey City Jazz Fest The Eddie Palmieri Experience
May
30
8:00 PM20:00

Jersey City Jazz Fest The Eddie Palmieri Experience

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!

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Swinging Saturdays - New Haven CT
May
30
11:00 AM11:00

Swinging Saturdays - New Haven CT

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!

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