Jazz Haven

Greater New Haven's Community Resource for Jazz since 1996

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

The Business of the Beat: JazzFC Sponsors Professional Development Day for Connecticut Jazz Artists

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The Jazz Society of Fairfield County (aka JazzFC), will host a free Professional Development Day for professional and pre-professional jazz performers and composers on Thursday, April 30, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Jazz at the Post (VFW Post 399), 465 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT.

Designed to equip Jazz artists with practical tools for sustaining and advancing their careers, the afternoon will feature expert-led sessions on promotion and public relations, booking and self-management strategies, and financial planning tailored specifically for Jazz musicians. The day culminates with a keynote presentation by acclaimed saxophonist and educator Vincent Herring on developing and sustaining a life in Jazz.

This free program (registration required) is open to working Jazz artists and pre-professionals age 18 and older.

11:45 AM: networking begins (lunch available for purchase)
12:15 PM: JazzFC Artistic Director Greg Wall will offer opening remarks
12:30 PM: “Self-Promotion Basics and How to Work with a Publicist” with Jim Eigo of Jazz Promo Services
1:45 PM: “Booking Strategies for Self-Managed Jazz Artists” with music business consultant and bandleader Svetlana Shmulyian
3:00 PM: “In Harmony with Your Goals: Financial Planning for Jazz Artists” with Jonathan Brochstein of Weston Wealth Advisors
4:00 PM: Vincent Herring’s keynote address, “Keeping It All Together,” will close the day with insights drawn from decades at the highest levels of the art form.

JazzFC’s Professional Development Day offers a rare opportunity for Connecticut Jazz artists to gather, connect, and gain concrete strategies for building sustainable, creative careers.

Space is limited so please register early at https://tinyurl.com/JAZZFC-Biz-of-the-Beat

Jim Royle’s Caribbean Jazz Connection

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Jim Royle’s Caribbean Jazz Connection

January 29, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

$10.76 – $20.76

The Caribbean Jazz Connection is led by drummer Jim Royle who has been crossing genres of Jazz and Caribbean Latin styles for years. They delight audiences wherever they go in the Islands or on the mainland. Royle, the consummate educator and artist has brought so many young and old alike into the joys of percussion, especially with Steel pans and Caribbean Jazz. The band features Jim’s former student and steel pan player Bryan Garbe, now an internationally acclaimed percussionist based in NYC, who grew up in Fairfield!

Melissa Newman

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Melissa Newman

January 22, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

$10.76 – $20.76

Melissa Newman , vocals
Tony Lombardozzi, guitar
Phil Bowler, bass
Bobby Leonard, drums

Join us for a warm evening of hot Jazz at Westport’s own Jazz Inferno! Melissa  is a natural talent, and really makes every song she sings her very own. With a band like this, the evening is sure to be way over the top. This show always sells out so be sure and get reservations early!

Melissa Newman had a lucrative career singing jingles for companies like AT&T and Chevrolet. Locally she has  performed at the Blue Lemon, Tengda, and Harvest in Westport,
with guitarist Tony Lombardozzi and bassist Phil Bowler.

Melissa also makes, shows and sells ceramic and porcelain sculpture. Melissa’s work is featured in the current major exhibit, “The Weight of Memories” at the Norwalk Art Space.

And if that is not enough, we celebrate Melissa as an author!  She has a new book out entitled “Head over Heels”, a love story in words and pictures.

She lives in Westport with her husband and two sons.

If tickets are showing sold out below, send email to be placed on the waiting list for the 7:30 show

Details

January 22, 2026
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Venue

James Weidman and Harvie S

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January 15, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

$10.76 – $20.76

Jame Weidman, a valued pianist, has been a sideman and accompanist in many settings over the past 30+ years, from Abbey Lincoln, Cassandra Wilson, Steve Coleman to Kevin Mahogany and the Grammy nominated Joe Lovano Us Five.  In addition, James has also proven to be an increasingly significant bandleader and composer/arranger. His recording on Inner Circle Music “Spiritual Impressions” featuring Ruth Naomi Floyd has garnered critical acclaim. It was selected by Cadence Magazine as one of the top ten albums of 2018. His 2023 piano trio release, “Sonic Realities,” features bassist Harvie S and drummer Alvester Garnett performing original compositions and works by Charlie Parker, Kurt Weill and Hale Smith.

Pianist James Weidman is indisputably an essential addition to whatever bandstand he graces. A partial list of Weidman’s affiliations is staggering in depth & breadth: Max Roach, Woody Herman, Archie Shepp, James Moody, Greg Osby, Bobby Hutcherson, Slide Hampton, Jay Hoggard, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Gloria Lynne, Dakota Staton, MBase Collective, Cassandra Wilson, TK Blue (co-leader of TaJa), Abbey Lincoln, Ruth Naomi Floyd (Producer), Kevin Mahogany (Music Director), Joe Lovano, Marty Ehrlich and Ray Anderson.

 

Bass master Harvie S is one of the most recorded jazz musicians of our time.

Award-winning composer, producer, educator, arranger, recording engineer, and bassist Harvie S is continually challenging himself and his peers, expanding the borders of musical direction. He has performed and recorded with a long list of artists that includes Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Tony Bennett, Ray Baretto, Michael Brecker, Jean Pierre Rampal, Paquito D’Rivera, Gil Evans, Art Farmer, Mark Turner, Jim Hall, Mike Stern, Jerry Bergonzi, Lee Konitz, Dave Leibman, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, Paul Motian, Chico O’Farrill, Dr. Billy Taylor, Maria Schneider, Zoot Sims, Toots Thielemans, Ray Vega, James Williams, Phil Woods, and Louie Belson, among many others.

He can be heard on 21 CDs as a leader, 13 as a co-leader, and over 400 as a sideman: work that includes recordings with artists like James Brown, Kenny Barron, Chick Corea, Tom Harrell, Sheila Jordan, Steve Kuhn, Pat Martino, Wycliff Gordon, David Mathews, George Cables, Eddie Henderson, James Moody, Danilo Perez, Anat Cohen, Paquito DiRivera, The Manhattan Transfer, Mike Stern, Dave Leibman, John Scofield, Jerry Bergonzi, Dave Liebman, Yusef Lateef, and Grover Washington Jr.

 

James Weidman, piano
Featuring  Harvie S, bass
and
Steve Johns, drums
Greg Wall, tenor and soprano saxes

Tribute to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

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May be a graphic of trumpet, saxophone, clarinet and text that says 'MESSAGE A Tribute to TO and the Art Blakey BUHAINA Jazz Messengers กวรรรค おだジ JAZZFC JAZZİSOCIETYOFFAIRFIELDCOUNTY JAZZ SOCIETY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY The Westport Library...'
Sunday Dec. 21st at 2:00PM, JazzFC presents a spectacular FREE family concert at the Westport Library playing a tribute to ART BLAKEY & the JAZZ MESSENGERS!
FEATURED MUSICIANS WILL INCLUDE FORMER JAZZ MESSENGERS Grammy winning Trombonist Steve Davis and Bassist Lonnie Plaxico. Rounding out the band will be saxophonist Greg Wall (The Jazz Rabbi), Grammy nominees trumpeter and arranger Michael Mossman, saxophonist Vincent Herring, pianist Mike LeDonne and celebrated drummer Steve Johns. This is a band of world class jazz veterans, all whom have been under the Blakey umbrella for decades.
Get your free tickets on the Westport Library website.

Musicians

A big THANK YOU to all the amazing musicians who performed during Jazz Week in New Haven's Restaurants, Bars & Venues.

Gig Submission

If you would like to submit a gig for our calendar, please click here and fill out the form. Please do not submit gigs more than three months in advance.

Get In Touch

Jazz Haven, Inc.
P.O. Box 3011
New Haven, CT 06515
info@jazzhaven.org