Seating Chart

Doors open at 6:00pm. Try to be seated by 6:30pm to have your dinner order taken. Showtime begins at 7:00pm when we transform the space into a theater.

Out of respect for the performers and other patrons, please keep talking to a whisper during the performance.

Very Limited Occupancy. Tables seating 2, 4, 5 guests, with tables for 6, 8, 12 available upon request. Single, general admission tickets are also available. See The Attached Seating Chart. Admission Is $15.00 – $25.00 Per Person, Ticket prices may be higher for special performances. Have problems with the ticketing system? Call 203-247-4273

Parking: Please park in LaZingara’s lot or on Greenwood Ave. or School Street. Please avoid parking in P.T. Barnum Square.

“Mr. Gates is a solid example of a performer who is doing something that no one else does. He evokes an age (that I would hope is not so terribly bygone) when musicians were entertainers and entertainers were musicians, and a sense of humor was as important as a sense of rhythm.” — Will Friedwald

Vocalist – Giacomo Gates does more than sing “a bunch of songs.” He is truly an entertainer, for all ages and styles, as audiences enjoy the music, the interaction on the bandstand between him and his musicians, the spontaneity, the humor, the stories about the music and composers, along with their relation to everyday life. People are smiling, having a good time, while thoroughly enjoying the music. What usually lacks in most of today’s performances is obviously present … fun!

The criteria for defining jazz singing will probably be argued for the rest of time. But no matter which side of the argument one may be on, there can be no doubt that Giacomo Gates is an authentic jazz vocalist. Heavily steeped in the traditions of the original vocal improvisers from Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald through their modern counterparts Betty Carter and Leon Thomas, Giacomo’s own approach draws most heavily from the bebop-rooted masters like Jon Hendricks, Babs Gonzales, King Pleasure and most of all, Eddie Jefferson. Like his influences, Gates has forged his own unique path.

In his own words, “In this kind of music it’s about intention, honesty and what comes through in your voice – the Experience of Life.” Without question, Giacomo’s life experience is unlike any other jazz artist that may come to mind. Blessed with a full-bodied and mellifluous voice, extraordinary rhythmic precision and an unerring sense of lyricism, Gates’ total command of the vernacular, boundless creativity and exuberant passion set him apart from nearly every other vocalist on the scene. However, he didn’t display his talents to the public-at-large until 1990, at 40 years of age. Prior to that, Gates led the life of a hardworking blue collar ‘man’s man.’ After a number of years driving everything from school buses to cattle transporters to 18-wheelers, Giacomo departed for the Alaskan wilderness in 1975, working for 14 years in a variety of jobs, including three years on the Alaska Pipeline. Whether he was doing road construction, operating scrapers, loaders and bulldozers, or driving spikes into railway tracks in the flatland emptiness of the tundra with no directional guides other than a compass and the sky, Gates found these experiences to be powerful stimulation for developing his own artistic expression.

“Two things always struck me out there,” Giacomo says of that experience, “feeling insignificant and feeling very alive.” With severe risk to life and limb from all sorts of dangers ranging from geographic disorientation to heavy machinery accidents to hungry polar bears, Gates was confronted with sights, sounds and experiences that had a profound effect upon his being, and therefore his art.

Although he had always been exposed to music since early childhood, singing and playing guitar through his teenage years, there were no real opportunities to perform in Alaska until nearly the end of his time there. Looking for growth and development even as a construction worker, Gates would occasionally leave Alaska to spend time in places like Washington State and Tucson, Arizona working on new projects and learning the use of new equipment. In those more civilized environments, he would perform whenever possible, sitting in on a variety of musical activities. In the late ‘80s, he had many opportunities to do the same in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he occasionally moonlighted as a bouncer in local clubs. After much encouragement from local and visiting performers, Giacomo decided to return to his native Connecticut and devote full attention to the music.

Like his mentors, Gates would sometimes translate great instrumental solos into Vocalese, including the works of Lee Morgan, Chet Baker, Gene Ammons, Charlie Rouse and many others, also penning lyrics to classic jazz compositions. In citing his influences, Giacomo states “Some of my favorite singers are Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster and Lester Young. They were singing through the horn. If that isn’t singing, I don’t know what is!”

From that perspective, Giacomo sometimes vocalizes as an instrument – trombone, flute, bass and even drums. There’s no contrivance or gimmickry for its own sake involved in this, as it’s entirely conceived within the context of the music. Originally developed while working a steady duo gig with a pianist in Connecticut, Giacomo would improvise bass lines or drum sounds in support of the piano solos. Invited onstage by Jon Hendricks during a performance in 1995, Gates sang drums to Hendricks’ bass accompaniment of the pianist. After that, the instrumental vocal became a regular part of his program. In June of 2004, Giacomo and Andy Bey subbed for Jon and Kevin Mahogany in Europe, performing with the other two regular members of The Four Brothers vocal ensemble, Mark Murphy and Kurt Elling. Giacomo has also performed with such notables as Jon Hendricks, Lou Donaldson, Freddie Hubbard, Don Friedman, Billy Mitchell, James Spaulding, Eddie Bert, Earl May, Sheila Jordan, Richie Cole, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Hilton Ruiz, and more. His primary focus has been leading his own groups, which has taken him all over the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Playing major U.S. clubs, major festivals and at countless universities and jazz societies, Giacomo’s enormous appeal and popularity are obvious from the many repeat engagements he has had at these venues. He’s also performed and taught in Europe, Russia and Australia.

Gates has nine heavily acclaimed CDs, all charting in the Top 20, with 2 #1 recordings, for six and four weeks. The most recent release, in February, 2022, ‘YOU’, his fifth on Savant Records is garnering rave reviews, receiving heavy airplay and reaching #5 on national jazz radio charts. Eighteen songs with ‘YOU’ in the title…it’s all about YOU. What Time Is It?’ was the previous release, in April 2019… reaching #8 on national jazz radio. “Everything is Cool,” Savant, July 2015, also rave reviews, with heavy national and international airplay as well.

“Milestones – Giacomo Gates Sings the Music of Miles Davis,” garnered rave reviews and topped the National Jazz Radio playlist at #1 for four weeks. “The Revolution Will Be Jazz, the Songs of Gil Scott-Heron, (Savant), was #1 for six weeks on the National Jazz Radio Playlist. Both records spent over three months in the Top 20.

Heavily committed to education, Giacomo teaches at Wesleyan University, and Sacred Heart University, and has conducted workshops and residencies at numerous educational institutions all over the U.S.

Like all seriously committed jazz artists, Giacomo Gates is a student of the music’s great legacy. Known for his interaction with his live audience through witty patter and informative introductions, every performance becomes a lesson in jazz history.

Giacomo’s sheer joy, exuberance, wit and unlimited creativity make him one of jazz’s most compelling artists.

Bassist – Phil Bowler attended the University of Hartford, where he received a bachelor’s degree in music in 1972. He played with Roland Kirkfrom 1976–78, then with Hugh Masekela (1980), Joe Lee Wilson (1981). He went on to play with jazz greats such as : Wynton Marsalis , Big Nick Nicholas, Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis, and Ralph Peterson, Jr. He played in a quintet with Donald Harrison and Terence Blanchard And began touring in Europe with the amazing Benny Golson. He worked with Jackie McLean locally and with The Newman Taylor Baker duo in 1997, and in 1998 he worked with the Count Basie Orchestra.

Bowler hosted Jazz Adventures on WPKN radio in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and performed with Artt Frank and Mike Armando from 1999–2009. In 2002 Bowler hosted the MJA Jazz & Blues Festival at Lake Grove, Long Island, New York.

Pianist – Tomoko Ohno, born in Tokyo, began piano studies at the age of 4. As a teenager, she began playing professionally in the Tokyo area jazz scene.

After graduating from Rikkyo University in Law and Politics, Miss Ohno moved to the United States and entered the Jazz Studies Program at William Paterson University in New Jersey, where she studied with Harold Mabern and Rufus Reid. During this time she had the opportunity to perform with such artists as Jerome Richardson, Wynton Marsalis, Benny Golson and Joe Henderson. A recipient of the Student Award of Outstanding Performance and a member of Dean’s List, Miss Ohno graduated with a B.A. in Jazz Studies.

She has performed at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital, Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note, Birdland, in addition to appearing on live radio broadcasts by WBGO and WNYC, and ABC TV’s Good Morning America. She has performed and/or recorded with Slide Hampton, Claudio Roditi, James Spaulding, Houston Person, James Spaulding, Rufus Reid, Scott Robinson, The John Lee Quartet, The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Big Band and Sherrie Maricle and the Diva Jazz Orchestra, Diva Five Play, Jay Leonhart trio, Jay 7, as well as working as a side musician with such diverse musical ensembles as the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble and The Spirit of Life Ensemble.

Miss Ohno also leads her own group, and has released three CDs on the Japan-based Tokuma label. In 1997 her first album, “Powder Blue” was released, and in 1999 her second album, “Affirmation” was released, followed in 2000 by the album “Natural Woman.” Her album “Shadows of Spring” (recorded in Argentina) was released by MDR Records in 2005. “Tomoko Ohno in Buenos Aires” was also released by MDR Records in 2007. The duet album with legendary Argentine guitarist Ricardo Lew ” From Tokyo to Buenos Aires ” was released in 2011 spring. The duo added the cellist Nestor Tedesco from Teatro Colon and released Tango/Jazz album ” Tres Sabores ” in 2016.

Miss Ohno and bassist Jay Leonhart released their duo album ” Don’t You Wish!” in 2018 and Jay Leonhart Trio released their first trio album “Joy” from Sunnyside Record in 2019 with Vito Lesczak on drums.

She is also a member of Trilateral Project with Brazilian drummer Samuel Martinelli and Bassist Marcus McLaurine. Their first album with special guest Russell Malone, “Synchronicities” was released in 2023.

Ms. Ohno was also part of the legendary bassist Bill Crow’s Octet at Jazz at Lincoln Center Let Freedom Swing program in 2023

We’re sorry, there are no refunds after tickets have been purchased. In the event of a pandemic, rain, snow, or other forms of weather which prohibit a performance, the performance date will be postponed and rescheduled for another date within a reasonable amount of time. If the new date is postponed, a future alternate date will be picked at the discretion of Bethel Jazz and the musical artist. The ticket holder will be notified of postponements, cancelations, and rescheduled dates via email. Tickets are non-refundable and may be transferred to another person in the event a purchaser can not make the rescheduled date. In the event, an artist cancels a date, and Bethel Jazz is unable to reschedule the artist, Bethel Jazz reserves the right to provide a substitute performer of equal quality without notice to the ticket purchaser. If a date is canceled and not rescheduled, Bethel Jazz will provide a refund (in some cases minus the Eventbrite fee) or credit for another performance at the choice of the ticket holder. Bethel Jazz will always do its best to accommodate for changes in seating, table sizes, or changes to tickets.