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“CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF JAZZ ON THE GREEN”
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2023 Schedule
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6/29/2023 Ronny Smith
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From Europe to South America to the United States, music has swept guitarist Ronny Smith off of his feet and directed him toward being an incredible and popular force in the contemporary jazz industry.
On Thursday, August 18th, this renowned artist will be spotlighted as part of the Branford Jazz Concert Series.
A Grammy considered artist, Ronny left the University of Maryland as music education major to pursue the life as a guitarist and a United States Army Bandsman. He toured extensively throughout the world and has shared the stage with such notables as the Marvelettes, jazz drummer Bobby Durham, and trumpeter Donald Bryd. Ronny has recorded with some of the top session musicians of the Nashville and the California scene.
Ronnie Smith -
7/6/2023 Big Brooklyn
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Based out of Colorado, Big Brooklyn was formed by Branford, Connecticut, native Willie Dornfeld, along with his wife, Melody. Having both been involved in music for a long time, they created a group that abandoned boundaries to write and perform music they love, that was sincere, passionate, and all-out, and which also brought together different styles in which they had been immersed. Now, on Thursday, July 6th, Dornfeld returns to his hometown Branford as part of the Branford Jazz Series on the town green starting at 6:30 p.m.
Bridging jazz, klezmer, rock, and groove, Big Brooklyn carries a progressive and inviting presence, exploring beautiful melodies while defining new boundaries. Awarded Semi-Finalist positions in the 2022 UK Songwriting Contest for multiple compositions on their new album, Everyone Everywhere, as well as being a jazz finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for a song on their first album, Purpose, this 5-piece group captivates audiences with a unique depth of passion in expressive melodies and harmonies from jazz and beyond, touching on the inseparable exultation and pathos of the klezmer sound, all interwoven over a fabric of jazz and groove that pulls all stops.
7/13/2023 ~ A Train Enterprises f/s/o Art Sherrod, Jr.
More information to come
7/20/2023 ~ Elan Trotman
More information to come
7/27/2023 ~ Nelson Garcia
Nelson Garcia is a saxophonist & recording artist, who performs genres including not only gospel jazz, smooth jazz, R&B POP and Funk music but much much more. He has played major venues across the USA and holds vast musical experience. He works under Victorious records LLC, which is a record label New York City and has been playing saxophone since the age of 15.
Nelson takes his superior artistic saxophone playing skills to another destination- namely, Branford, Connecticut on July 27th as part of the 2023 Branford Jazz Concert Series.
Growing up in Moca, Puerto Rico, Nelson took saxophone lessons with Julio Vasquez. While in P.R., he participated in various events with his local high school band winning two nominations in the Band of Honor orchestra with the San German Puerto Rico for “Outstanding Musicianship". This event took place in the Inter American University in San German, Puerto Rico.8/3/2023 ~ Stix Bones and the Bone Squad
Brooklyn, New York is home to some of the greatest talents the world has ever known and delivers another talented individual whose gift has made Stix Bones (“Brothers of Noble Excellence) one of the finest musicians in the Tri – State Area. On Thursday, August 3, 2023, Stix and his Bone Squad present their artistic creativity to the Branford Jazz Series on the Green starting at 6:30 p.m.
Stix started playing in church. His direction evolved when he entered Purchase College, State University of New York and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Performance, which directed him to start his professional career touring with Rahzel a former member of the Jimmy Fallon’s band, “The Roots” in the UK and France and shortly after, began touring the US with 5 time Showtime at the Apollo winner/Author/Poet Jessica Care Moore.
As he continued to work with artists throughout the tristate area, the performances led Stix back to his training ground in jazz. In 2007 Stix independently released his first full-length Smooth Jazz album entitled “Groove Like This”. The album has graced the airwaves of more than 40 jazz radio stations in the US, Jazz internet and satellite stations across the globe. It has charted in the top 10 on the digital jazz charts and made it to the top 20 jazz charts in France.
8/10/2023 ~ Paula Atherton
New York based sax player/vocalist and songwriter Paula Atherton has shared the stage with such contemporary jazz notables as The Rippingtons, Nick Colionne, Chuck Loeb, Cindy Bradley, Brian Simpson, Four80East, David Sanborn, Bob James, Marc Antoine, Hiroshima, Gerald Albright and Chieli Minucci. Paula has also worked in the traditional jazz field – one of the notable performances being a week long engagement at the Blue Note NYC with pianist and jazz legend, Hank Jones. She has also performed with Grammy award winning singer Dee Dee Bridgewater at the Annenberg Theater, for the Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival.
On Thursday night, August 10th she will don the Branford Town Hall Stage from 6:30-8:30 p.m. as part of the 2023 Branford Jazz Concert Series.
8/17/2023 ~ Jay Rowe
More Information to follow.
8/24/2023 ~ Adam Hawley
More Information to follow.