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SUMMARY:Benny Green at The Side Door in Old Lyme
DESCRIPTION:Benny Green at The Side Door in Old Lyme on Saturday\, August 29\, for an intimate evening of solo piano. \nThere will be no rhythm section behind him. No bassist carrying the bottom end. No drummer keeping time. \nJust Green\, a piano and more than four decades of experience stretching from Betty Carter and Art Blakey to Freddie Hubbard\, Ray Brown and Oscar Peterson. \nDoors open at 7:15 p.m.\, with the performance running from 8 to 10 p.m. The all-ages concert is the second of two consecutive nights Green will perform at The Side Door. \nFrom His Father’s Records to the Piano\nGreen was born in New York in 1963 and raised in Berkeley\, California\, where music was already waiting for him at home. \nHis father played tenor saxophone\, and records by musicians including Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker became part of Green’s early musical education. \nHe began classical piano lessons at seven\, but something else was happening when he sat at the instrument. Green was listening to jazz records and trying to reproduce what he heard\, figuring out melodies and improvisations by ear. \nEventually\, jazz won. \nWhile still a teenager\, Green was already working professionally around the Bay Area. He performed with singer Fay Carroll and gained experience alongside established musicians including trumpeter Eddie Henderson and bassist Chuck Israels. \nBefore Green was old enough to build a national reputation\, he was learning how to listen\, accompany another musician and swing. \nThose lessons would become useful very quickly. \nBetty Carter’s Classroom\nAfter moving to New York\, Green joined legendary jazz vocalist Betty Carter in 1983. \nCarter’s bands had a reputation for becoming classrooms for exceptional young musicians. She demanded that players listen\, respond and develop their own musical identities rather than simply reproduce what they’d heard before. \nGreen stayed for four years. \nThen\, in 1987\, he stepped into another of jazz’s great training grounds. \nArt Blakey called. \nBecoming a Jazz Messenger\nJoining Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers carried a significance far beyond landing another job. \nFor decades\, Blakey’s band served as a launching pad for generations of major jazz musicians. Alumni included Wayne Shorter\, Lee Morgan\, Freddie Hubbard\, Wynton Marsalis and Branford Marsalis\, among many others. \nGreen had grown up listening to Blakey. \nNow he was sitting at the piano in his band. \nGreen remained a Jazz Messenger until Blakey’s death in 1990\, absorbing the hard-driving rhythmic approach that would become an important part of his own playing. \nHis next stop didn’t exactly lower the stakes. \nGreen went on to work with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard\, one of the defining jazz musicians of the postwar era. \nRay Brown and an Extraordinary Phone Call\nGreen eventually joined another master\, bassist Ray Brown. \nBrown’s career reached all the way back to playing with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker during the birth of bebop. He had also spent years performing with Oscar Peterson. \nGreen joined Brown’s trio in the early 1990s and remained with the group for several years. \nThen Oscar Peterson himself took notice. \nIn 1993\, Green became the first recipient of the City of Toronto’s Glenn Gould International Protégé Prize in Music. \nPeterson personally selected him. \nFor a young jazz pianist\, it’s difficult to imagine a more intimidating endorsement. One of the greatest pianists in the history of the music had effectively pointed across generations and said: watch this one. \nThe relationship didn’t end with an award. \nOscar and Benny\nGreen and Peterson eventually performed together and later recorded together. \nTheir collaboration produced Oscar and Benny\, recorded with Ray Brown and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. \nThe album eventually leaves the rest of the musicians behind for its closing performance. \nTwo pianos. \nOscar Peterson at one. \nBenny Green at the other. \nFor Green\, it was another direct connection in an extraordinary musical lineage. The musicians he’d once encountered through records weren’t simply influences anymore. \nThey had become his teachers\, employers\, collaborators and peers. \nBuilding a Career of His Own\nGreen eventually stepped out from those legendary bands and established himself as a leader. \nHis recording career has included albums for Blue Note and other major jazz labels\, with more than 100 recording sessions as a leader and sideman. \nHis Blue Note years produced albums including Lineage\, Greens\, Testifyin! Live at the Village Vanguard\, That’s Right!\, The Place to Be\, Kaleidoscope and These Are Soulful Days. \nAlong the way\, Green has worked with another generation of major jazz musicians\, including bassist Christian McBride and guitarist Russell Malone. \nThe thread running through it all is swing. \nGreen can be technically dazzling\, but technique isn’t the destination. His playing comes from a jazz tradition in which rhythm matters just as much as harmony\, and where even a complicated improvisation still needs to move. \nNow Take Everyone Else Away\nThat’s what makes Saturday’s performance particularly interesting. \nGreen is playing alone. \nA trio normally divides responsibilities among musicians. A bassist can establish the foundation while a drummer controls pulse and dynamics. The pianist can leave space\, respond to the others or step forward and then retreat. \nSolo piano removes that safety net. \nGreen has to provide the bass movement\, harmony\, melody\, rhythm and improvisation himself. He decides when the music breathes and when it drives forward. \nFor a musician whose education came from some of jazz’s greatest bandleaders and rhythm sections\, the format exposes everything he’s learned. \nOne instrument has to contain the whole band. \nNew Music Is Coming\nThe Old Lyme performances also arrive at an interesting point in Green’s recording career. \nHis new album\, Renovation!\, is scheduled for release on September 18\, less than a month after his two nights at The Side Door. \nThe timing puts the Connecticut appearances immediately ahead of the next chapter in a recording career that has stretched across decades. \nGreen performs at The Side Door on both Friday\, August 28\, and Saturday\, August 29\, before heading to Portsmouth\, New Hampshire\, for another performance the following night. \nSaturday’s Old Lyme concert is the second of the two Side Door performances. \nA Room Made for This Kind of Night\nThe Side Door Jazz Club is tucked inside the historic Old Lyme Inn at 85 Lyme Street. \nRather than a general entertainment venue that occasionally books jazz\, The Side Door was created as a dedicated jazz listening room. \nThat distinction matters for a solo piano performance. \nThere are no arena screens or enormous distances separating musician and audience. The room is intimate enough to hear the smaller things: a change in touch\, the space Green leaves between phrases\, the left hand quietly establishing a pulse before the right hand takes off somewhere else. \nTickets are reserved seating\, and the performance is open to all ages. \nFree parking is available\, and guests who dine at the Old Lyme Inn before the concert receive 10% off their dinner bill. \nOne Piano\, Four Decades of Teachers\nThere’s a remarkable collection of names attached to Benny Green’s career. \nBetty Carter. \nArt Blakey. \nFreddie Hubbard. \nRay Brown. \nOscar Peterson. \nBut Saturday night isn’t a history lecture. \nThose musicians matter because traces of what Green learned from them remain in the way he plays. \nThe singer who taught him to accompany. The drummer who taught generations how to swing. The trumpeter whose hard-bop vocabulary helped define an era. The bassist who had been there when bebop was being invented. The pianist who personally chose Green as his protégé. \nAt The Side Door\, none of them will be onstage. \nIn a way\, all of them will. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Benny Green Solo Piano\nDate: Saturday\, August 29\, 2026\nTime: 8–10 p.m.\nDoors: 7:15 p.m.\nLocation: The Side Door Jazz Club at the Old Lyme Inn\nAddress: 85 Lyme Street\, Old Lyme\, CT 06371\nSeating: Reserved\nAge: All ages\nParking: Free\nPerformer: Benny Green\nPerformance: Solo piano\nRefunds: No refunds \nGuests dining at the Old Lyme Inn before the performance receive 10% off their dinner bill. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/benny-green-at-the-side-door-in-old-lyme/
LOCATION:Side Door Jazz Club\, 85 Lyme St\, Old Lyme\, 06372\, United States
CATEGORIES:SIde Door Jazz Club
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260822T193000
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SUMMARY:Sarah Hanahan Quartet at The Side Door Jazz Club
DESCRIPTION:Sarah Hanahan Quartet at The Side Door Jazz Club brings one of the most acclaimed young alto saxophonists in jazz to Old Lyme on Saturday\, August 22\, for an intimate performance inside the historic Old Lyme Inn. \nThe concert begins at 8 p.m.\, with doors opening at 7:15 p.m. Hanahan will be joined by pianist Caelan Cardello\, bassist Matt Dwonszyk and drummer Samuel Bolduc for an evening of modern jazz led by a musician DownBeat has named its No. 1 Rising Star Alto Saxophonist for two consecutive years. \nFrom Connecticut’s Hartt School to Juilliard\nHanahan’s path to the national jazz scene has strong Connecticut roots. \nRaised in Marlborough\, Massachusetts\, she began playing alto saxophone at age eight. Her father was a drummer\, and his love of music provided an early introduction to the jazz that would eventually become her career. \nHanahan came to Connecticut to attend the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School\, a program founded by legendary alto saxophonist Jackie McLean. \nThere\, she studied with musicians including Abraham Burton\, Rene McLean\, Nat Reeves and Javon Jackson. She continued her education in New York\, earning a master’s degree from The Juilliard School. \nThat combination placed Hanahan in two important jazz traditions: the hard-bop lineage associated with McLean and Hartford\, and the intensely competitive New York jazz scene where she has since established herself as a working musician. \nA Rapid Rise Through the Jazz World\nHanahan has accumulated an impressive list of collaborators while still relatively early in her career. \nShe has performed or worked with musicians including Jeff “Tain” Watts\, Billy Hart\, Dee Dee Bridgewater\, Nat Reeves\, Steve Davis and Marc Cary. She has also performed with the Grammy-winning Mingus Big Band and Sherrie Maricle’s DIVA Jazz Orchestra. \nNew York audiences can regularly find her at clubs including Birdland\, Smalls Jazz Club\, Dizzy’s Club and Smoke Jazz Club. \nNPR also selected Hanahan for the inaugural class of its Jazz Night in America Youngbloods\, a project hosted by bassist Christian McBride highlighting emerging jazz musicians. \nBut one of the biggest steps forward came with her first album. \nAmong Giants\nHanahan released her debut album\, Among Giants\, in 2024. \nThe title proved appropriate. Rather than surrounding herself entirely with musicians from her own generation\, Hanahan recorded with veteran pianist Marc Cary\, longtime Hartford bassist and educator Nat Reeves and celebrated drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. \nThe album received a five-star review from DownBeat and was selected as one of the magazine’s top albums of 2024. \nIn 2025\, DownBeat readers named Hanahan the No. 1 Rising Star Alto Saxophonist\, recognition she has now earned in consecutive years. \nHer playing combines the force and improvisational freedom of the jazz tradition she studied in Hartford with a lyrical quality and an energetic stage presence. The result is music that respects where jazz came from without sounding like an attempt to preserve it behind glass. \nThe Quartet Coming to Old Lyme\nFor the Side Door performance\, Hanahan leads a four-piece group: \nSarah Hanahan — Alto Saxophone\nCaelan Cardello — Piano\nMatt Dwonszyk — Bass\nSamuel Bolduc — Drums \nThere are Connecticut connections within the quartet beyond Hanahan’s years at Hartt. \nBassist Matt Dwonszyk is himself a product of the Jackie McLean Institute and has become a significant presence in Connecticut and New York jazz. He has performed with artists including Harold Mabern\, Larry Willis and Steve Davis while also leading his own groups. \nPianist Caelan Cardello represents another generation of emerging jazz musicians. The New Jersey pianist has already performed at major New York jazz venues and developed a reputation as both a bandleader and sideman. \nTogether\, the quartet format leaves plenty of room for interaction. With only saxophone\, piano\, bass and drums\, each musician has space to respond to the others as arrangements move between composed passages and improvisation. \nJazz in a Room Built for Listening\nThe setting is part of what makes this performance different from seeing the same quartet in a large theater. \nThe Side Door Jazz Club is a dedicated jazz listening room located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn at 85 Lyme Street. Rather than functioning as a general-purpose venue that occasionally books jazz\, The Side Door was created specifically around the experience of hearing the music in a small room. \nThat matters with a quartet like Hanahan’s. Jazz is conversational music. A drummer changes direction\, the bassist catches it\, the pianist leaves an opening and the saxophone answers. In a room this size\, the audience can watch those exchanges happen only feet away. \nSince opening in 2013\, The Side Door has attracted nationally and internationally recognized jazz musicians while establishing Old Lyme as an unlikely stop on the touring jazz circuit. \nDinner Before the Show\nGuests can turn the concert into a full evening by dining at the Old Lyme Inn before the performance. \nTicket holders who have dinner at the inn before the show receive 10% off their dinner bill. \nBecause the concert uses reserved seating\, guests don’t need to race for a preferred spot when the doors open. Free parking is also available at the venue. \nThe performance is open to all ages. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Sarah Hanahan Quartet\nDate: Saturday\, August 22\, 2026\nDoors: 7:15 p.m.\nShow: 8–10 p.m.\nLocation: The Side Door Jazz Club at Old Lyme Inn\nAddress: 85 Lyme Street\, Old Lyme\, CT 06371\nSeating: Reserved\nAges: All ages\nParking: Free \nTickets are non-refundable. Guests dining at the Old Lyme Inn before the performance receive 10% off their dinner bill. \nMore information is available at the Event Website listed below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/sarah-hanahan-quartet-at-the-side-door-jazz-club/
LOCATION:Side Door Jazz Club\, 85 Lyme St\, Old Lyme\, 06372\, United States
CATEGORIES:SIde Door Jazz Club
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T220000
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CREATED:20260811T022645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T022645Z
UID:10007144-1786824000-1786831200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Nat Reeves Sextet "Now in Time" Album Release Show
DESCRIPTION:Nat Reeves Sextet “Now in Time” Album Release Show brings one of jazz’s most respected bassists and the all-star ensemble behind his new album to The Side Door in Old Lyme for two nights\, Friday\, August 14\, and Saturday\, August 15. Rather than assembling a separate touring group for the concerts\, Reeves arrives with the musicians heard on Now in Time\, giving audiences a rare chance to experience the album’s chemistry live and at close range. \nThe lineup is formidable. Reeves is joined by tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander\, trombonist Steve Davis\, trumpeter Eddie Henderson\, pianist Caelan Cardello\, and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. Between them are decades of performances and recordings with many of the defining artists in modern jazz\, but the attraction here isn’t simply six impressive résumés sharing a stage. Now in Time was created by this ensemble\, and these concerts allow the conversations heard on the record to continue in real time. \nThat matters at The Side Door. The Old Lyme club is a true listening room\, small enough for audiences to hear the details that disappear in a larger hall: Reeves shifting the direction of a tune from the bass\, a horn player responding\, Watts changing the pulse underneath them. For two nights\, the room becomes an unusually intimate setting for a sextet with this much collective experience. \nThe Nat Reeves Sextet\nThe album-release ensemble features: \nNat Reeves – Bass\nEric Alexander – Tenor Saxophone\nSteve Davis – Trombone\nEddie Henderson – Trumpet\nCaelan Cardello – Piano\nJeff “Tain” Watts – Drums \nIt’s a multigenerational group\, bringing veteran players together with younger musicians while remaining rooted in the improvisation and musical conversation at the heart of jazz. \nAbout Nat Reeves\nNat Reeves has spent more than four decades building a career as one of jazz’s most respected bassists. \nHis early career put him onstage with musicians including Jackie McLean\, Benny Golson\, Donald Byrd\, Art Taylor\, Mulgrew Miller\, Kenny Kirkland\, and Kenny Drew. In 1994\, Reeves began a long association with saxophonist Kenny Garrett\, becoming part of Garrett’s band during an important period in the saxophonist’s career. \nReeves’ credits also include work with Pharoah Sanders\, George Coleman\, Harold Mabern\, George Cables\, and Joe Farnsworth. \nYet Reeves isn’t simply a sideman with an extraordinary list of collaborators. As a bandleader\, he has increasingly put his own musical ideas at the center\, releasing State of Emergency\, Blue Ridge\, and now Now in Time. \nAbout Now in Time\nReleased April 17\, 2026\, on Cellar Live\, Now in Time brings the same six musicians appearing in Old Lyme together for a 12-track album running just over an hour. \nThe record moves between Reeves’ original compositions and carefully selected standards rather than treating either as separate territory. The sextet takes on “On Green Dolphin Street” and “Alice in Wonderland\,” while also reaching beyond traditional jazz repertoire. \nThroughout the album\, Reeves’ bass doesn’t demand the spotlight. It guides the ensemble from underneath\, giving the other musicians room to move while quietly shaping where the music goes next. \nThat interplay is particularly suited to a live performance. Jazz changes when musicians respond to a room\, an audience and one another\, meaning the Side Door performances aren’t simply recreations of the record. The album becomes the starting point. \nSix Accomplished Jazz Musicians\, One Small Room\nReeves’ band gives jazz listeners plenty to watch beyond the leader. \nTrumpeter Eddie Henderson has a career stretching back more than five decades and has performed with major figures across several generations of jazz. Jeff “Tain” Watts became widely known through his work with Wynton and Branford Marsalis and has developed into one of the most distinctive drummers of his generation. \nTenor saxophonist Eric Alexander has established an extensive career as both a bandleader and collaborator\, while trombonist Steve Davis has worked with artists ranging from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers to Chick Corea. Pianist Caelan Cardello represents a younger generation of jazz musicians and has already earned significant recognition on the New York jazz scene. \nPut them together\, and the appeal becomes clearer: this isn’t Reeves surrounded by backing musicians. It’s six improvisers with distinct musical voices. \nTwo Nights at The Side Door\nThe sextet performs on both Friday and Saturday night\, giving audiences two opportunities to hear the album-release program. \nFriday\, August 14\n8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. \nSaturday\, August 15\n8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. \nTickets include reserved seating. \nDinner Before the Show\nThe Side Door Jazz Club is located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn\, making dinner and a concert easy to combine into one evening. \nGuests who dine at the Old Lyme Inn before the performance receive 10% off their dinner bill. \nTickets\nGeneral Admission: $70.34 \nStudent Admission: $38.57 \nThe student discount is available to guests under age 25 with a valid school ID. \nSeating is reserved. \nEvent Details\nDates\nFriday\, August 14\, 2026\nSaturday\, August 15\, 2026 \nTime\n8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. each night \nLocation\nThe Side Door Jazz Club at the Old Lyme Inn \nAddress\n85 Lyme St.\nOld Lyme\, CT \nAdmission\n$70.34 general admission\n$38.57 student admission for guests under 25 with school ID \nSeating\nReserved seating \nDining\nTicket holders who dine at the Old Lyme Inn before the concert receive 10% off their dinner bill. \nImportant Notes\nThe performances feature the same six musicians who recorded Now in Time\, including Nat Reeves\, Eric Alexander\, Steve Davis\, Eddie Henderson\, Caelan Cardello\, and Jeff “Tain” Watts. \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, click on the Ticketing link below. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/nat-reeves-sextet-now-in-time-album-release-show/2026-08-15/
LOCATION:Side Door Jazz Club\, 85 Lyme St\, Old Lyme\, 06372\, United States
CATEGORIES:SIde Door Jazz Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Nat-Reeves-Sextet-Now-in-TIme-Album-Release-Show-Friday-And-Saturday-August-14-and-15-8pm-10pm.jpg
END:VEVENT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260814T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260814T220000
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CREATED:20260811T022645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T022645Z
UID:10007143-1786737600-1786744800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Nat Reeves Sextet "Now in Time" Album Release Show
DESCRIPTION:Nat Reeves Sextet “Now in Time” Album Release Show brings one of jazz’s most respected bassists and the all-star ensemble behind his new album to The Side Door in Old Lyme for two nights\, Friday\, August 14\, and Saturday\, August 15. Rather than assembling a separate touring group for the concerts\, Reeves arrives with the musicians heard on Now in Time\, giving audiences a rare chance to experience the album’s chemistry live and at close range. \nThe lineup is formidable. Reeves is joined by tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander\, trombonist Steve Davis\, trumpeter Eddie Henderson\, pianist Caelan Cardello\, and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. Between them are decades of performances and recordings with many of the defining artists in modern jazz\, but the attraction here isn’t simply six impressive résumés sharing a stage. Now in Time was created by this ensemble\, and these concerts allow the conversations heard on the record to continue in real time. \nThat matters at The Side Door. The Old Lyme club is a true listening room\, small enough for audiences to hear the details that disappear in a larger hall: Reeves shifting the direction of a tune from the bass\, a horn player responding\, Watts changing the pulse underneath them. For two nights\, the room becomes an unusually intimate setting for a sextet with this much collective experience. \nThe Nat Reeves Sextet\nThe album-release ensemble features: \nNat Reeves – Bass\nEric Alexander – Tenor Saxophone\nSteve Davis – Trombone\nEddie Henderson – Trumpet\nCaelan Cardello – Piano\nJeff “Tain” Watts – Drums \nIt’s a multigenerational group\, bringing veteran players together with younger musicians while remaining rooted in the improvisation and musical conversation at the heart of jazz. \nAbout Nat Reeves\nNat Reeves has spent more than four decades building a career as one of jazz’s most respected bassists. \nHis early career put him onstage with musicians including Jackie McLean\, Benny Golson\, Donald Byrd\, Art Taylor\, Mulgrew Miller\, Kenny Kirkland\, and Kenny Drew. In 1994\, Reeves began a long association with saxophonist Kenny Garrett\, becoming part of Garrett’s band during an important period in the saxophonist’s career. \nReeves’ credits also include work with Pharoah Sanders\, George Coleman\, Harold Mabern\, George Cables\, and Joe Farnsworth. \nYet Reeves isn’t simply a sideman with an extraordinary list of collaborators. As a bandleader\, he has increasingly put his own musical ideas at the center\, releasing State of Emergency\, Blue Ridge\, and now Now in Time. \nAbout Now in Time\nReleased April 17\, 2026\, on Cellar Live\, Now in Time brings the same six musicians appearing in Old Lyme together for a 12-track album running just over an hour. \nThe record moves between Reeves’ original compositions and carefully selected standards rather than treating either as separate territory. The sextet takes on “On Green Dolphin Street” and “Alice in Wonderland\,” while also reaching beyond traditional jazz repertoire. \nThroughout the album\, Reeves’ bass doesn’t demand the spotlight. It guides the ensemble from underneath\, giving the other musicians room to move while quietly shaping where the music goes next. \nThat interplay is particularly suited to a live performance. Jazz changes when musicians respond to a room\, an audience and one another\, meaning the Side Door performances aren’t simply recreations of the record. The album becomes the starting point. \nSix Accomplished Jazz Musicians\, One Small Room\nReeves’ band gives jazz listeners plenty to watch beyond the leader. \nTrumpeter Eddie Henderson has a career stretching back more than five decades and has performed with major figures across several generations of jazz. Jeff “Tain” Watts became widely known through his work with Wynton and Branford Marsalis and has developed into one of the most distinctive drummers of his generation. \nTenor saxophonist Eric Alexander has established an extensive career as both a bandleader and collaborator\, while trombonist Steve Davis has worked with artists ranging from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers to Chick Corea. Pianist Caelan Cardello represents a younger generation of jazz musicians and has already earned significant recognition on the New York jazz scene. \nPut them together\, and the appeal becomes clearer: this isn’t Reeves surrounded by backing musicians. It’s six improvisers with distinct musical voices. \nTwo Nights at The Side Door\nThe sextet performs on both Friday and Saturday night\, giving audiences two opportunities to hear the album-release program. \nFriday\, August 14\n8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. \nSaturday\, August 15\n8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. \nTickets include reserved seating. \nDinner Before the Show\nThe Side Door Jazz Club is located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn\, making dinner and a concert easy to combine into one evening. \nGuests who dine at the Old Lyme Inn before the performance receive 10% off their dinner bill. \nTickets\nGeneral Admission: $70.34 \nStudent Admission: $38.57 \nThe student discount is available to guests under age 25 with a valid school ID. \nSeating is reserved. \nEvent Details\nDates\nFriday\, August 14\, 2026\nSaturday\, August 15\, 2026 \nTime\n8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. each night \nLocation\nThe Side Door Jazz Club at the Old Lyme Inn \nAddress\n85 Lyme St.\nOld Lyme\, CT \nAdmission\n$70.34 general admission\n$38.57 student admission for guests under 25 with school ID \nSeating\nReserved seating \nDining\nTicket holders who dine at the Old Lyme Inn before the concert receive 10% off their dinner bill. \nImportant Notes\nThe performances feature the same six musicians who recorded Now in Time\, including Nat Reeves\, Eric Alexander\, Steve Davis\, Eddie Henderson\, Caelan Cardello\, and Jeff “Tain” Watts. \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, click on the Ticketing link below. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/nat-reeves-sextet-now-in-time-album-release-show/2026-08-14/
LOCATION:Side Door Jazz Club\, 85 Lyme St\, Old Lyme\, 06372\, United States
CATEGORIES:SIde Door Jazz Club
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END:VEVENT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260725T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260725T220000
DTSTAMP:20260721T211739Z
CREATED:20260721T211739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260721T211739Z
UID:10006902-1785009600-1785016800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Yoko Miwa Trio at The Side Door Jazz Club
DESCRIPTION:Yoko Miwa Trio at The Side Door Jazz Club brings one of today’s most acclaimed jazz pianists to Old Lyme on Saturday\, July 25\, for an evening of exceptional modern jazz. Joined by bassist Will Slater and drummer Scott Goulding\, internationally celebrated pianist Yoko Miwa performs with the remarkable chemistry and musicianship that have made her trio one of New England’s premier jazz ensembles. \nBorn in Kobe\, Japan\, Miwa began her musical journey as a classical pianist before discovering jazz\, a path that ultimately led her to Boston’s Berklee College of Music following the devastating 1995 Kobe earthquake. Today\, she serves as a Berklee piano professor while earning international acclaim as a performer\, composer\, and recording artist. Her trio is known for combining technical brilliance with expressive improvisation\, creating performances that appeal to longtime jazz aficionados and newcomers alike. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Yoko Miwa Trio \nDate: Saturday\, July 25\, 2026 \nTime: 8:00-10:00 p.m. \nDoors Open: 7:15 p.m. \nVenue: The Side Door Jazz Club \nAddress: 85 Lyme Street\, Old Lyme\, CT 06371 \nAdmission: Reserved seating \nAge: All ages \nParking: Free \nPerformers\n\nYoko Miwa – Piano\nWill Slater – Bass\nScott Goulding – Drums\n\nAbout Yoko Miwa\nYoko Miwa has become one of the most respected pianists in contemporary jazz\, praised for combining technical mastery with expressive lyricism. Influenced by jazz legends including Bill Evans\, Keith Jarrett\, McCoy Tyner\, Oscar Peterson\, and Ahmad Jamal\, she has developed a distinctive style that is both deeply rooted in tradition and unmistakably her own. \nHer latest album\, Songs of Joy\, reached No. 1 on the JazzWeek chart\, adding to an impressive career that includes performances at Lincoln Center and leading jazz venues throughout the United States\, Japan\, and Europe. \nCritics have consistently praised her artistry. DownBeat highlighted her “impressive technique and tuneful lyricism\,” while JazzTimes noted her “jaw-dropping degree of technique” and ability to perform with “authenticity\, clarity\, and spontaneity.” Jazz icon Ahmad Jamal also counted Miwa among his favorite pianists. \nAbout The Side Door Jazz Club\nLocated inside the historic Old Lyme Inn\, The Side Door Jazz Club is one of Connecticut’s premier listening rooms\, offering an intimate setting where audiences can experience world-class jazz performances up close. Guests dining at the Old Lyme Inn before the concert receive a 10% discount on dinner. \nWhy Attend\nWhether you’re a devoted jazz fan or simply appreciate outstanding live musicianship\, the Yoko Miwa Trio offers an evening of sophisticated\, energetic\, and beautifully performed jazz. The intimate atmosphere of The Side Door Jazz Club makes every performance feel personal\, creating an unforgettable listening experience. \nTickets\nTickets can be purchased by clicking the Event Ticketing link at the bottom of this page. \nMore Information\nAdditional event information is available by clicking the Event Website link at the bottom of this page. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/yoko-miwa-trio-at-the-side-door-jazz-club/
LOCATION:Side Door Jazz Club\, 85 Lyme St\, Old Lyme\, 06372\, United States
CATEGORIES:SIde Door Jazz Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Yoko-Miwa-Trio-at-the-Side-Door-Jazz-Club-Saturday-July-25-8pm-10pm.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260724T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260724T220000
DTSTAMP:20260721T212543Z
CREATED:20260721T212543Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260721T212543Z
UID:10006903-1784923200-1784930400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Hendrik Meurkens Quartet at The Side Door Jazz Club
DESCRIPTION:Hendrik Meurkens Quartet at The Side Door Jazz Club brings one of the world’s most distinctive jazz artists to Old Lyme on Friday\, July 24\, for an evening of exceptional musicianship featuring both the chromatic harmonica and vibraphone. Joined by pianist Steve Ash\, bassist Joe Fitzgerald\, and drummer Ben Bilello\, Meurkens performs an intimate concert showcasing a career that spans American jazz\, Brazilian rhythms\, and European influences. \nWidely regarded as the most important jazz harmonica player since the legendary Toots Thielemans\, Meurkens has earned international acclaim for his expressive playing and remarkable versatility. Equally accomplished on vibraphone\, his performances blend straight-ahead jazz with the rich sounds of Brazilian samba\, bossa nova\, and choro\, creating a style that is instantly recognizable and deeply engaging. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Hendrik Meurkens Quartet \nDate: Friday\, July 24\, 2026 \nTime: 8:00-10:00 p.m. \nDoors Open: 7:15 p.m. \nVenue: The Side Door Jazz Club \nAddress: 85 Lyme Street\, Old Lyme\, CT 06371 \nAdmission: Reserved seating \nAge: All ages \nParking: Free \nPerformers\n\nHendrik Meurkens – Harmonica & Vibraphone\nSteve Ash – Piano\nJoe Fitzgerald – Bass\nBen Bilello – Drums\n\nAbout Hendrik Meurkens\nBorn in Hamburg\, Germany\, Hendrik Meurkens first fell in love with jazz after hearing the vibraphone playing of Lionel Hampton on a Benny Goodman recording. A few years later\, discovering Toots Thielemans inspired him to master the chromatic harmonica\, setting him on a path that would make him one of the instrument’s leading voices. \nAfter studying at Berklee College of Music\, Meurkens immersed himself in Brazilian music while living in Rio de Janeiro\, where the sounds of samba\, bossa nova\, and choro became a lasting influence on his artistry. He later moved to New York\, signed with Concord Records\, and has released more than 15 acclaimed albums while performing at leading jazz festivals and clubs around the world. \nHis warm harmonica tone and swinging vibraphone style have earned praise from critics and fellow musicians alike\, making every performance a unique blend of technical brilliance and emotional expression. \nAbout The Side Door Jazz Club\nLocated inside the historic Old Lyme Inn\, The Side Door Jazz Club is one of New England’s premier listening rooms\, presenting internationally recognized jazz artists in an intimate setting designed for exceptional live performances. Guests dining at the Old Lyme Inn before the show receive a 10% discount on dinner. \nWhy Attend\nHendrik Meurkens is one of the few artists equally celebrated for mastery of two instruments\, bringing a distinctive sound that blends classic jazz with Brazilian influences. Combined with the intimate atmosphere of The Side Door\, this concert offers a rare opportunity to experience an internationally acclaimed performer up close. \nTickets\nTickets can be purchased by clicking the Event Ticketing link at the bottom of this page. \nMore Information\nAdditional event information is available by clicking the Event Website link at the bottom of this page. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/hendrik-meurkens-quartet-at-the-side-door-jazz-club/
LOCATION:Side Door Jazz Club\, 85 Lyme St\, Old Lyme\, 06372\, United States
CATEGORIES:SIde Door Jazz Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Yoko-Miwa-Trio-at-the-Side-Door-Jazz-Club-Saturday-July-25-8pm-10pm-1.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260718T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260718T220000
DTSTAMP:20260716T030042Z
CREATED:20260716T030042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260716T030042Z
UID:10006834-1784404800-1784412000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Joe McCarthy Afro Bop Alliance Sextet at Side Door Jazz Club
DESCRIPTION:Joe McCarthy Afro Bop Alliance Sextet at Side Door Jazz Club brings the vibrant rhythms of Afro-Latin jazz to Old Lyme on Saturday\, July 18. Beginning at 8 p.m.\, the Latin Grammy Award-winning ensemble’s intimate small-group counterpart delivers an evening of world-class musicianship\, blending bebop with Afro-Caribbean\, Brazilian\, African\, and global musical traditions in one of Connecticut’s premier jazz listening rooms. \nLed by acclaimed drummer Joe McCarthy\, the Afro Bop Alliance Sextet grew from the internationally recognized New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band\, a Latin Grammy Award-winning ensemble celebrated for pushing the boundaries of contemporary jazz. In this smaller format\, the group embraces the spontaneity\, improvisation\, and close musical interaction that define classic jazz combos while maintaining the rich cultural influences that have made the larger ensemble so highly regarded. \nJoining McCarthy are an all-star lineup of jazz performers: trumpeter Alex Norris\, tenor saxophonist Alejandro Avilés\, trombonist Juanga Lakunza\, pianist Zaccai Curtis\, and bassist Luques Curtis. Together\, they create an exciting fusion of bebop traditions inspired by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers with the infectious rhythms of Afro-Latin music. \nEvent Details\n\nEvent: Joe McCarthy Afro Bop Alliance Sextet\nDate: Saturday\, July 18\, 2026\nTime: 8:00-10:00 p.m.\nVenue: Side Door Jazz Club\nLocation: Old Lyme Inn\, 85 Lyme St.\, Old Lyme\, CT\nSeating: Reserved\n\nThe Ensemble\n\nJoe McCarthy – Drums & Leader\nAlex Norris – Trumpet\nAlejandro Avilés – Tenor Saxophone\nJuanga Lakunza – Trombone\nZaccai Curtis – Piano\nLuques Curtis – Bass\n\nAbout the Music\nThe Afro Bop Alliance Sextet blends: \n\nBebop\nAfro-Latin jazz\nAfro-Caribbean rhythms\nBrazilian influences\nAfrican musical traditions\nContemporary jazz improvisation\n\nAbout Side Door Jazz Club\nLocated inside the historic Old Lyme Inn\, Side Door Jazz Club is one of New England’s premier jazz venues\, offering an intimate listening experience with reserved seating and outstanding acoustics. Guests dining at the Old Lyme Inn before the performance receive 10% off their dinner bill. \nWhy Attend\n\nLatin Grammy Award-winning musicians\nWorld-class Afro-Latin jazz\nIntimate listening room\nReserved seating\nOne of Connecticut’s premier jazz venues\n\nTickets\nTickets can be purchased by clicking the Event Ticketing link at the bottom of this page. \nMore Information\nAdditional event information is available by clicking the Event Website link at the bottom of this page. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/joe-mccarthy-afro-bop-alliance-sextet-at-side-door-jazz-club/
LOCATION:Side Door Jazz Club\, 85 Lyme St\, Old Lyme\, 06372\, United States
CATEGORIES:SIde Door Jazz Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Joe-McCarthy-Afro-Bop-Alliance-Sextet-at-Side-Door-Jazz-Club.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260717T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260717T220000
DTSTAMP:20260716T025209Z
CREATED:20260716T025209Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260716T025209Z
UID:10006833-1784318400-1784325600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Mark Zaleski Quintet at Side Door Jazz Club
DESCRIPTION:Mark Zaleski Quintet at Side Door Jazz Club brings one of today’s most versatile jazz musicians to Old Lyme on Friday\, July 17. Beginning at 8 p.m.\, internationally acclaimed saxophonist\, composer\, and bandleader Mark Zaleski leads his quintet through an evening of contemporary jazz that blends technical brilliance with influences spanning rock\, soul\, funk\, and modern improvisation. \nAn internationally touring performer\, Zaleski has shared the stage with an extraordinary range of artists including Dave Brubeck\, Christian McBride\, Ian Anderson\, Lake Street Dive\, Louis Cole\, Connie Francis\, and the Grammy Award-winning 8-Bit Big Band. A graduate of both the prestigious Dave Brubeck Institute Fellowship Program and the New England Conservatory of Music\, he has built a reputation as one of jazz’s most creative and dynamic saxophonists while also serving on the faculties of Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory. \nZaleski’s music reflects a lifetime of diverse influences\, from The Beatles\, Led Zeppelin\, Stevie Wonder\, and Jimi Hendrix to jazz legends John Coltrane\, Cannonball Adderley\, Oscar Peterson\, and Dave Brubeck. His original compositions combine modern jazz with elements of rock\, soul\, and funk\, creating performances that are both adventurous and accessible. Joined by longtime collaborators\, the quintet’s chemistry is rooted in years of performing together\, resulting in an expressive and tightly connected ensemble sound. \nEvent Details\n\nEvent: Mark Zaleski Quintet\nDate: Friday\, July 17\, 2026\nTime: 8:00 p.m.\nVenue: Side Door Jazz Club\nLocation: Old Lyme Inn\, 85 Lyme St.\, Old Lyme\, CT\n\nAbout Mark Zaleski\nMark Zaleski is an internationally recognized: \n\nSaxophonist\nComposer\nMulti-instrumentalist\nBandleader\nEducator\n\nCareer highlights include: \n\nDave Brubeck Institute Fellow\nFaculty member at Berklee College of Music\nFaculty member at New England Conservatory\nFeatured soloist with numerous orchestras\nInternational touring artist\n\nArtists He Has Performed With\nZaleski has collaborated with artists including: \n\nDave Brubeck\nChristian McBride\nIan Anderson\nLake Street Dive\nLouis Cole\nConnie Francis\nMahmoud Ahmed\nJason Palmer\n\nAbout Side Door Jazz Club\nLocated inside the historic Old Lyme Inn\, Side Door Jazz Club has earned a national reputation for presenting world-class jazz artists in an intimate listening room with exceptional acoustics\, craft cocktails\, and an atmosphere designed specifically for live jazz. \nWhy Attend\n\nInternationally acclaimed jazz musicians\nIntimate listening room\nContemporary original jazz\nHistoric Old Lyme venue\nOne of Connecticut’s premier jazz clubs\n\nTickets\nTickets can be purchased by clicking the Event Ticketing link at the bottom of this page. \nMore Information\nAdditional event information is available by clicking the Event Website link at the bottom of this page. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/mark-zaleski-quintet-at-side-door-jazz-club/
LOCATION:Side Door Jazz Club\, 85 Lyme St\, Old Lyme\, 06372\, United States
CATEGORIES:SIde Door Jazz Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mark-Zaleski-Quintet-at-Side-Door-Jazz-Club-Friday-July-17.jpg
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