An Update on University Jazz Talents Featured at This Summer's Hartford Jazz Events

This year's summer jazz events in Hartford’s Bushnell Park feature performers with ties to the University's Jackie McLean Jazz Studies Division from the first date through the last. The final day of the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz (Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21) closes with faculty member Zaccai Curtis at 4:30 p.m. followed by UHart alumnus Jonathan Barber at 6:30 p.m, and “The Nat Reeves Experience” featuring Hartt bass faculty Nat Reeves, along with Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Peter Zak on piano, and Mike Clark on drums at 8:30 p.m.  See the full schedule of performers here.

The Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz series continues on Monday evenings at 6 p.m. in Bushnell Park. On July 29, the Matt Chasen Generations Ensemble performs with alumni Matt Chasen, Brian Simontacchi, and Jonathan Barber as well as Josh Evans who performed with Jackie McLean and current faculty member Zaccai Curtis.

On Aug. 5, the Mike Carabello Quintet who are all alums (Mike Carabellow, Nathan Davis, Jordan Young, Corey Garcia, and Matt Dwonszyk) will perform and on August 12 alumnus Kris Jensen will perform alongside fellow alumnus and current faculty member Rich Goldstein.

The Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz series opened in Bushnell Park on Monday, June 8 with UHart alumnus Javon Alexandre’s Quartet performing and alumni Dezron Douglas and Lummie Spann performed on July 15. See the Monday night jazz series schedule here.

The Jackie McLean Jazz Studies Division is recognized as one of the nation's premier jazz programs and is part of the University's Hartt School.