Autumn outdoor jazz shows back at market
Live outdoor jazz in downtown Hartford on Mondays isn’t limited to Bushnell Park in summertime. Autumn brings the Jazz on the Patio series back to Parkville Market.
The biweekly concerts start Sept. 25 and are held every other Monday through Dec. 4 at Parkville Market at 1400 Park St. in Hartford.
The concerts are free and open to the public.
The featured ensembles are anchored by revered local jazz bassist Nat Reeves, who changes up the rest of the lineup for each concert. The first set of each evening has Reeves jamming with other local professionals, while the second set lets jazz students and amateurs sit in.
The series opens Sept. 25 with Reeves joined by guitarist Rodney Jones, pianist Mary Dipaola and drummer Molly Sayles. The Oct. 9 concert finds Reeve with saxophonist Steve Wilson, pianist Rick Germanson and drummer Jason Tiemann. Dipaolo and Sayles return for the Oct. 23 show. Nov. 6 has Reeves, Sayles, Germanson and violinist Jason Anick. On Nov. 20, Reeves and Germanson and joined by trombonist Steve Davis and drummer Chris Beck. The series ends on Dec. 4 with Reeves, Sayles, vocalist Diane Mower and pianist Matt Dechamplain.
Reeves, who has performed with such esteemed artists as Pharaoh Sanders, Donald Byrd and Sonny Stitt, was a longtime colleague of Jackie Mclean in the jazz program at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School. Many of the guest artists at the Parkville concerts teach at the Hartt School. Dipaola and Sayles play regularly with Reeves as the Nat Reeves Trio.
In case of bad weather, the concerts will be held inside at The Local, the bar on the second floor of the market.
Parkville Market has become known for outdoor concerts year-round. A different jazz series, which takes place on Thursday nights, began in May and ends on Sept. 28 with vocalist Timmy Maia.