Ed Fast and Congabop-Supertet

December 21, 2024 By Craig OConnell

Ed Fast and Congabop-Supertet

The Side Door Jazz Club

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

Sat, December 21
8PM / $20 – $50 | $2.33 – $3.81 Fees Get Tickets

Ed Fast & Conga Bop

This is the Congabop septet featuring an All Star lineup including:
Kris Jensen – flute Rick Germanson-piano, Michael O’Brien-bass, Jorge Fuentes-
percussion, Ed Fast- vibraphone, & percussion superstar Anthony Carrillo on timbales,
bongo, & percussion
And our very special featured guest:
The legendary conguero, band leader, and multiple Grammy nominated musical artist –
Sammy Figueroa.
This super group will be performing classics from the likes of Hilton Ruiz, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, and more. About our featured guest artist: Legendary percussionist Sammy Figueroa is a multiple Grammy nominee, world-class musician, educator, and radio personality. After twenty years as a New York-based sideman, recording and touring with artists such as Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, David Bowie, Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan, Quincy Jones, the Brecker Brothers, Michel Camillo, Dave Valentin, Tania Maria and countless others he moved to South Florida where he discovered a community of brilliant virtuosos from Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Puerto Rico and a treasure trove of brilliant students and faculty at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and Florida International University. Putting together a band of the best players in town, Sammy founded the Latin Jazz Explosion. After five albums, two Grammy nominations and tours throughout the United States and Europe Sammy never looked back. Sometimes referred
to as “the Latin Yellowjackets”, the Explosion’s music is considered to be one of the most sophisticated examples of Latin jazz, combining the excitement of Latin rhythms with the
beauty and precision of a Pat Metheny or Brad Meldauer. Apart from his work with the Latin Jazz Explosion Sammy has also created several other configurations including Sammy Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Ensemble and Sally’s Tomato, a tribute to the music of Cal Tjader. He’s also continued to
record and play with other artists. Recent projects include album recordings with the young organ/piano prodigy Matthew Whitaker and Joey De Francesco’s Grammy-nominated album ”In The Key of The Universe”. In late 2019 Sammy was honored with a Jazz Roads Touring Grant which enabled him and the Latin Jazz Explosion to tour the midwestern United States. In 2020 Sammy recorded “Cuarentena” with trumpeter/composer/arranger John DaVersa, Cuban pianist Gonzalo
Rubalcaba and Grammy winning Cuban drummer Dafnis Prieto. He is also featured on Jarrod Lawson’s new neo-soul album “Be The Change”, released late 2020. Sammy is also a strong supporter of children and transformation of children’s lives through music. He has worked closely with Miami-based Arts 4 Learning and is planning an initiative with Young Musicians Unite!

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Watch Video

Sat, December 21

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

Hendrik Meurkens Quartet

December 20, 2024 By Craig OConnell

Hendrik Meurkens Quartet

The Side Door Jazz Club

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

Fri, December 20
8PM / $20 – $45 | $2.33 – $3.56 Fees Get Tickets

Hendrik Meurkens

Hendrik Meurkens, a virtuoso on both the chromatic harmonica and the vibraphone, is the most important jazz harmonica player since Toots Thielemans. German-born but now based in New York, Meurkens’ recordings and performances garner worldwide acclaim because the transcendent beauty of his music has universal appeal.

A two-mallet player in the tradition of Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson, Hendrik Meurkens was en-route to being an instantly recognizable vibraphonist when he heard Toots Thielemans. Inspired by the sound of Thielemans’ harmonica, he taught himself the difficult-to-master instrument.

Hendrik Meurkens’ other life-changing musical experience was his introduction to samba and bossa nova. He was so moved by Brazilian music that after perfecting his unique musical voice at Berklee, as a vibraphone major, he moved to Rio in the early 80s to totally immerse himself in music and culture of Brazil.

A regular Monday night gig at the popular Rio club, Bar 21, soon demonstrated his acceptance by Brazilian musicians. Meurkens’ poignant, emotionally affecting harmonica proved to be a sound that Brazilians strongly embraced, and during his Rio days, he met many musicians who later became collaborators in both Europe and New York.

Back in Germany by ’83, he became a respected studio musician, recording with European Radio Orchestras and leading his own groups, as well as accompanying visiting legends like Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison and Buddy Tate.

Within ten years, he had established himself as the “new jazz harmonica voice,” and moved to New York, thanks to an exclusive contract with the prestigious label, Concord Records. He has since recorded fifteen albums, and continues to perform as both a guest artist, and with his own groups, both in festivals and clubs globally.

Hendrik Meurkens’ profound involvement in both jazz and Brazilian music resulted in a very personal and instantly recognizable version of Samba jazz. This music, a cross-cultural amalgam guaranteed to touch the heart, features his harmonica and vibes along with piano, bass and drums, playing his stirring originals and arrangements. The group has been documented on a number of CDs, most notably the Hendrik Meurkens desert island disc, October Colors.

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Fri, December 20

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

Eric Mintel Quartet: Charlie Brown Jazz

December 14, 2024 By Craig OConnell

Eric Mintel Quartet: Charlie Brown Jazz

The Side Door Jazz Club

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

Sat, December 14
8PM / $20 – $45 | $2.33 – $3.56 Fees Get Tickets

Eric Mintel

Eric Mintel has played the piano all his life. Career highlights include two performances by invitation at the White House, several concerts at the Kennedy Center and a special concert at the United Nations. Eric was a featured guest on Marian McPartland’s award winning program Piano Jazz on NPR and his music is regularly played on XM and Sirius radio. Jazz legend Dave Brubeck has said “As long as the music attracts dedicated young musicians like Eric Mintel, jazz will
continue to thrive and progress as a voice of freedom”. Eric Mintel continues to thrill audiences of all ages and continues to connect with people all over the world.

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Sat, December 14

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

Eric Mintel Quartet: Charlie Brown Jazz

December 13, 2024 By Craig OConnell

Eric Mintel Quartet: Charlie Brown Jazz

The Side Door Jazz Club

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

Fri, December 13
8PM / $20 – $45 | $2.33 – $3.56 Fees Get Tickets

Eric Mintel

Visit Website
Watch Video

Fri, December 13

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

Joe Farnsworth Quintet

December 7, 2024 By Craig OConnell

Joe Farnsworth Quintet

The Side Door Jazz Club

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

Sat, December 7
8PM / $20 – $50 | $2.33 – $3.81 Fees Get Tickets

Joe Farnsworth

Sarah Hanahan – Alto Saxophone

Georgia Heers – Vocals

Cameron Campbell – Piano

Peter Washington – Bass

Joe Farnsworth – Drums

One of the most highly regarded jazz drummers on the scene today, Joe is known for his blazing speed, precision, musical, and melodic playing.

Born in South Hadley, Massachusetts in 1968, Joe grew up in a musical family; his father was a music educator and he has four older brothers, two of whom became professional musicians.

He studied with Alan Dawson and Arthur Taylor prior to attending and graduating from William Patterson College in New Jersey in 1994, where he began playing with saxophonist Eric Alexander and guitarist Peter Bernstein.

Upon moving to New York City, he led the weekend jazz combos at Augie’s (now Smoke Jazz & Supper Club). He performed with Junior Cook, Cecil Payne, John Ore, Big John Patton, Harold Mabern, Eddie Henderson, John Jenkins, and his brothers John and James.

Joseph’s career includes recording over 100 CDs as a leader and sideman, performing at jazz festivals, and going on world tours with Pharaoh Sanders, Horace Silver, Harold Mabern, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, Diana Krall, Benny Golson, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, Lou Donaldson, Benny Green, Barry Harris, Curtis Fuller, to name a few.

He is currently the drummer for McCoy Tyner and a member of the Pharaoh Sanders Quartet, Harold Mabern Trio, and is a founding member of the renowned One for All Quintet.

Recordings as a leader include Drumspeak, Beautiful Friendship (featuring Cedar Walton and Curtis Fuller), Prime Time, Super Prime Time, and Make Someone Happy.

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Sat, December 7

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

Joe Farnsworth Quintet

December 6, 2024 By Craig OConnell

Joe Farnsworth Quintet

The Side Door Jazz Club

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

Fri, December 6
8PM / $20 – $50 | $2.33 – $3.81 Fees Get Tickets

Joe Farnsworth

Sarah Hanahan – Alto Saxophone

Georgia Heers – Vocals

Cameron Campbell – Piano

Peter Washington – Bass

Joe Farnsworth – Drums

One of the most highly regarded jazz drummers on the scene today, Joe is known for his blazing speed, precision, musical, and melodic playing.

Born in South Hadley, Massachusetts in 1968, Joe grew up in a musical family; his father was a music educator and he has four older brothers, two of whom became professional musicians.

He is currently the drummer for McCoy Tyner and a member of the Pharaoh Sanders Quartet, Harold Mabern Trio, and is a founding member of the renowned One for All Quintet.

Recordings as a leader include Drumspeak, Beautiful Friendship (featuring Cedar Walton and Curtis Fuller), Prime Time, Super Prime Time, and Make Someone Happy.

Visit Website

Fri, December 6

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

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