Hartford Public Library (HPL) is excited to announce its January openers for the popular Baby Grand Jazz Series.
A generous three-year sponsorship from The Kaman Foundation supports the free series, which features accomplished jazz musicians and bands from around the region. All concerts are free and open to the public. Concerts will be held at HPL’s Downtown Library on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. from January through April, excluding Easter Sunday on April 5. Performances will take place in the Center for Contemporary Culture, 500 Main Street, Hartford. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. and last about an hour.
January Lineup
January 4 – Iftah Kary Trio: Iftah Kary is a New York-based jazz pianist known for his skillful and soulful performances. Since graduating from the New School in 2017, Iftah has performed across the US and Europe in renowned venues and festivals. Iftah regularly performs with esteemed musicians such as George Braith, Tyler Mitchell, and Pat O’Leary, and is influenced by jazz greats including Sonny Clark, Horace Silver, Wynton Kelly, Tommy Flanagan, and Bud Powell. His sound is a blend of tradition and innovation, bringing something new to the music he loves. The trio will perform refreshing renditions of jazz standards and Iftah’s original compositions.
Iftah Kary – piano | Dan Weisselberg – bass | Aleksi Heinola – drums
January 11 – Lee Fish & Friends: Acclaimed Boston-born drummer and composer Lee Fish has been part of the New York City jazz scene since 2018. Having earned his master’s degree on a full scholarship at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, Lee received his earliest musical education on the road. Long before he studied with Danilo Pérez, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Joe Lovano, he performed with his parents’ band, Amante, at venues across North America, from Florida to Quebec. Since then, he’s performed worldwide and appeared on more than 50 recordings, including Mike Tucker’s 2014 release Live! Featuring Warren Wolf, and Jason Palmer’s critically acclaimed 2019 release, Sweet Love, which received four stars from DownBeat Magazine.
Lee will present his exciting new band, and together they will explore Lee’s original music, best described as a blend of all his favorite styles, ranging from jazz and soul/r&b to folk and film. Groove, melody, and communication are the core elements that bring their unique sound to life. Lee performs regularly throughout New York City, including at The Jazz Gallery and Bar Next Door in downtown Manhattan and Sunny’s in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Lee Fish – drums/vocals | Edmar Colon – saxophone | Jiri Nedoma – piano | Devon Gates – bass/vocals
January 18 – Koan: Koan is a collective of young musicians united by a deep respect for Black American music and its tradition of communal storytelling. Formed in 2023 to explore the music of the Second Great Quintet and contemporary artists like Ambrose Akinmusire and Joel Ross, the group blends original compositions with arrangements honoring modern jazz innovators. Based in Northampton, they host a weekly jam session and collaborate across the Connecticut River Valley. Koan has expanded to performing in Boston, New York, and Connecticut. Their first album was led by Mathew Mueller, followed by their recent release, Tributaries.
Ian Behrstock – trumpet | Danny Trainor – alto saxophone | Indra Carpio Pretel – piano | Jameson Denyse – guitar | Jahian Cooper-Monize – drums | Kai Caban – bass
January 25 – Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet: Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Digba Ogunbiyi began playing drums at his local church before studying at the Peter King College of Music and the Music Society of Nigeria. Active in the Nigerian music scene, he has performed with artists including Lagbaja, Etuk Ubong, and The Cavemen, and has also played at the Lagos Jazz Series and the Abuja International Jazz Festival. After studying at the New York Jazz Workshop with pianists Frank Kimbrough and Amina Figarova, he earned a master’s degree from New Jersey City University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the Eastman School of Music. His debut album, Ade’digba, released in 2020, has been described as an electric blend of Yoruba rhythms with Western harmony.
Digba Ogunbiyi – piano | Temidayo Balogun – saxophone/talking drums | Zach Walgren – bass | Emmanuel Chidiebere – drums
Concerts will be streamed on HPL’s Facebook page, YouTube channel, and Hartford Public Access TV.
The Kaman Foundation sponsors Baby Grand Jazz at Hartford Public Library. Longtime partners include the Hartford Jazz Society and WWUH 91.3 FM. For more information, visit: www.hplct.org/classesseminars-exhibits/baby-grand-jazz
Photo by Victor Freitas: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-of-a-man-playing-saxophone-during-sunset-733767/
