Freedom and Beyond: The Jazz Loft at Southampton Concert Series Continues March 26

The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series continues its 2026 season on Thursday, March 26 with a bold, swinging celebration of freedom, resilience, and community.

Freedom & Beyond brings the music and message of Wynton Marsalis' Democracy Suite to the Avram Theater at Stony Brook Southampton, performed by trumpeter Tom Manuel and his dynamic septet. Composed during the height of the pandemic, Democracy Suite is a reflective and forward-looking work that explores the meaning of freedom, responsibility, and collective action in modern America.

Blending driving swing, lyrical melodies, and bold improvisation, the suite draws on jazz's long tradition as a voice for democracy, resilience, and social consciousness. Marsalis describes the work as inspired by "citizens who have put their lives on the line… working through this pandemic," honoring those who stepped into uncertainty in service of human freedom. Movements such as Be Present call listeners to awareness, empathy, and engagement - values that resonate far beyond the concert hall.

With clarity, passion, and ensemble fire, Manuel and his septet bring this timely music vividly to life, balancing intellectual depth with the emotional immediacy of live jazz. Freedom & Beyond is both a stirring musical statement and an invitation to listen, reflect, and move forward together.

The concert will be held at 7 pm at The Avram. Tickets are $36 for general admission, $33 for seniors, alumni and faculty/staff, and just $18 for students. Buy your tickets online.

Held in collaboration with The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook and curated by Manuel - The Jazz Loft's founder and Stony Brook University Endowed Artist in Residence - the series is a celebration of creativity, history and artistry. It explores various facets of jazz music, with each performance offering a unique experience. It is part of an ongoing effort to revitalize Stony Brook Southampton as a hub for the arts, community and education.