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Greater New Haven's Community Resource for Jazz since 1996

Greater New Haven's community
resource for Jazz since 1996!

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Patricia Brennan Trio

June 20, 2025 By Craig OConnell

Patricia Brennan Trio

The Side Door Jazz Club

Friday, June 20 · 8 – 10:30pm EDT. Doors at 7:15pm

85 Lyme St Old Lyme, CT 06371

Patricia Brennan – Vibes

Kim Cass – Bass

Noel Brennan – Drums

  • -The jazz world can get stuck in a battle between the head and the heart, but rarely do you find an improviser like Patricia Brennan whose music seems to exist in a realm outside the body, but stays loaded with feeling. – Giovanni Russonello, The New York Times.
  • Brennan supplements her dazzling technique with two-handed independence and unexpected tonal shifts courtesy of judicious use of electronics. – John Sharpe, The New York City Jazz Record.

Mexican born vibraphonist, marimbist, improviser and composer Patricia Brennan has been widely feted as one of the instrument’s newer leaders, observed The New York City Jazz Record. Patricia recently won the Jazz Journalists Association 2025 JJA Jazz Award as Mallet Instrument Player of the Year. She was also a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association 2025 JJA Up & Coming Musician of the Year award. Patricia has also won the rising star vibraphonist award from Downbeat magazine’s 70th (2022) and 72nd (2024) Critics Poll and was listed #4 vibraphonist of the year on the 71st (2023) & 72nd (2024) Critics Poll.

Patricia’s extensive sidewoman work includes the Grammy nominated John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, Michael Formanek Ensemble Kolossus, Mary Halvorson’s Amaryllis, Grammy winning Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro Latin Jazz Big Band, amongst other groups and collectives. Patricia’s own projects include the solo project MAQUISHTI, MOCH – a collaborative duo with percussionist, drummer and turntablist Noel Brennan (DJ Arktureye), MORE TOUCH – a quartet with Mauricio Herrera on percussion, Marcus Gilmore on drums, and Kim Cass on bass, the PATRICIA BRENNAN SEPTET which features the rhythm section from More Touch and adding Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, Jon Irabagon on alto and sopranino saxophones and Mark Shim on tenor saxophone, TALAMANTI, a piano and mallet percussion duo with extraordinary pianist Sylvie Courvoisier and, OF THE NEAR AND FAR, a tentet comprised by a string quartet, a jazz quintet and an electronic musician.

Patricia’s acclaimed debut solo album “Maquishti”, released on Valley of Search, was listed #4 on The New York Times 10 Best Jazz Albums of 2021. Patricia’s sophomore album, “More Touch”, released in November 2022 on Pyroclastic Records received multiple accolades from critics. “More Touch” was included in several Best Jazz Albums of 2022 lists such as NPR Best Music of 2022, Bandcamp Best Jazz Albums of 2022 and PopMatters Best Jazz Albums of 2022. The opener track “Unquiet Respect”, from the record “More Touch”, was listed under NPR’s 100 Best Songs of 2022, a list featuring music from all genres and only including a handful of jazz artists. Patricia released her third album as a leader, “Breaking Stretch” featuring the Patricia Brennan Septet on September 6, 2024 on Pyroclastic Records. This septet record features master improvisers Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, Jon Irabagon on alto and sopranino saxophones, Mark Shim on tenor saxophone, Kim Cass on bass, Marcus Gilmore on drums and Mauricio Herrera on percussion. “Breaking Stretch” received wide acclaim earning spots on multiple Best Jazz Albums of 2024 including The New York Times Top 10 and NPR 50 Best Albums of 2024 (across all genres of music). Patricia will be releasing her fourth record featuring her latest tentet project OF THE NEAR AND FAR on October 24, 2025 on Pyroclastic Records. Also, Patricia recently recorded her duo project TALAMANTI with pianist Sylvie Courvoisier which is expected to be released in 2026.

Patricia Brennan is a Valley of Search artist, Pyroclastic Records artist, BlueHaus Mallets artist, and Audeze artist. Patricia is currently faculty at the Jazz Arts program at Manhattan School of Music, the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and at the Jazz Studies program at NYU Steinhardt.

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", Patricia Brennan Trio

George Cables Trio

June 7, 2025 By Craig OConnell

George Cables Trio
Saturday, June 7 · 8 – 10:30pm EDT.  Doors at 7:15pm at The Side Door Jazz Club.

George Cables – Piano

Essiet Essiet – Bass

Jerome Jennings – Drums

When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people.” In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled sidestreets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style.

Born in New York City on November 14, 1944, Cables was classically trained as a youth and when he started at the “Fame” worthy High School of Performing Arts, he admittedly “didn’t know anything about jazz.” But he was soon smitten with the potential for freedom of expression he heard in jazz.

The young Cables was impressed by such keyboardists as Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. But, he points out, “I never really listened to pianists when I was coming up. I would probably say I’ve been more influenced by Miles or Trane and their whole bands rather than by any single pianist. The concept of the music is more important than listening to somebody’s chops, somebody’s technique, The Way Miles’ band held together, it was just like magic. You were transported to another world.”

Cables attended Mannes College of Music for two years and by 1964 he was playing in a band called The Jazz Samaritans which included such rising stars as Billy Cobham, Lenny White. and Clint Houston. Gigs around New York at the Top of the Gate, Slugs, and other clubs attracted attention to Cables’ versatility and before long he had recorded with tenor saxophonist Paul Jeffrey, played on Max Roach’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and earned a brief 1969 tenure at the piano bench with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.

A 1969 tour with tenor titan Sonny Rollins took Cables to the West Coast. By 1971 he became a significant figure in the jazz scenes of Los Angeles, where he first resided, and San Francisco, where he also lived. Collaborations and recordings with tenor saxophonists Joe Henderson and Sonny Rollins (“Next Album:), trumpeters Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw (“Blackstone Legacy”), and vibist Bobby Hutcberson made Cables’ wide-ranging keyboard skills, often on electric piano, amply evident. Demand for his sensitive accompaniment increased and by the end of the 1970s, Cables was garnering a reputation as everyone’s favorite sideman.

Perhaps the most pivotal turn came when hard-bop legend Dexter Gordon invited Cables into his quartet in 1977. The two years he spent with the reappreciated tenor giant ignited Cables’s passion for the acoustic piano and rimmersed him in the bebop vocabulary. “I don’t feel that one should be stuck in the mud playing the same old stuff all the time, trying to prove that this music is valid,” Cables says. “We don’t need to prove anything. But I think you really have to be responsive to your heritage and then go on and find your own voice.”

The longest standing relationship Cables developed in the late seventies was with alto saxophonist Art Pepper. Cables, who Pepper called “Mr. Beautiful,” became Art’s favorite pianist, appearing on many quartet dates for Contemporary and Galaxy, and joining Art for the extraordinary duet album, Goin’ Home, that would be Pepper’s final recording session. “I’ve been able to play with some of the greatest musicians in the world,” Cables says, ..but it’s funny, if you’re not seen as a bandleader, doing the same thing alot of times, it’s easy to wonder, `Well, who are you really? What do you really feel?’ And sometimes I have to ask myself that, because every time I play with somebody different I have to put on a different hat.”

He has performed and recorded with some of the greatest jazz musicians of our time, including: Joe Henderson, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughn, Tony Williams, Bobby Hutcherson and Dizzy Gillespie.

George Cables has emerged as a major voice in modern jazz. He is currently performing and recording as a soloist, with trio and larger ensembles, and as a clinician in college jazz programs. In addition to composing and arranging for his own albums, George Cables has contributed to recordings by Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Bobby Hutcherson and many others. He is noted for his fresh Interpretations of classic compositions and for his innovative style of writing.

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", George Cables Trio

George Cables Trio

June 6, 2025 By Craig OConnell

George Cables Trio
Friday, June 6 · 8 – 10:30pm EDT. Doors at 7:15pm at The Side Door Jazz Club.

George Cables – Piano

Essiet Essiet – Bass

Jerome Jennings – Drums

When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people.” In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled sidestreets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style.

Born in New York City on November 14, 1944, Cables was classically trained as a youth and when he started at the “Fame” worthy High School of Performing Arts, he admittedly “didn’t know anything about jazz.” But he was soon smitten with the potential for freedom of expression he heard in jazz.

The young Cables was impressed by such keyboardists as Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. But, he points out, “I never really listened to pianists when I was coming up. I would probably say I’ve been more influenced by Miles or Trane and their whole bands rather than by any single pianist. The concept of the music is more important than listening to somebody’s chops, somebody’s technique, The Way Miles’ band held together, it was just like magic. You were transported to another world.”

Cables attended Mannes College of Music for two years and by 1964 he was playing in a band called The Jazz Samaritans which included such rising stars as Billy Cobham, Lenny White. and Clint Houston. Gigs around New York at the Top of the Gate, Slugs, and other clubs attracted attention to Cables’ versatility and before long he had recorded with tenor saxophonist Paul Jeffrey, played on Max Roach’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and earned a brief 1969 tenure at the piano bench with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.

A 1969 tour with tenor titan Sonny Rollins took Cables to the West Coast. By 1971 he became a significant figure in the jazz scenes of Los Angeles, where he first resided, and San Francisco, where he also lived. Collaborations and recordings with tenor saxophonists Joe Henderson and Sonny Rollins (“Next Album:), trumpeters Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw (“Blackstone Legacy”), and vibist Bobby Hutcberson made Cables’ wide-ranging keyboard skills, often on electric piano, amply evident. Demand for his sensitive accompaniment increased and by the end of the 1970s, Cables was garnering a reputation as everyone’s favorite sideman.

Perhaps the most pivotal turn came when hard-bop legend Dexter Gordon invited Cables into his quartet in 1977. The two years he spent with the reappreciated tenor giant ignited Cables’s passion for the acoustic piano and rimmersed him in the bebop vocabulary. “I don’t feel that one should be stuck in the mud playing the same old stuff all the time, trying to prove that this music is valid,” Cables says. “We don’t need to prove anything. But I think you really have to be responsive to your heritage and then go on and find your own voice.”

The longest standing relationship Cables developed in the late seventies was with alto saxophonist Art Pepper. Cables, who Pepper called “Mr. Beautiful,” became Art’s favorite pianist, appearing on many quartet dates for Contemporary and Galaxy, and joining Art for the extraordinary duet album, Goin’ Home, that would be Pepper’s final recording session. “I’ve been able to play with some of the greatest musicians in the world,” Cables says, ..but it’s funny, if you’re not seen as a bandleader, doing the same thing alot of times, it’s easy to wonder, `Well, who are you really? What do you really feel?’ And sometimes I have to ask myself that, because every time I play with somebody different I have to put on a different hat.”

He has performed and recorded with some of the greatest jazz musicians of our time, including: Joe Henderson, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughn, Tony Williams, Bobby Hutcherson and Dizzy Gillespie.

George Cables has emerged as a major voice in modern jazz. He is currently performing and recording as a soloist, with trio and larger ensembles, and as a clinician in college jazz programs. In addition to composing and arranging for his own albums, George Cables has contributed to recordings by Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Bobby Hutcherson and many others. He is noted for his fresh Interpretations of classic compositions and for his innovative style of writing.

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", George Cables Trio

Michael Wolff Trio with Ben Allison and Mike Clark

May 9, 2025 By Craig OConnell

Michael Wolff Trio with Ben Allison and Mike Clark

Join us for a special night of jazz with pianist Michael Wolff and his Trio!
By The Side Door Jazz Club

Friday, May 9 · 8 – 10:30pm EDT. Doors at 7:15pm

The Side Door
85 Lyme St Old Lyme, CT 06371
Refund Policy
No Refunds
About this event

Event lasts 2 hours 30 minutes
ALL AGES

Free venue parking

Michael Wolff – Piano

Ben Allison – Bass

Mike Clark – Drums

Michael Wolff is a renowned jazz pianist, composer and bandleader known for his virtuoso performances and innovative style. After leaving music school early to join the Latin-jazz great Cal Tjader’s band in the early ’70s, he spent the next two decades gigging and recording extensively. Wolff can be heard on over 21 recordings with a veritable hall of fame ranging from Tjader to Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Nancy Wilson, Sheila E, Christian McBride, Tony Williams, and more. During this time, he even mingled with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Duke Ellington Band and the Count Basie Orchestra.

In addition to appearances at esteemed global venues such as Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Birdland, Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, Snug Harbor and Mezzrow, Wolff has performed with and conducted over 25 symphony orchestras worldwide including The Dallas Symphony, The Fort Worth Symphony, The Berlin Radio Orchestra, and The Atlanta Symphony. He has also performed as a soloist with The Memphis National Symphony and The Pittsburgh Symphony.

Wolff became a part of pop culture in 1989, when he began a five-year tenure as the musical director of the high energy house band on Arsenio Hall’s groundbreaking late-night talk show. This journey led to him accompanying saxophonist and Presidential candidate Bill Clinton in 1992, as well as backing musical giants including Ray Charles, B.B. King, Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Al Green, James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lee Lewis and Warren Zevon. He also served as musical director for Nancy Wilson.

In the summer of 2015, a grueling four-year battle with a rare form of blood cancer had the pianist-composer on the ropes and flat on his back. He fell into a coma in the lobby of a New York hospital, where the prognosis quickly moved from doubtful to death’s door. At one point, the doctor asked his wife, award-winning actress, director and writer Polly Draper, if she’d signed a Do Not Resuscitate order. Through the haze of drugs and debilitating illness, Wolff lifted his head up and growled: “Resuscitate me!”

His sons Nat and Alex, in the midst of their ascent as two of the most talented actors of their generation, returned home to be with their father to comfort him. They played guitars and sang at his bedside, tapping into the sweet, winsome gifts that had made the Wolffs a famous musical family nearly a decade earlier, via the hit Nickelodeon TV series The Naked Brothers Band. “When I got sick, it was tough on the whole family,” Wolff says. “My wife really had to take care of me, and it was hard on everybody. “I guess it just wasn’t my time,” he laughs today, “So now everybody’s flying free, which is great.”

Michael Wolff documents these highs, lows and ultimately triumphs in his memoir, On That Note: a Memoir of Jazz, Tics, and Survival. Nominated by the Jazz Journalist Association in 2023 for “Book of the Year: Biography/Autobiography”, the bestseller details not only his rich musical career, but also his journey as an outsider growing up with Tourette Syndrome to near-death and triumph over cancer. Wolff often recites and riffs on sections from his powerful, adventurous and humor-filled memoir in both his solo and trio performances. His experiences also inspired him to write and record material for his latest record “MEMOIR”, to be released on Sunnyside Records in spring of 2024. Prior to “MEMOIR”, he has released 14 albums to both critical and popular acclaim.

Wolff is a recipient of the BMI Music Award, the winner of the Gold Disc Award in Japan (“Jumpstart” recorded with Tony Williams and Christian McBride), and the recipient of the Hamptons International Film Festival’s award for best film score for The Tic Code. In addition to The Tic Code, he has composed the scores to many other film and television projects, such as Made Up, Dark Angel, Who’s the Man, and The Naked Brothers Band. Most recently Michael wrote the score for the new Polly Draper film, Stella’s Last Weekend.

In addition to working as a clinician, Wolff currently serves on the faculty at New York University’s Jazz Studies program, where he teaches both ensembles and private students. He is a Yamaha/Bosendorf artist.

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", Michael Wolff Trio with Ben Allison and Mike Clark

Jeff Fuller & Friends

April 19, 2025 By Craig OConnell

Jeff Fuller & Friends will appear at The Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available at:   www.thesidedoorjazz.com  Get Tickets

Jeff Fuller & Friends

Saturday 4/19

Get Tickets

New Haven-based composer and bassist Jeff Fuller has assembled a quintet of extremely talented young jazz musicians for his fifth appearance as a leader at The Side Door Jazz Club on April 19th. The group blends the eclectic musical styles of each member into a varied program of originals and standards, instrumentals and vocals, and swing and Latin rhythms. Excitement will be provided by Ryan Sands on drums, Naomi Wharry on trombone and vocals, Jen Allen on piano and Nathan Edwards on tenor sax.

Jeff Fuller is one of the most sought after jazz bassists in the Northeast. He has toured, recorded and played with jazz masters from all styles and eras, extensively with NEA Jazz Master Lou Donaldson, and Cuban virtuoso Paquito D’Rivera. He has played with such diverse artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Mose Allison, “Papa” Jo Jones, Gerry Mulligan, and Clark Terry. Fuller has wide experience in both Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music. His published Latin jazz big band and combo compositions are frequently performed worldwide. Jeff’s trio with pianist Darren Litzie and drummer, Ben Bilello has released five CDs of original compositions. In 2023 his Afro-Cuban Suite was premiered by the Yale Concert Band.

Saxophonist Nathan Edwards holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University and a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from The Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School of Music. He has had the privilege of performing with and opening for renowned jazz legends including Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Kenny Garrett, David Williams, Kurt Elling, Kenny Barron, and Jimmy Greene. Though an accomplished performer, Mr. Edwards’ true passion lies in teaching and shaping the future of music education. He teaches at King Philip Middle School in West Hartford, CT, where he leads both the concert and jazz bands and supports the jazz program at Hall High School.

Jen Allen is a pianist, composer, author, and educator. She frequently performs in New York, throughout the Northeast U.S., and at venues worldwide both as a leader of her own groups and as a member of various creative ensembles. An active recording artist, Jen is featured on numerous albums, including her upcoming release (summer 2025) Possibilities, Sifting Grace, her debut album Pieces of Myself, Raise Up by the collaboratively led Trio 149, and on many others. She composes music for big bands, studio orchestras, string quartets, and other smaller ensembles. Jen currently teaches at Trinity College, Bennington College, Williams College, and the Litchfield Jazz Camp.

A native of Orange, CT, Ryan Sands is a passionate, energetic drummer on the rise. Ryan is a graduate of the New England Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music. His thunderous performance style has landed him work with Phil Markowitz, Zach Brock, John Escreet, Geoffrey Keezer, and a rotating member of the Christian Sands Trio. Ryan currently holds the drum seat for the New York-based Jazz collective Altus, featuring David Adewumi, Neta Ranaan, Nathan Reising, and Isaac Levien. They released their debut EP, Riot Cycles, in July 2021. As a bandleader, Ryan released his debut album, Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow, and his sophomore release, Forest Road: Live at the Side Door, is set to be released in 2025.

Hailing from Oklahoma, Naomi Wharry is a multi-faceted trombonist and vocalist. Currently pursuing a classical trombone degree at Yale University, Naomi enjoys playing both classical and jazz music, believing that beautiful music comes from everywhere and should be explored freely. She has shared the stage with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, John Daversa, Patrick Bartley, and many others. As a jazz musician in Oklahoma City, she brought regular jazz shows to the city including gigs with her quartet as well as her tribute to Billie Holiday. Her musical influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Frank Rosolino, JJ Johnson, and many others.

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", Jeff Fuller & Friends

Nicholas Payton Trio

March 23, 2025 By Craig OConnell

Sunday, March 23

Nicholas Payton Trio

Nicholas Payton Trio

Join us for a special night of jazz with Nicholas Payton and his Trio!

By The Side Door Jazz Club

Date and time

Sunday, March 23 · 8 – 10:30pm EDT. Doors at 7:15pm

Location

The Side Door
85 Lyme St Old Lyme, CT 06371

Refund Policy

No Refunds

About this event

 

  • Event lasts 2 hours 30 minutes
  • ALL AGES
  • Free venue parking

 

New Orleans-born trumpeter, keyboardist, and singer Nicholas Payton is a maverick performer with a sound steeped in acoustic post-bop, whose music often finds him exploring genres beyond the confines of the jazz tradition. A star from a young age, Payton garnered early attention in the ’90s, touring with Elvin Jones and Marcus Roberts before releasing albums like 1995’s From This Moment and 1996’s Gumbo Nouveau. He gained wider acclaim appearing and playing on the soundtrack to Robert Altman‘s film Kansas City, winning a Grammy for his 1997 collaboration with veteran trumpeter Doc Cheatham, and paying homage to Louis Armstrong with 2001’s Dear Louis. Beginning with 2003’s electronica and fusion-influenced Sonic Trance, Payton has broadened his musical palette. Coining the term Black American Music or BAM, albums like 2011’s Bitches, 2014’s Numbers, and 2017’s Afro-Caribbean Mixtape have found him pushing beyond the strictures of modern jazz and weaving together elements of hip-hop, funk, and R&B. While his trumpet prowess remains his calling card, Payton often showcases his piano skills as on 2019’s Relaxin’ with Nick and 2021’s Smoke Sessions.

Born in New Orleans in 1974, Payton grew up the son of Walter Payton, a well-known bassist on the Crescent City jazz scene. His mother also played piano. Around four years old, he started playing trumpet after asking his father to get him one. Soon, he was accompanying his father to shows at local clubs, where he had the chance to hear many great trumpet players. The turning point for the young Payton came around age ten, when he heard a Miles Davis quartet album that was in his parents’ record collection. He started performing publicly, working everywhere from jazz funerals to weddings to bar mitzvahs, and even played on the streets for tips.

During this period, he attended New Orleans’ High School for the Creative Arts and studied with Clyde Kerr, Jr.; he later studied briefly at the University of New Orleans with pianist Ellis Marsalis. However, his college career at UNO was interrupted by the chance to go on the road with drummer Elvin Jones. Previously, he had spent time on the road with Marcus Roberts and other touring musicians, but those were shorter stints. Through the years, Payton has recorded and performed with Wynton Marsalis, Dr. Michael White, Christian McBride, Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove, Doc Cheatham, and Joe Henderson, among others.

As a solo artist, he began his recording career with Verve Records, releasing From This Moment in 1994, followed by 1995’s Gumbo Nouveau. A year later, he gained even more attention appearing alongside a handful of his jazz contemporaries in acclaimed director Robert Altman‘s film Kansas City, for which he also appeared on the soundtrack. In 1997, he received a Grammy Award for his playing on Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton, a collaborative album with then-nonagenarian trumpeter Doc Cheatham. Also that year, he joined bassist Christian McBride and guitarist Mark Whitfield for Fingerpainting: The Music of Herbie Hancock. He then rounded out his Verve contract with several well-received, tradition-steeped efforts including 1998’s Payton’s Place, 1999’s Nick@Night, and 2001’s homage to Louis Armstrong, Dear Louis.

In 2003, Payton signed with Warner Bros. and marked the move by shifting away from his acoustic-based sound and delivering the ’70s fusion-influenced Sonic Trance. However, an auto accident briefly sidelined his career as he took time to fully recover. He returned with Mysterious Shorter on Chesky in 2006 and Into the Blue on Nonesuch in 2008, both of which found him delving into an eclectic mix of straight-ahead jazz, post-bop, funk, and R&B-influenced sounds. Increasingly known as a risk-taker, Payton took one of his grandest on 2011’s Bitches, a concept recording that detailed the stages and ending of a romantic relationship. He composed and arranged all 16 songs (which included lyrics), played every instrument, sang, and played trumpet throughout, and produced the entire set as well. Also featured on the album were special guest vocalists Cassandra Wilson, Esperanza Spalding, N’Dambi, ChinahBlac, and Saunders Sermons.

Along with performing, from 2011 to 2013 he held the position of Distinguished Artist and Visiting Lecturer at Tulane University. During this period, he began self-releasing albums on his own BMF label, including #BAM: Live at Bohemian Caverns (recorded at the historic Washington, D.C. club) and Sketches of Spain (a live re-recording of the classic Miles Davis and Gil Evans album), featuring Simphonie Orchester Basel. Two instrumental albums followed with 2014’s Numbers and 2015’s Letters, both of which showcased Payton on keyboard and piano.

In 2016, Payton returned to more of a full band-oriented approach with the hip-hop and spoken word-inflected The Egyptian Second Line. A year later he delivered another highly inventive hip-hop and world music-influenced production, Afro-Caribbean Mixtape. In 2018, Enja reissued its 1992 Elvin Jones date Youngblood in its Heritage Collections series. The album is significant because it showcases Payton (alongside drummer Jones as well as Javon Jackson, Joshua Redman, and George Mraz) as a young man already in full possession of the talents that made him an all-star.

Relaxin’ with Nick arrived in 2019 and caught Payton in a live performance with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington at New York’s Smoke Jazz & Supper Club. Another album recorded at the venue, the aptly titled Smoke Sessions, arrived in 2021 and found Payton playing alongside several Miles Davis band alums, including bassist Ron Carterand saxophonist George Coleman.

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", Nicholas Payton Trio

Side Door Jam Sessions: Wes Lewis Quartet

March 21, 2025 By Craig OConnell

The Wes Lewis Quartet will perform new arrangements and original compositions to celebrate Wes’ last full semester as a PhD student in Computational Biology and Biomedical Informatics at Yale University. This performance builds on materials debuted in collaborations with Kulturally Lit, the Yale Schwarzman Center, and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven. After the first set, musicians from the audience will be invited to join in for a jam session.

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", Wes Lewis Quartet

Tyreek McDole

March 8, 2025 By Craig OConnell

Saturday, March 8

Tyreek McDole

Join us for a spectacular weekend of jazz at the Side Door with award winning vocalist Tyreek McDole and his Quintet!

By The Side Door Jazz Club

Saturday, March 8 · 8 – 10:30pm EST. Doors at 7:15pm

The Side Door

85 Lyme St Old Lyme, CT 06371

Tyreek McDole – Vocals

Dylan Band – Saxophone

Sterling Cozza – Piano

Dan Finn – Bass

Gary Jones – Drums

Tyreek McDole, a 24-year-old Haitian-American vocalist from sunny Florida, shines brilliantly as his star rises in the bustling New York Scene. With a string of prestigious awards to his name, Tyreek stands out as a rising star in the music world.
It was during the acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2018 Essentially Ellington National Competition that Tyreek made his vocal debut, leaving an indelible mark as he walked away with the prestigious Outstanding Vocalist Award, presented by none other than the iconic Wynton Marsalis.

His performances have seen him share the stage with an impressive roster of musicians and acts, including Theo Croker, NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz, Miki Yamanaka, Mike King, Mike Ode, Eric Wheeler, Ted Nash, Matt Wilson, Ben Allison, Rodney Whitaker, Rockelle Fortin, Winard Harper, Marcus Printup, Eric Reed, Carl Allen, Victor Goines, Chris Crenshaw, Johnathan Michel, Isaiah J. Thompson, Miki Yamanaka, Charlie Sigler, Chris Beck, Kyle Koehler, and many others. Together, they have graced renowned venues like The Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club, Birdland Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Minton’s Playhouse, enthralling audiences with their collective artistry and musical prowess.

Beyond his remarkable performances, Tyreek’s educational journey took him to The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, from which he was awarded a degree in Jazz performance. Under the guidance of esteemed instructors LaTanya Hall, Gary Bartz, Gerald Cannon, Eddie Henderson, Billy Hart, Dan Wall, Sullivan Fortner, and Weedie Braimah, Tyreek’s musical horizons continue to expand, preparing him for an even more promising future in the world of music.

He has been recently declared the 1st place winner of the Sarah International Jazz Vocal Competition. Noted as one of the most anticipated events in jazz, McDole’s accolade now ranks him among the competition’s previous winners including the standout artists Samara Joy (2019 winner) and Jazzmeia Horn (2013 winner). Tyreek is the 2nd male to ever win in the competition’s 12 year history.

With his roots firmly planted in the musical soil of the Caribbean, New York, Florida, and beyond, McDole now casts his spell on the bustling streets of New York City, leaving an indelible mark on the vibrant tapestry of worldwide music.

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", Tyreek McDole

Donny Time: The Music of Don DePalma Presented by Matt Dwonszyk & Friends

November 9, 2024 By Craig OConnell

Donny Time: The Music of Don DePalma Presented by Matt Dwonszyk & Friends

The Side Door Jazz Club

at Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street
Old Lyme, CT 06371

Sat, November 9
8:30PM / $20 – $50 | $2.33 – $3.81 Fees
Get Tickets

Matt Dwonszyk

“Donny Time: The Music of Don DePalma” CD release concert Live at the Side Door featuring:

Kris Jensen – Sax

Joshua Bruneau – Trumpet

Rosie Roy – Trombone

Tony Davis – Guitar

Nelson Bello – Congas

Curtis Torian – Drums

Matt Dwonszyk – Bass

Celebrating the life and legacy of a Hartford, CT legend.

All proceeds of the album go to the DePalmaRoy Scholarship Fund awarded annually to an inspiring music student. 

Sat, November 9

8:30PM / $20 – $50 | $2.33 – $3.81 Fees Get Tickets

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", Donny Time: The Music of Don DePalma Presented by Matt Dwonszyk & Friends

Neal Smith Quartet

November 8, 2024 By Craig OConnell

Neal Smith Quartet

The Side Door Jazz Club

at Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street
Old Lyme, CT 06371

Fri, November 8, 8:30PM / $20 – $45 | $2.33 – $3.56 Fees Get Tickets

Neal Smith

Featuring:

Neal Smith – Drums

Rick Germanson – Piano

Nat Reeves – Bass

Kirill Pudavov – Tenor sax

Born and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Neal Smith has been playing drums since the age of five. By the time he completed high school he had achieved a remarkable list of performance accomplishments and earned an impressive array of awards, scholarships, and honors. With the support of his family, Neal continued his studies at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Performance, the first African-American to earn a degree in Jazz Studies from the Conservatory.

In addition to his academic training, Neal has studied with Vernell Fournier, Greg Bandy, Paul Samuels, Jeff Hamilton,Tom Freer, Bruce Collie, and Gordon Gottlieb.

Neal performs regularly in clubs and concert halls, at colleges and universities, and at U.S. and International Jazz Festivals. Neal leads his own group, which performs original compositions as well as classic arrangements of jazz standards.

Neal also performs regularly with internationally recognized artists and has shared the stage with the likes of Tom Harrell, Anita Baker, John Hicks, Donald Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Sonny Fortune, Jimmy Owens, Eddie Harris, Isaac Hayes, Gary Bartz, Marlena Shaw,  Benny Golson, Donald Walden, Frank Morgan, Brian Lynch, Benny Green, Cyrus Chestnut, Russell Malone, Frank Foster, Dewey Redman, Mark Whitfield, Ronnie Mathews, Rufus Reid, Wendel Logan, James Moody, Marlena Shaw, Charles Davis and Vanessa Rubin.

Neal also leads his own group, which performs original compositions as well as classic arrangements of jazz standards.

Beyond performing, Neal loves to teach developing drummers. He is currently a Professor at Berklee College of Music, The New School and Longy School of Music.

Recognizing the need for a record label that focuses exclusively on the production of jazz recordings, Neal founded the NAS label in 2004.

Neal Smith endorses Sonor Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth Sticks + Brushes and Accessories, Hamilton Cymbal Stands and Axis Pedals.

Visit Website

Fri, November 8

8:30PM / $20 – $45 | $2.33 – $3.56 Fees Get Tickets

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", Neal Smith Quartet

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