Drummer Tony Moreno honors his mentor Elvin Jones with new arrangements of his classic repertoire, performed by a stellar all-star ensemble

Tony Moreno – Drums

Troy Roberts – Tenor Saxophone

Patrick Cornelius – Alto & Soprano Saxophones

Manuel Valera – Piano

Gene Perla – Bass

Mauricio Herrera – Congas

Drummer Tony Moreno — one of Elvin Jones’ most devoted protégés — brings the Dear Elvin J. Project to The Side Door for a very special night honoring the extraordinary legacy of one of jazz’s most transformative figures.

The music from this collective grows out of a deep connection to the legacy of Elvin Jones, but it truly comes alive through the ongoing, living dialogue between the musicians themselves.

Drawing from ten compositions in Elvin’s repertoire, New York–based composer and arranger Rich Shemaria has created a set of new arrangements that honor the spirit of the music while opening it up in fresh and personal ways.

The band recently performed a sold-out night at Smalls Jazz Club—an experience that affirmed just how deeply this music can connect with an audience. A new recording is also on the way, scheduled for release this July, capturing the energy, depth, and shared feeling of the group in a direct and unfiltered way.

Each musician brings a distinct voice to the ensemble, and it’s in the meeting of those voices that the music finds its shape—rooted in tradition, yet always moving forward.

Moreno’s connection with Elvin began at age eleven, when his mother brought him to a club down the street where Elvin was performing. After the show, Elvin and his wife Keiko sat with the family, and the following week Elvin gifted the young Moreno a scratched-up set of Gretsch drums — the very drums he had played on John Coltrane’s Live at Birdland and Crescent. That same week, Moreno began a seven-year period of study with Elvin, spending time at his home talking, listening to music, and watching classic Western films together. “Elvin was my role model, my mentor, and my closest friend,” Moreno reflects.

For the Dear Elvin J. Project, Moreno selected ten compositions from Elvin’s classic repertoire and enlisted NYC arranger and composer Rich Shemaria to create new arrangements for a stellar ensemble. The result is a tribute that honors not just the music, but the spirit of one of jazz’s most transformative figures.

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 prior to the show receive 10% off their dinner bill.