Presented by Stony Brook Southampton & The Jazz Loft
Curated by Dr. Thomas Manuel, SBU Jazz Department Endowed Artist in Residence Fellow
Join us as The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series returns to the Avram Theater for an unforgettable Spring 2026 season!
In collaboration with The Jazz Loft and curated by renowned jazz artist Dr. Thomas
Manuel, the series is a celebration of creativity, history, and artistry, with each
performance offering a unique experience.
The series will explore various facets of jazz music and its influence on democracy,
culture, and community. It is part of an ongoing effort to revitalize Stony Brook
Southampton as a hub for the arts, community and education.
CONCERT DATES
Chiara Izzi Quartet: Colors of Brazil & Italy - Thursday, January 29, 2026 | 7 pm
Feelin' the Spirit - Thursday, February 26, 2026 | 7 pm
Freedom and Beyond - Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 7 pm
Afro American Sketches - Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 7 pm
Celebrating Women in Jazz - Thursday, May 28, 2026 | 7 pm
Viva Cuba! - Thursday, June 25, 2026 | 7 pm
More dates will be announced soon.
TICKET INFORMATION
General admission: $36
Seniors, alumni, SBU faculty and staff: $33
SBU students: $18
Tickets are available online or at the door.
Don’t miss out on the chance to experience this exciting lineup of jazz performances!
Secure your tickets now and enjoy a season of outstanding music, history, and culture.
Date: Thursday, January 29 | 7 pm Location: The Avram
Acclaimed jazz vocalist and composer Chiara Izzi brings her quartet to the Avram Theater
for an evening celebrating the vibrant musical exchange between Brazil and Italy in
the 1960s and ’70s.
At the crossroads of samba, bossa nova, and Italian song, the program features works
by Brazilian masters such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Dorival Caymmi, and Djavan, alongside
rarely heard Italian samba songs born from historic collaborations with Toquinho,
Vinicius de Moraes, and leading Italian artists. Interwoven throughout the performance
are original compositions by Izzi, inspired by these Brazilian influences and offering
a contemporary, personal voice.
Date: Thursday, February 26 | 7 pm Location: The Avram
Master drummer Winard Harper, joined by Jeli Possę, brings a powerful and joyful celebration of the African American musical tradition
to the Avram Theater.
Drawing from the electrifying rhythms of New Orleans, the deep soul ofChicago, and the swinging, blues-infused grooves of Kansas City, Feelin’ The Spirit traces the roots of jazz as sacred, communal, and rhythm-driven music. The program
blends spirituals, blues, gospel, and hard-swinging jazz, honoring the lineage that
connects past masters to today’s vibrant improvisers.
A longtime member of the legendary Harper Brothers and a driving force in modern jazz, Winard Harper is renowned for his explosive energy,
deep groove, and commanding sense of swing. Together with Jeli Possę, he creates an
uplifting, rhythm-forward performance that is as danceable as it is deeply rooted
in tradition.
Feelin’ The Spirit is an evening of music that moves the body, lifts the spirit, and celebrates jazz
as a living, breathing cultural force.
Date: Thursday, March 26 | 7 pm Location: The Avram
A bold, swinging celebration of freedom, resilience, and community—Democracy Suite
speaks across generations with the power of jazz.”
Freedom & Beyond brings the music and message of Wynton Marsalis’ Democracy Suite
to the Avram Theater, 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, Tom 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.
Date: Thursday, April 23 | 7 pm Location: The Avram
A sweeping jazz journey from Africa to America—Afro/American Sketches tells a story of struggle, resilience, and hope that resonates across generations.”
Afro American Sketches presents Oliver Nelson’s landmark 1961 composition Afro/American Sketches, a profound musical narrative tracing the African American experience through history,
memory, and aspiration. Inspired by Nelson’s study of the musical traditions of nearly
200 African tribes, this seven-movement work unfolds as a deeply expressive journey.
Beginning on the African continent, the suite moves through the trauma of enslavement,
moments of rediscovered freedom, and the enduring pain of social oppression, before
ultimately looking forward with optimism toward a future grounded in equality and
justice. Rich orchestration, soulful melodies, and emotionally charged improvisation
give voice to each chapter of this story.
One of jazz’s most ambitious and meaningful large-ensemble works, Afro/American Sketches speaks with both historical depth and timeless relevance, inviting listeners to experience
history not as distant memory but as a living force that continues to shape the present.
At once cinematic, reflective, and hopeful, this concert connects generations—using
the language of jazz to honor resilience, confront injustice, and imagine a more inclusive
future.
”Swinging, soulful, and inspiring—Celebrating Women in Jazz honors the voices that shaped the music and continue to move it forward.”
Pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton presents a joyful celebration of the women composers, arrangers, and pioneering performers
who have played a vital role in the evolution of American jazz. Spanning generations
and styles, the program highlights both iconic figures and lesser-known innovators
whose artistry helped define the sound, spirit, and swing of the music.
With elegance, warmth, and irresistible groove, Fulton brings these stories to life
through performances that honor jazz’s rich legacy while keeping it vibrant and accessible
for today’s audiences. Celebrating Women in Jazz is an uplifting evening that connects past, present, and future—inviting listeners
of all ages to experience the timeless swing and powerful voices that continue to
shape the music.
Date: Thursday, June 25 | 7 pm Location: The Avram
“A joyous explosion of rhythm and color—Viva Cuba! brings the heartbeat of Havana to life. No passport required—just bring your love
of rhythm, dance, and great music.”
Viva Cuba! is a high-energy celebration of Cuban music and its far-reaching influence, presented
by The Jazz Loft Latin Orchestra. From the irresistible mambo of Pérez Prado to the Afro-Cuban innovations of Machito and Chano Pozo, the program showcases works by legendary composers and arrangers, including Osvaldo Farrés, Tito Puente, Xavier Cugat, Marion Sunshine, and more—artists who helped carry Cuban rhythms around the world and forever shape
the sound of jazz, dance music, and popular culture.
Cuba’s musical story is rich and layered, woven from the influences of Spain, Africa,
Haiti, and the Caribbean. Viva Cuba! traces this vibrant tapestry through music that is joyful, rhythm-driven, and impossible
to resist. Lively, colorful, and full of heart, this concert invites audiences of
every age to clap, sway, and celebrate the infectious spirit of Cuban music.
We invite you to become a sponsor and help support the vibrant arts scene at The Avram! Sponsorship offers an exclusive
opportunity to be part of our events. Your support makes these cultural experiences
possible.
Curated by Dr. Thomas Manuel, SBU Jazz Department Endowed Artist in Residence Fellow
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