From private yacht clubs and homes, wedding receptions, and restaurants we savored the reopening of music events after the 2020 Covid-pause.
Performing at your special event right at your home for your guests can be a spectacular option. In the summer of 2021 we entertained groups in various settings – this gorgeous yard, marinas, and restaurants. Jazz gigs varied from Norey’s, Newport to Inishmore, Connecticut.
Jazz venues a history:
From the historic 1920’s through the decades of the 2010’s keeping jazz alive through constantly changing musical tastes of public audiences demanded dedicated and skillful club owners. These owners juggle the financial responsibilities with creative visions exercised through jazz performers. Some of the most famous former clubs (all in New York City) are the Cotton Club (famous as the Duke Ellington performance home), Café Society, Onyx, Royal Roost, Five Spot, and the Half Note. Currently the Village Vanguard and Birdland continue to thrive as destination jazz clubs in New York City.
Connecticut’s longest lasting jazz club, Al Casasanta’s 880 in Hartford, was a favorite of national and regional jazz performers. The 880’s success can be attributed to Al Casasanta’s dedication to encouraging and developing the artists. By providing bands with defined, regular performance dates, the musicians were allowed to grow artistically in a professional, creative setting; musicians invented their sound and improved their stage showmanship. The club proved to be a band showcase, leading to additional opportunities for musicians to be hired for private events and other clubs.
The 880 was a place of community for all musicians to meet, collaborate, form alliances, and grow through friendly competition – spurring each other to increase their learning and practice harder, culminating in higher levels of performance. Bassist Mike Asetta gratefully values the opportunities offered by Casasanta’s 880 where he appeared weekly for over 12 years, including two of these years with a band featuring pianist Brad Mehldau and saxophonist Joel Frahm.
Today a new venture, the Side Door Jazz Club at the Old Lyme Inn has provided opportunities for the finest regional and national jazz musicians to perform in Connecticut, including groups led by Mike Asetta. Dave McCoart’s Sage American Grill offered a New Haven jazz venue where Mike performed for the recent 14 years into 2015. New Haven’s “9th Note” is the leading local jazz community currently, sponsoring multiple nights of jazz each week. Two area doctors and jazz guitarists actively support jazz with weekly events: Jazz “Doctor” Gary Grippo organizes weekly Sunday jazz brunches at Kelly’s in New Haven and Dr. Joe Cardinale Sunday evening performances at Ayuthai in Guilford. Take advantage of these opportunities to enjoy jazz today!
