The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series Kicks Off with ‘Jazz as Democracy’

Tom Manuel and The Jazz Loft All-Stars performed at the Avram Theater at Stony Brook Southampton in the first show of The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series. Photos by Michael Wells and Frank Imperiale.

The Avram Theater at Stony Brook Southampton reverberated with the sound of jazz music with the opening show of The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series, "Jazz As Democracy."

The April 24 concert celebrated the pioneers who intertwined jazz with the principles of democracy, featuring the music of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Nina Simone and John Coltrane, with original compositions from band members.

This was the first of five concerts to be held at Stony Brook Southampton over the spring and summer, featuring world-class jazz musicians.

"Our first concert was a great success and a wonderful way to kick off what promises to be an inspiring and incredible series," said Thomas Manuel, Jazz Loft founder, Stony Brook University Jazz Department Endowed Artist in Residence Fellow and curator of the five-concert series. Manuel, on the trumpet, was joined by Darrell Smith on drums, Mala Waldron on piano, Dean Johnson on bass, John Marshall on tenor saxophone and Joe Devassy on trombone.

Manuel noted that the concert's repertoire explored some rare and unique compositions, including a piece entitled "Left Alone," composed by Mal Waldron and Billie Holiday in 1958 but never recorded before Lady Day's untimely death. Waldron was Holiday's accompanist and the father of Mala Waldron, pianist for the opening concert.

"The Avram Theatre is just an incredible venue with marvelous acoustics," Manuel added. "I was thrilled to see the lobby bustling with people enjoying conversation at intermission and after the show. The team at Southampton and the vision they have for the campus is impressive and their hard work is really coming to fruition. Southampton and its surrounding area has such a well established arts community and I'm happy that we can add to that and deposit a bit of our Jazz vibe for people to enjoy."

"The launch of The Jazz Loft @ Southampton was a joyful and powerful start to what we hope will be a lasting tradition of arts programming at Stony Brook Southampton," said Wendy Pearson, vice president for strategic initiatives and executive director of Stony Brook Southampton. "This series is part of our broader efforts to revitalize the campus, not just through infrastructure, but through meaningful community engagement and cultural offerings that reflect the spirit of the East End.

The concert series boasts some of the biggest names on the national and international Jazz scene today. Recent Grammy-winning artist and composer Dan Pugach and his big band featuring vocalist Allison Rumley will play The Avram on Thursday, May 29, at 7 pm. Purchase tickets online.

Ensuing concerts feature stellar performers, including Project 464 on June 19, which is literally a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a six-piece band whose collective age equals 464 years! "These Jazz legends are without question our ancestors; voices who were there performing and recording with the likes of Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Etta Jones, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and so many others," Manuel said.

Fron left: Dean Johnson, Mala Waldron, Tom Manuel, Wendy Pearson, Darrell Smith, Joey Devassy and John Marshall.

Latin Jazz giant Carlos Jimenez with his band Mambo Dolcet perform on July 24, exploring the vibrant rhythms and cultures of Latin Jazz from Spain, Cuba, the Caribbean, Mexico, Brazil, and beyond, all outside under a tent on the Stony Brook Southampton campus.

The closing concert August 28 will feature The Jazz Loft Orchestra, a 17-piece ensemble presenting a diverse and eclectic programming that is sure to wow attendees. The Jazz Orchestra has been the voice for Jazz for decades, similar to the role a symphony orchestra serves in the classical music tradition.

The concerts are also presented in parallel with inspiring exhibits at the Avram Gallery. One exhibit will spotlight local Greenport abstract artist Vincent Quattroche, and another will celebrate the life and career of music personality Xavier Cugat. For the Project 464 concert, an afternoon discussion and lunch will bring together four generations of Jazz artists.

"Collaborating with Dr. Tom Manuel and The Jazz Loft has been a true pleasure, whose talent and generosity have helped bring The Avram Theater back to life in such an inspiring way," Pearson said. "We're thrilled to welcome more incredible artists to the series in the months ahead and to continue building momentum with events that bring people together through music, conversation, and creativity."