Jazz Calendar

Steve was a member of Chick Corea’s GRAMMY®-winning sextet Origin, toured the U.S. and Europe with Lionel Hampton, and with the support of friend and mentor Dr. Billy Taylor, he has been a frequent guest performer/educator at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Steve is a core member of the Maria Schneider Orchestra, an 18-member ensemble made up of many of the finest musicians in jazz today, and a regular member of the Billy Childs Quartet. Steve is consistently cited in the Downbeat Magazine Critics and Readers Polls as one the top players in the categories for soprano and alto saxophones as well as flute. He is the Director of Jazz Studies and an Associate Professor of Music at City College of New York. The Wall Street Journal called Steve “essential to [New York’s] jazz landscape.”

Renee Rosnes’ distinguished career continues to reach new heights, marked by new music, compelling collaborations, and ever-evolving artistry. She was a ten-year member of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. Her ensemble, Artemis, was named Jazz Group of the Year for three consecutive years (2023-2025) in Downbeat’s Annual Readers Poll. Her most recent recording, Crossing Paths, spent six weeks at No. 1 on the JazzWeek National Radio charts and is nominated for a 2026 JUNO award for Jazz Album of the Year. She’s already won seven Juno awards! In 2018, the Montréal Jazz Festival honored Renee with the Oscar Peterson Prize in recognition of her exceptional contributions to jazz. She is married to and collaborates with Bill Charlap, also a world-renowned jazz pianist. The Jazz Report said, “Rosnes has grown and matured into one of the finest pianists in jazz. Her playing is inventive, complex and always illuminating.”

A graduate of The Juilliard School, where he studied classical music, David Wong is a sought-after bass player. He has held the bass chair with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra for over 16 years, and is currently a member of the Bill Charlap Trio, Charles McPherson Quintet, and Terell Stafford Quintet. David was a member of Roy Haynes’ Fountain of Youth band for 15 years, of the Heath Brother’s Quartet, led by Jimmy Heath and Albert “Tootie” Heath, for 13 years, and of Hank Jones’ Great Jazz Trio and is featured on the piano master’s last recording. David has appeared on over 80 recordings, including Samara Joy’s GRAMMY-winning album, Linger a While. He is on faculty at Purchase College, William Patterson University, The New School, and The City College of New York. The Stanford Jazz Workshop said, “David’s mastery of the acoustic bass is remarkable” and cites his “wealth of experience he’s accumulated working with the world’s great jazz artists.”

Selections to be announced from the stage.

This summer, the Chelmsford Community Band continues its decades-long tradition of providing live musical performances on Chelmsford Town Common.  Bring your folding chairs and your blankets and set yourself up on the grass as the summer heat switches over to the cool of evening, the stars come out, and local volunteer musicians share with the community their love of music.

The band’s 7pm Tuesday series starts on July 14 with the Jazz Ensemble, directed by Art Bakopolus, and they will also perform on July 28 and August 11.  On the alternating Tuesdays, you will be able to hear the Concert Band under the direction of Eric Linsner performing programs of show tunes, marches, and light Americana on July 21, August 4, and August 18.  This summer series has been made possible with a grant from the Chelmsford Cultural Council.

The Chelmsford Community Band is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and has a 75-piece concert band and a 20-piece jazz ensemble made of dedicated volunteer musicians with a proud tradition of bringing live musical performances to this community since 1972.  They depend on grants from local businesses, arts organizations such as the Chelmsford Cultural Council, and your donations.  Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or BlueSky, and find them online at www.chelmsfordcommunityband.com.

One is a new work commissioned for the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival and composed by Rosnes for jazz trio and classical string quartet. The Festival also commissioned two new arrangements for jazz trio and classical string quartet by GRAMMY-winning composer and orchestra leader Maria Schneider of her pieces Sky Blue and Walking by Flashlight. Harlem Quartet will perform Fanny Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in E-flat Major and Aldo López-Gavilán’s Frère Jacques.

The Cincinnati Enquirer hailed the Harlem Quartet for “bringing a new attitude to classical music, one that is fresh, bracing and intelligent.” Jazz Times calls award-winning Steve Wilson “the consummate saxophonist-composer” and “one of the finest alto and soprano saxophonists of our time.” The Jazz Report said, “Rosnes has grown and matured into one of the finest pianists in jazz. Her playing is inventive, complex and always illuminating.” The Stanford Jazz Workshop said, “David’s mastery of the acoustic bass is remarkable” and cites his “wealth of experience he’s accumulated working with the world’s great jazz artists.” Together, these extraordinary musicians will create a special evening that combines classical and jazz into something altogether fresh, new, and exciting.

THE BAND:George W. Russell, Jr. keyboardsSean Skeete, drumsWes Wirth, bassLihi Haruvi, sax

GEORGE W. RUSSELL, JR.Performer, composer, and educator George W. Russell Jr. has been playing piano since he was seven years old. Whether he’s solo, accompanied by his groove-oriented jazz trio, or part of a boisterous larger ensemble, Russell arouses intellects and touches souls with his unique fusion of gospel and soul.

WES WIRTHWes Wirth is a prolific composer, writing for his bass, guitar, and voice, and for many other collaborators. Wes’ unique style has been described as, “visually expansive, a hyperbolic sound-scape, sonically erotic, sensually inviting, and mysteriously tender.” Wes’ inspiration comes from observing, and participating with the elemental forces of nature, and the stunning diversity and cultural beauty in the world. Wes has recorded or toured with legends such as Chuck Mangione and King Sunny Ade and George Russell, innovators like, Hal Crook, and Yazhi Guo, drum masters Rakalam Bob Moses and Kenwood Dennard and guitar giants Stanley Jordan, Vernon Reid and David Fiuczynski.

SEAN SKEETEHailing from the vibrant musical landscape of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies, Sean Skeete has established himself as a distinguished drummer, educator, and administrative leader. His lifelong journey with rhythm began at the age of 3 when he discovered the drum kit at his father's church, sparking an enduring passion for music. Skeete's path led him to Berklee College of Music, where he earned a full scholarship, a testament to his unwavering dedication and skill. In Boston, he immersed himself in the city's rich musical scene and honed his craft, shaping a unique style that draws inspiration from Caribbean music, jazz, gospel, and R&B.

LIHI HARUVISaxophonist Lihi, with a Mediterranean soul rooted in jazz tradition, actively contributes to the international jazz scene as a performer, composer, and educator. Known as a passionate improvisor with a strong belief in the healing power of music, Lihi is an engaging performer and teacher. She has shared the stage with Jazz Masters and Grammy winners Danilo Pérez, Luciana Souza, Joe Lovano, George Garzone, Dave Liebman, the great arrangers Bill Dobbins, Greg Hopkins, "Rock and roll Hall of Fame" drummer Max Weinberg, Lamine Touré & Group Saloum, and multi-platinum Israeli artist David Broza among others. Lihi has graced stages worldwide as a band leader at festivals like the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival, Cork Guinness Jazz Festival, Red Sea Jazz Festival, and Monterey Jazz Festival. She serves as an Assistant Professor at Berklee’s Global Jazz Institute, and the Harmony department, a lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as serving as a faculty for New England Conservatory Jazz Programs.

On Thursday, August 13, from 6:30-8:30 PM, enjoy an outdoor performance by the Tino D’Agostino Trio, a talented group featuring a lineup of some of Boston’s finest musicians. From seasoned local performers to Berklee College of Music professors and instructors, the trio brings an exciting mix of musical experience and energy to every performance.

Led by classically trained French horn player Kristi Scaccia, the group puts a fresh spin on familiar favorites with a repertoire that spans jazz, funk, pop, fusion, rock, swing, Italian standards, and more. Whether you’re looking to relax and listen or get up and dance, there’s something for everyone.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket, pack a picnic, and enjoy a summer evening of great music in the historic setting of the Old Schwamb Mill. This concert is free and open to all. Donations are appreciated and help us continue offering free community programs like this throughout the year.

Rust belt blues shouter and guitar slinger Larry McCray was born in 1960 in Magnolia, Ark., about 12 miles from the Louisiana line. He spent his early years on a farm as the second youngest of nine siblings. After trying his hand at saxophone in school, his older (and only) sister, Clara, introduced Larry to the guitar and the transformative music of the three Kings of the blues (B.B., Freddie and Albert).

By the late ’80s, Larry had attracted the attention of Virgin Records executive John Wooler, who had recently started a subsidiary label, Point Blank Records, featuring blues, soul and Americana artists. He signed Larry McCray as his first artist. Larry’s debut album, Ambition—aptly named as it fused elements of blues, rock, and soul to create a contemporary blues sound—was recorded in a friend’s Detroit basement studio and released in 1990 to critical acclaim.

Throughout the 1990s, Larry continued to help define blues rock by collaborating with artists such as labelmate and fellow guitarist, Albert Collins, and releasing the much more slickly produced Delta Hurricane in 1993 (produced by British blues maven Mike Vernon), Meet Me at the Lake in 1996 and Born to Play the Blues in 1998.

Over the past three decades of nonstop touring and recording, Larry has played and shared the stage with such blues greats as BB King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, John Mayall, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Keb Mo, Jimmie Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Joe Bonamassa, as well as rock legends the Allman Brothers, Phil Lesh, Jonny Lang, Joe Walsh, Levon Helm, Chris Robinson, Dickey Betts, and countless others.

In 2021, Blues Without You, Larry’s latest, a 12-track release was recorded on famed blues rock guitarist Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive nonprofit label with producer Josh Smith, a partnership that has also spawned a video (for the upcoming single, “Arkansas”) and a documentary.

“Larry’s still a relatively young man, with a lot to say, and the world needs to know who he is. It’s the perfect time to have a rebirth of his music” Bonamassa says.

One is a new work commissioned for the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival and composed by Rosnes for jazz trio and classical string quartet. The Festival also commissioned two new arrangements for jazz trio and classical string quartet by GRAMMY-winning composer and orchestra leader Maria Schneider of her pieces Sky Blue and Walking by Flashlight. Harlem Quartet will perform Fanny Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in E-flat Major and Aldo López-Gavilán’s Frère Jacques.

The Cincinnati Enquirer hailed the Harlem Quartet for “bringing a new attitude to classical music, one that is fresh, bracing and intelligent.” Jazz Times calls award-winning Steve Wilson “the consummate saxophonist-composer” and “one of the finest alto and soprano saxophonists of our time.” The Jazz Report hailed Rosnes as "one of the finest pianists in jazz. Her playing is inventive, complex and always illuminating.” The Stanford Jazz Workshop said, “David’s mastery of the acoustic bass is remarkable” and cites his “wealth of experience he’s accumulated working with the world’s great jazz artists.” Together, these extraordinary musicians will create a special evening that combines classical and jazz into something altogether fresh, new, and exciting.

The acoustic jazz ensemble, Rhythm Future Quartet has a straightforward agenda: to keep the spirit of Gypsy jazz alive and expanding in today’s musical universe. The virtuosic foursome, named for a Django Reinhardt tune, offers up a newly minted sound, influenced by the classic Hot Club of France, yet wholly contemporary. Founded by violinist Jason Anick, the quartet performs dynamic and lyrical arrangements of both Gypsy jazz standards and original compositions that draw upon diverse international rhythms and musical idioms. With Henry Acker, Bruno Peterson, and Greg Loughman rounding out the quartet, Rhythm Future is dedicated to expanding the boundaries of a vital musical genre.

Jon Finn has spent years lighting up The Fallout Shelter stage as lead guitarist for Steely Dan tribute No Static, but this time he brings his own band, the Jon Finn Group. Joined by Japanese fusion guitar master Koji Tsumoto, alongside Juli Finn, Larry Finn, Rich Cesarini, and Joe Santerre, they bring the power of Jeff Beck, the atmosphere of Pink Floyd, the complexity of Yes and King Crimson, and the ethereal shimmer of Enya. It's a genre-bending, pure power experience you won't want to miss.

Larry McCray is a powerhouse bluesman with a soul-soaked voice, blistering guitar chops, and a story embodying the spirit of his music. With his new album Heartbreak City (out June 13 on Journeyman Records), McCray turns the page on a new chapter—raw, joyful, and deeply personal. Produced by blues-rock champions and Grammy Nominated duo Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, Heartbreak City finds the legendary singer and guitarist firing on all cylinders, reconnecting with his roots while stepping boldly forward.

From the first notes of the title track, McCray reminds listeners why he’s long been hailed as one of the most expressive blues artists of his generation. Heartbreak City showcases Larry’s gritty vocals and searing guitar work, evoking the decades he spent grinding it out in clubs, pouring heartache and redemption into every solo. Elsewhere, standout single “Bye Bye Blues” draws on McCray’s teenage years in Michigan, when soul music still ruled the airwaves. Co-written with longtime collaborator Charlie Walmsley, it nods to giants like Johnnie Taylor and Bobby Bland while delivering a sound all his own—grooving, head-nodding, and utterly timeless. “Bright Side,” another standout, was originally written for Bobby Bland and unearthed by Josh Smith, who knew Larry was the one to bring it to life. With call-and-response choruses and sly humor, the track leans into McCray’s knack for pairing deep emotion with irresistible swagger.

The album’s ten original tracks span from soul-infused ballads to roadhouse burners, bolstered by a dream team of collaborators including Bonamassa, Smith, Kirk Fletcher, Reese Wynans, and a full horn section. McCray’s longtime partner Peggy Smith co-wrote several tracks, adding emotional depth and lyrical resonance. Together, they bring a lived-in perspective to songs like “Everything Falls On Me” and “Stop Your Crying”—testaments to weathering storms and emerging with strength.

The release follows 2022’s Blues Without You, which marked McCray’s long-awaited return after a seven-year hiatus. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Blues chart and was named the #1 Blues Album of 2022 by Blues Rock Review, solidifying his status as a torchbearer of modern blues. In 2024, McCray was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame, a testament to his deep roots in the state and his enduring impact on American music. Now, Heartbreak City builds on that momentum. It’s a record that reflects Larry McCray at his most self-assured—grounded in tradition, but more fearless than ever.

Born in 1960 in Smackover, Arkansas, McCray grew up steeped in gospel, soul, and the electric blues of the three Kings—B.B., Albert, and Freddie. He moved to Saginaw, Michigan at 12, where he honed his guitar style by blending classic blues with the psychedelic edge of Hendrix and the southern fire of the Allman Brothers. After years of gigging while working a factory job, he was signed in the late ’80s as the first artist on Virgin Records’ blues imprint Point Blank. His debut Ambition (1990) was followed by acclaimed albums like Delta Hurricane, Meet Me at the Lake, and Born to Play the Blues, solidifying his role in defining modern blues-rock through the ’90s and early 2000s.

Over the years, McCray has played alongside a who’s who of music legends—B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, the Allman Brothers, Joe Walsh, Jonny Lang, Levon Helm, and of course, Joe Bonamassa. He was named Orville H. Gibson Male Blues Guitarist of the Year in 2000 and won the Top Guitarist prize in the International Blues Matters writer’s poll in 2014.

Spyro Gyra has long been known to its peers in the contemporary jazz world as a “well oiled road machine” due to its relentless schedule of 48 years of performing. To date, they have logged more than 10,000 shows on six continents and released 35 albums, garnering platinum and gold records along the way. Spyro Gyra rose from humble beginnings in Buffalo, New York in 1974 to their current international prominence in the jazz world. Every year, they continue to exhibit how to remain among a relative handful of artists who will be able to say that they have worked constantly in their 50 year  career in the year 2024. Their energy and joy in concert match their unmatched musicality.

Born in Brooklyn, bandleader Jay Beckenstein grew up listening to the music of Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins and Dizzy Gillespie, and started playing the saxophone at age seven. Beckenstein attended the University at Buffalo, starting out as a biology major before changing to music performance (read classical and avant garde). During summer breaks, he and an old high school friend, keyboardist Jeremy Wall, played gigs together back on Long Island. Wall attended college in California, and after both graduated, Beckenstein stayed in Buffalo’s thriving music scene, where Wall eventually joined him.

Spyro Gyra’s is music whose core and desire was never for strictly commercial purposes. There was no calculated effort to sell millions of records, sell out concerts throughout the world, and inspire a whole new generation of musicians seeking an eclectic road of their own. When Beckenstein and Wall first started jamming back in Buffalo, they just did it because it was a blast, pure and simple. They made lyrical, jazzy music for a few folks at Jack Daniels, developed a high energy live gig, one thing led to another, and suddenly, instrumental music was never quite the same.

The Makanda Project 13-piece jazz orchestra performs the second in its 2026 summer concert series at First Church in Roxbury. This is a free event, under the shade trees. The program will mostly feature the group's arrangements of compositions by Boston native Makanda Ken McIntyre. There will be spoken word performances at intermission.

Kurtis Rivers, Sean Berry, Temidayo Balogun, Brian Price, Charlie Kohlhase (saxophones); Jerry Sabatini, Haneef Nelson (trumpets); Alfred Patterson, Richard Harper, Bill Lowe (trombones); John Kordalewski (piano); Avery Sharpe (bass); Yoron Israel (drums).

Saturday, August 15, 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Eustis Estate, 1424 Canton Ave, Milton, MA

Historic New England and Mandorla Music present the fourth annual David Chesnut Jazz Festival at the Eustis Estate. This outdoor music festival features a range of jazz styles performed by an eclectic group of professional musicians from across the Boston area. Doors open at 2:00 p.m., music starts at 3:00 p.m..

3:00 p.m.: Åsa Runefelt Quintet (Åsa Runefelt: voice, Allan Chase: saxophones, Brian Friedland: keyboard, Bruno Raberg: bass, Austin McMahon: drums). With her ethereal, crystalline voice and lyrics celebrating the wonder natural world, vocalist Åsa Runefelt and her amazing band will open day's lineup.

4:00 p.m.: Witness Matlou Quartet (Witness Matlou: piano, Lihi Haruvi: saxophone, John Lockwood: bass, Lee Fish: drums). Pianist Witness Matlou's approach to jazz is influenced by traditional sounds from his native South Africa as well as folk, gospel, and western classical music.

5:p.m.: Eric Hofbauer’s EHX (Eric Hofbauer: guitar, Temidayo Balogun: saxophone, Ana Ospina: cello, Tony Leva: bass, Miki Matsuki: drums, Hayley Thompson-King: vocals on select tunes). The repertoire of Eric Hofbauer's "Gen X post-style" ensemble EHX includes interpretations of music by such diverse artists as Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Abbey Lincoln, and Eddie Harris.

6:00 p.m.: Jared Sims & Aftershock (Jared Sims: saxophones, Steve Fell: guitar, Jeffrey Lockhart: guitar, Jef Charland: bass, Charles Haynes: drums). 2025 Boston Music Awards winner Jared Sims will debut an all-star jazz-funk band to get everyone out of their seats and dancing as we close the 2026 David Chesnut Jazz Festival!

Bring your own chairs and blankets for lawn seating. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Outside alcohol is not permitted. The festival is rain or shine and takes place outdoors; please dress appropriately for the weather.

Family-friendly activities are provided by Boston Outdoor Preschool Network.

General Admission $30. HIstoric New England Members $20. Children under 18 free. EB/SNAP cardholders $10.

David Chesnut—a coachman and chauffeur at the Eustis Estate from the 1890s until 1905, and an active member of the community—had a lifelong passion for music as both a performer and connoisseur. Inspired by his legacy, the festival promotes a more inclusive history of the Eustis Estate while celebrating the power of art and community.

Featuring acclaimed Berkshire performers Ron Ramsay and Samantha Talora, each thematic salon blends storytelling, history and a wide range of musical genres including patriotic songs, jazz standards, pop classics, and Broadway favorites.

Terrace seating (weather permitting)

August 20: American Reflections: Rockwell and the Moral Imagination
September 3: Visions of a Nation: Who Gets to be American?

Ron Ramsay is a Berkshire-born performer, music director, and educator with a five-decade career spanning Broadway, cabaret, and concert stages. Founder of Berkshire Music Salon (est. 2024) and lead vocalist of The Jolly Ranchers, whose narrative-driven work blends the American Songbook, Broadway, jazz, and historical storytelling. He shares a 13-year collaboration with Samantha Talora. His solo NYC show A Life Rewritten was hailed as “a Tour de Force,” and he recently appeared with Samantha in In Good Company at Don’t Tell Mama in NYC.

Samantha Talora is a concert and cabaret artist based in the Berkshires. A principal interpreter of David Friedman’s celebrated songbook, collaborating with the composer himself, she is recognized for her luminous sincerity and refined vocal clarity. She has also been featured with the Savannah Voice Festival, founded by legendary baritone Sherrill Milnes. Her show, Trust the Wind: The Songs of David Friedman, at Don’t Tell Mama NYC, earned her praise as “a stunning voice—crystal clear, every note clean and intentional, soaring effortlessly through the highs and resonating with rich depth in the lows.” Talora is a sought-after performer and curator, and has been collaborating with Ron Ramsay for 13 years on concert programs presented at distinguished venues throughout the northeast.

Featuring acclaimed Berkshire performers Ron Ramsay and Samantha Talora, each thematic salon blends storytelling, history and a wide range of musical genres including patriotic songs, jazz standards, pop classics, and Broadway favorites.

Terrace seating (weather permitting)

July 16: Inventing America: From Revolution to Rockwell
August 20: American Mirror: Rockwell and the Moral Imagination
September 3: Visions of a Nation: Who Gets to be America?

Ron Ramsay is a Berkshire-born performer, music director, and educator with a five-decade career spanning Broadway, cabaret, and concert stages. Founder of Berkshire Music Salon (est. 2024) and lead vocalist of The Jolly Ranchers, whose narrative-driven work blends the American Songbook, Broadway, jazz, and historical storytelling. He shares a 13-year collaboration with Samantha Talora. His solo NYC show A Life Rewritten was hailed as “a Tour de Force,” and he recently appeared with Samantha in In Good Company at Don’t Tell Mama in NYC.

Samantha Talora is a concert and cabaret artist based in the Berkshires. A principal interpreter of David Friedman’s celebrated songbook, collaborating with the composer himself, she is recognized for her luminous sincerity and refined vocal clarity. She has also been featured with the Savannah Voice Festival, founded by legendary baritone Sherrill Milnes. Her show, Trust the Wind: The Songs of David Friedman, at Don’t Tell Mama NYC, earned her praise as “a stunning voice—crystal clear, every note clean and intentional, soaring effortlessly through the highs and resonating with rich depth in the lows.” Talora is a sought-after performer and curator, and has been collaborating with Ron Ramsay for 13 years on concert programs presented at distinguished venues throughout the northeast.

Wes Wirth, bass guitar, vocals
Kenwood Dennard, drums
Dave “Fuze” Fiuczynski, guitar
Harold Charon, keyboards

Wes Wirth is a composer, band leader, bassist, guitarist and vocalist—and, he is also a sculptor, a talented landscape architect and a permaculture farmer.

In the music sphere, he composes ethereal, thought-provoking music for his various ensembles as well as for many other musicians with whom he collaborates. His unique style has been described as “visually expansive, a hyperbolic soundscape . . . sonically erotic, sensually inviting and mysteriously tender.” He also tours frequently with legendary jazz guitarist, Stanley Jordan.

Wes’s inspiration comes from observing and participating with the elemental forces of nature and the stunning diversity and cultural beauty in the world. This “music” provides a template for understanding our collective creativity, out-of-the-box thinking and the connective elements of synergistic phenomena.

Wes holds Bachelor of Fine Arts Degrees in Performance, Music Theory and Composition from New England Conservatory of Music where he was also a faculty member for several decades.

Wes has recorded and/or toured with many legendary musicians including saxophonist Chuck Mangione, Nigerian Afro-Pop juju singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist King Sunny Ade and composer/theoretician/NEC faculty member George Russell along with innovators such as trombonist Hal Crook and suona player Yazhi Guo. He’s also worked extensively with drum legend Ra Kalam Bob Moses and the masterful drummer Kenwood Dennard whose resume includes performances with Jaco Pastorius, George Clinton, Sting, Dizzy Gillespie and Herbie Hancock. Wes has also collaborated with jazz guitar giants Stanley Jordan, Vernon Reid and David Fiuczynski.

Welcome to THE JUKE.

THE JUKE is a monthly creative gathering where live performance and community come together. Inspired by the spirit of historic juke joints, we celebrate local artists, spark connection, and create a welcoming space for everyone.

Each evening begins with a curated lineup of Featured Artists who are selected in advance to present extended performances. After the featured set, the stage opens for our Community Stage, where singers, musicians, poets, actors, dancers, storytellers, and other creatives are invited to share their work. The Featured Artist showcase highlights a handful of artists each month, while the Community Stage gives anyone the opportunity to step up, perform, and be part of the evening.

Whether you're coming to perform, support a friend, or simply enjoy a night of incredible local talent, you're invited. Meet your neighbors, discover new artists, and be part of a growing creative community.

Artist submissions are now open! Apply to be a Featured Artist or sign up for the Community Stage.

Free to attend. All are welcome.

Thrown Together features Eamonn Connolly (trumpet), Ella Xhoja (alto saxophone), Mark Zaleski (alto saxophone), Madalena Kozol (bass), and Bennett Frost (drums).

Connolly, Xhoja, Kozol, and Frost first performed together as members of the 2026 Cape Ann Jazz Workshop under the direction of acclaimed saxophonist Alexa Tarantino, where they developed a musical chemistry rooted in collaboration, creativity, and improvisation.

Joining them is saxophonist, educator, and composer Mark Zaleski, whose work as a leader and sought-after sideman has made him a prominent voice on the New England jazz scene. A faculty member at both the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory, Zaleski brings years of performance experience and artistic mentorship to the ensemble.
Together, Thrown Together presents fresh, engaging performances that honor jazz's storied legacy while embracing the energy and perspectives of its next generation.

Get ready for a night of blazing horns, boogie-woogie piano, stinging guitar riffs and nonstop rhythm and blues when The Love Dogs hit the stage at The Hanover Theatre & Conservatory for the Performing Arts.

For more than 20 years, this hard-swinging septet has been thrilling audiences across the U.S., Canada and Europe with a powerhouse sound rooted in jump blues, New Orleans R&B and early rock ’n’ roll. Combining top-tier musicianship with pure fun, The Love Dogs deliver a high-energy live show packed with soulful vocals, killer grooves and infectious humor. Fronted by the charismatic Eddie Scheer — whose larger-than-life blues vocals and magnetic stage presence fuel every performance — the band creates what they call the “tribal love vibe,” where audience and performers feed off each other’s energy all night long.

Please note that alcohol MAY NOT be brought in and must be purchased at the event. Gates open at 5PM.  Show starts at 6 pm

Come and enjoy an evening of jazz+ as the area behind the theatre is transformed into an outdoor, picnic-style concert venue with food trucks and cash bars. You are welcome to bring food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Cape Verde is having a moment—and Regattabar is here for it! As Cabo Verde's music and culture continue to captivate audiences around the world, acclaimed guitarist and singer Zerui Depina leads an evening of soulful morna, lively coladeira, and irresistible island rhythms. Opening the night is Boston's World Rhythms, featuring Cape Verdean vocalists Nadia Alves and Joe Varela, representing the next generation of the community's vibrant musical tradition.

deCordova is pleased to welcome the Midtown Horns as part of the deCordova Performance Series.

The Midtown Horns are one of the Boston area's premier show bands, described as "powerful and polished" with "every song feeling like a showstopper," they have a wide variety of decades and genres under their belt. From classic rock anthems to golden oldies and contemporary classics, they're sure to get everyone up on their feet!

Coming in at 14 members strong, including 4 vocalists and a horn and rhythm section brimming with talent, they boast a powerhouse, high energy sound that has been dazzling crowds all over New England!

Concert begins at 6:30 PM | Doors open at 6:00 PM

The concert will take place outdoors on the front lawn. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and make yourself comfortable, and come early to enjoy the grounds, including the Nature Sanctuary exhibition. In the event of rain, the performance will move inside the Museum.

YOUR TICKET INCLUDES

Your ticket includes admission to deCordova's campus and free parking. Please feel free to explore the grounds before or after the program. NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOL IS ALLOWED.

Our onsite cafe partner, Twisted Tree, will be open and available to serve food, drinks, and alcohol until 7pm.

Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. Please note that amplified music and crowd noise may be startling for some canine companions, and we ask that all guests clean up after their pets.

Cancellation Policy: In the event The Trustees cancels a program due to severe weather, low enrollment, or other circumstances, we will notify registrants by email and issue a full refund or transfer to another scheduled program within two weeks of the cancellation. To cancel a reservation, please contact deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum 7 days prior to the start of the program to receive a full refund. Refunds and transfers will not be granted for cancellations placed fewer than 7 days before the start of the program. 

deCordova Performance Series:

June 26th - Vance Gilbert

July 10th - Leslie Mendelson

July 24th - Ezekial's Wheels Klezmer Band

August 7th - Ellis Paul

August 22nd - Midtown Horns

September 4th - Tom DiMenna