Jazz Haven

Greater New Haven's Community Resource for Jazz since 1996

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

Chris DePino, Chris Morrison and Morris Trent with Dan Klug Live

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Chris DePino Just Jazz Quartet
Friday January 16th, 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7:00 pm.  Speakeasy open & serving beverages and snacks.

A vibrant figure in the jazz harmonica world, New Haven native Chris DePino blends technical mastery with a soulful narrative that resonates with audiences across genres and continents. 

Milford Arts Council (MAC), 40 Railroad Avenue South, Milford, CT 06460

Get ready for an unforgettable musical journey with Chris and the Just Jazz Quartet! Dive into the vibrant heart of the Connecticut jazz scene, where Chris, a master of the chromatic harmonica, crafts electrifying performances with the finest local talent. This isn’t just jazz—it’s a one-of-a-kind experience, blending soulful improvisation and dazzling artistry that will leave you spellbound. No two events are alike, and neither are the quartets! Chris handpicks from a roster of Connecticut’s most exceptional musicians to create a custom ensemble tailored to the performance.

Chris was born in New Haven. He is a distinguished blues and jazz harmonica player, music educator, and session musician whose versatile career spans jazz, blues, and classical music. DePino has been a regular session player at Cafe Nine in New Haven. He has also made guest appearances with the George Baker Experience, and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, where he was a featured soloist for two “Concerts in the Park”.

“Chris DePino remains a vibrant figure in the jazz harmonica world, blending technical mastery with a soulful narrative that resonates with audiences across genres and continents.”-from Chris DePino’s website

*Tickets/packages are non-refundable. Changes may be made via your ticketing profile or by contacting the MAC box office.

🎟️🎟️🎟️ https://milfordarts.org/event/chris-depino-just-jazz-quartet/   Table Seats or Row Seats Advance Purchase Ticket: $40**Addl $3 processing fee per ticket applies to Advance Purchase ticket sales.Advance Purchase Tickets are available online until 2 hours before start of event.Child (under 17) with Paying Adult Ticket: $5 (contact MAC Office)

For more information contact the Milford Arts Council at 203-878-6647 or visit: http://milfordarts.org

The Milford Arts Council is a 501c3 non-profit organization.  

Jonathan Barber and Vision Ahead

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Jonathan Barber and Vision Ahead

Friday, May 16, 2025, 2025  7:30pm    GET TICKETS

Internationally recorded artist, composer, educator and bandleader Jonathan Barber was voted the #1 Up-and-Coming Drummer of 2018 in Modern Drummer. Barber has already recorded and toured worldwide with such artists as Pat Metheny, Terence Blanchard, Christian McBride, Erykah Badu, Nicholas Payton, Buster Williams, Jimmy Greene, Jeremy Pelt, Wallace Roney, Terrace Martin, Gretchen Parlato, Jennifer Holiday, Steve Davis, J.D. Allen, Walter Smith III, The Brooklyn Philharmonic and many more. 

In addition to his first-call status as a sideman, Barber has stepped forth as a composer and leader with his band Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead. Even with Barber’s history of high-profile gigs and recordings taken into consideration, DownBeat magazine gave his album “Legacy Holder” 4.5 stars. Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead is a powerful declaration of intent for a band that’s been making waves on the modern jazz scene.

Barber’s blend of classic, swinging jazz with elements of gospel, rock, soul, and fusion is a compelling showcase of Barber’s broad stylistic range as a drummer, performer and composer. Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead was featured and headline the Rainy Days Jazz Festival held in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia, Hartford Jazz Festival, Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Pittsburgh Jazz Festival as well jazz venues around the world. Since 2020, Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead have been completed three National tours across the United States. 

Jonathan Barber tours extensively in jazz clubs and theaters in cities throughout the US.  The band recently completed a tour of several cities in Europe this summer winning praise from the local press there.  And he recently has been appointed as Jazz Drum Professor at the University of Connecticut. 

Group Website: https://jonathanbarbermusic.com/

Reviews

Vision Ahead is Barber’s product of six years spent cultivating a distinct and immaculately tailored sound with like minded musicians.   — Bandcamp

Jonathan Barber’s star has been on the rise since his auspicious 2018 debut, Vision Ahead, and a 2019 tour in Pat Metheny’s trio. The Hartford native’s sophomore release, Legacy Holder, [4.5 stars from Downbeat Magazine] more than fulfills his promise, showcasing powerfully slick drumming within the context of adventurous writing that bears the unmistakable influence of Atlantis-era Wayne Shorter  — Downbeat Magazine

One cannot help but enjoy the delicacy of this drummer who, effortlessly, provides a complex rhythm on which the musicians take real pleasure in playing… Indeed, this album [In Motion, the most recent]  is a story of balanced musical architecture. Jonathan Barber excels by paying careful attention to the melodic aspect of his compositions, ensuring a wider audience.  —   Thierry De Clemensat, USA correspondent – Paris-Move 

Please contact the MAC Box Office Tuesday – Friday 12-4pm at 40 Railroad Ave. or 203-878-6647 with any questions.

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“The Milford Arts Council is a non-profit 501c3 visual and performing arts organization located in Milford, CT with a mission to provide audiences, students, and artists with opportunities and experiences in the arts that enlighten, enrich, and entertain. The vision of the MAC is to see creativity happening everywhere, making Milford CT a thriving destination community of culture for all.”

 

Milford Arts Council (the MAC), 40 Railroad Avenue South, Milford, CT 06460, 203 878 6647

info@milfordarts.org

  https://www.facebook.com/MilfordArtsCouncil/

 https://www.instagram.com/milford.arts

Information: https://milfordarts.org/event/jonathan-barber-quartet-vision-ahead/

Benny Benack Quartet

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Jazz Trumpeter / Vocalist Benny Benack

Benny Benack Quartet – Jazz Concert, Friday, April 18, 2025   7:30pm, At the MAC Downtown Milford

Tickets Here:  https://ci.ovationtix.com/35630/production/1214268?performanceId=11527562

Dual Talents. Benny Benack is the rare talent who excels on trumpet and vocals. As a fiery trumpeter he ranges from Freddie Hubbard to Louis Armstrong.  As a singer he delivers sly, mature, naturally expressive post-Sinatra vocal stylings.

Touring.  Benny has been headlining clubs and festivals around the world with a never-ending intercontinental schedule that reflects his ardent love for the music. His smile and panache on full-display wherever his travels take him. 

Website: https://www.bennybenackjazz.com/

“He may be young—only at the tail end of his twenties, believe it or not—but he seriously has his act together in every way, shape and form, as this album proves.” – allaboutjazz.com

 Please contact the MAC Box Office Tuesday – Friday 12-4pm at 40 Railroad Ave. or 203-878-6647 with any questions.

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“The Milford Arts Council is a non-profit 501c3 visual and performing arts organization located in Milford, CT with a mission to provide audiences, students, and artists with opportunities and experiences in the arts that enlighten, enrich, and entertain. The vision of the MAC is to see creativity happening everywhere, making Milford CT a thriving destination community of culture for all.”

203.878.6647

Visit: www.milfordarts.org

FB: @MilfordArtsCouncil

Instagram: milford.arts

Mimi Jones And The Black Madonna Experience

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Mimi Jones And The Black Madonna Experience

March 14, 2025  7:30pm:   Jazz Concert at the Milford Arts Council Downtown

 TICKETS:    https://ci.ovationtix.com/35630/production/1215180?performanceId=11531859

Adult Seat: $40*
*Addl $4 processing fee per ticket applies to all ticket sales.
LOGIN to redeem applicable membership ticket benefits PRIOR to selecting seats.
Child (under 17) with Paying Adult: $5 (contact Box Office)
Please contact the MAC Box Office Tues – Fri 12-4pm at 40 Railroad Ave. 203-878-6647 with questions or for check/cash purchases.
Tickets are not refundable. 

For the more than two decades she’s been on the scene, bassist/vocalist/producer/label owner and now filmmaker Mimi Jones has reigned supreme, as a side woman to an impressive coterie of musicians and as a leader with three CDs on her own label, (Hot Tone Music) featuring the Mimi Jones Band.

Her newest release for the label, Feet in the Mud, is her most powerful, recording to date. “Feet in the Mud refers to being true to one’s own self despite your race, age, gender, size etcetera,” Jones says.

Jones is supported by an engaging and ingenious collection of musicians including pianist Jon Cowherd, drummer Jonathan Barber, and saxophonist Samir Zarif.

Born in New York City of parents from Barbados, and raised in the Bronx,

Jones is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music Conservatory and she has studied with Lisle Atkinson, Ron Carter, Linda McKnight, Milton Hinton and others.

Websites: www.mimijonesmusic.com, www.hottonemusic.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HotToneMusic

Twitter: @mimijonesmusic, @HotToneMusic

“The focus was mostly on original material, as the band played tunes from their three newly released albums. These compositions were fresh, varied, and changed the pace constantly through the night; there were so many temporal, harmonic, and textural shifts that two hour-long sets felt like they lasted only minutes.”-Hot Tone Music

Please contact the MAC Box Office Tuesday – Friday 12-4pm at 40 Railroad Ave. or 203-878-6647 with any questions.

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“The Milford Arts Council is a non-profit 501c3 visual and performing arts organization located in Milford, CT with a mission to provide audiences, students, and artists with opportunities and experiences in the arts that enlighten, enrich, and entertain. The vision of the MAC is to see creativity happening everywhere, making Milford CT a thriving destination community of culture for all.”

Kersten Stevens Jazz Concert

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Kersten Stevens Jazz Concert

Friday, January 17th.   Doors open at 7:00pm.  Performance 7:30pm -9:00 pm at Milford Arts Council (the MAC), 40 Railroad Avenue South, Milford, CT 06460   203 878 6647

TICKETS: $44.00 including fees, Tickets are not refundable.    https://ci.ovationtix.com/35630/production/1208860?performanceId=11505284  

Presented by The Milford Arts Council.  Please contact the MAC Box Office Tues – Fri 12-4pm at 40 Railroad Ave. 203-878-6647 with questions or for check/cash purchases.

Kersten Stevens, Queen of the Violin, is among the most exciting and unique emerging artists in jazz. 

Performances. She is a six-time winner of the historic Amateur Night and Showtime at The Apollo; she’s performed with music greats Kim Burrell, renowned jazz violinist Regina Carter, international jazz bassist Christian McBride and performed for esteemed notables President Barack Obama, Ray Charles, Denzel Washington among others, now launches her much anticipated fifth album, QUEEN RISING. 

Foundations. Kersten emerged from an accomplished classical music foundation and was honored for music excellence by her alma mater, Yale University.  Kersten has fostered a unique improvisational freedom with her violin, which wows generations of music enthusiasts while introducing her savvy and sophisticated music style to young fans.

 “I feel the funk in your playing. I feel the soul. I feel gospel. The Latin. You have it all.”-Sheila Anderson (Host, Weekend Jazz Overnight and Salon Sessions)

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“The Milford Arts Council is a non-profit 501c3 visual and performing arts organization located in Milford, CT with a mission to provide audiences, students, and artists with opportunities and experiences in the arts that enlighten, enrich, and entertain. The vision of the MAC is to see creativity happening everywhere, making Milford CT a thriving destination community of culture for all.”

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