Kosmographers Jazz Trio at The Marquee on State Street
Kosmographers Jazz Trio at The Marquee on State Street offers an evening of live jazz, cocktails and downtown atmosphere on Saturday, August 22, inside one of New London’s newest music venues.
The trio performs from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., with guitarist Scott Drouin, bassist Ian Hagan and drummer Tom Tefcale bringing a stripped-down guitar, bass and drums lineup to The Marquee.
Doors open at 4 p.m., giving guests the option of arriving early for happy hour before settling in for the evening’s performance.
Meet the Kosmographers
Kosmographers brings together three musicians in the classic jazz-trio format of guitar, bass and drums.
Scott Drouin — Guitar
Drouin has been part of the southeastern Connecticut jazz community for years. His appearances have included performances with musicians from New London’s jazz scene, including bassist Ian Kelly and saxophonist Doug Rice.
With Kosmographers, Drouin takes the melodic and harmonic role normally divided between instruments in a larger jazz ensemble. The absence of a piano leaves plenty of open space for guitar, bass and drums to interact.
Ian Hagan — Bass
Hagan provides the trio’s low-end foundation, giving the guitar room to move while connecting its melodic lines to the rhythm of the drums.
In a small jazz group, the bassist does considerably more than keep time. Walking bass lines can establish the harmony, change the direction of a solo and create a musical conversation between the other players.
Tom Tefcale — Drums
Tefcale completes the trio on drums, providing the rhythmic framework for a format that depends heavily on musicians listening and responding to one another.
That’s part of what makes a trio interesting to watch. There isn’t much room to hide. With only three instruments onstage, each musician can change the direction and energy of a piece almost instantly.
Jazz in an Intimate Room
The setting may be almost as interesting as the band.
The Marquee on State Street opened in July 2026 at 312 State Street, bringing a new jazz-focused cocktail bar and performance space to downtown New London.
The family-owned venue was created by Christopher Leffert and his parents, Sean and Sayra Leffert, who transformed the former DEVS/Nico’s location into a space inspired by old movie palaces, classic cinema and the atmosphere of a 1920s speakeasy.
The main room seats a little more than 45 people and includes a small performance stage. There’s also a separate speakeasy area with seating for approximately 20.
That relatively small scale is intentional.
Instead of putting musicians at the far end of a large restaurant, The Marquee was designed around the idea of combining cocktails, conversation and live music in the same intimate room.
Classic Movies Meet Live Music
Movie memorabilia and vintage-inspired details reinforce The Marquee’s cinema theme, while the bar emphasizes classic cocktails and its own signature creations.
Small plates are also available for guests who want something to eat during the evening.
The concept grew partly from Christopher Leffert’s interest in classic and experimental films and partly from the family’s desire to bring another live entertainment option to downtown New London.
Jazz has been central to the venue from its opening, although its entertainment plans extend to other forms of live music, comedy, DJs and special events.
The Marquee celebrated its grand opening on July 17 with a live jazz performance, making Saturday’s Kosmographers appearance part of a music calendar that’s still very new to the city.
Another Piece of New London’s Arts District
The location puts The Marquee in the middle of a downtown neighborhood already anchored by music, theater and visual arts.
The Garde Arts Center is just down State Street, while Hygienic Art, galleries, restaurants and other live music venues are scattered throughout the surrounding blocks.
The Marquee’s owners have said they want the business to become part of that larger creative community rather than simply another downtown bar.
A local jazz trio playing in a room specifically created with live jazz in mind fits that idea rather nicely.
Saturday night’s show also offers something different from a large concert. There are no arena seats or distant stage. It’s three musicians, a small room and the kind of musical interplay that’s much easier to appreciate when you’re sitting only a few yards away.
Event Details
Event: Kosmographers Jazz Trio
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Doors Open: 4 p.m.
Performance: 7:30–10:30 p.m.
Across from the Garde
Musicians:
Scott Drouin — Guitar
Ian Hagan — Bass
Tom Tefcale — Drums
Guests can arrive early for happy hour before the trio takes the stage for an evening of jazz in The Marquee’s intimate, cinema-inspired setting.
Featured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people, location, or activities shown.
