Award–Winning, Original and Historic Performances Among the Festival Highlights
SOUTHAMPTON, NY—June 29, 2026—Stony Brook Southampton will be hosting three days of world-class Jazz performances at the inaugural Jazz Loft @ Southampton Summer Jazz Festival at the Avram Theater July 23 – 25. This new festival brings together award–winning, internationally-acclaimed artists, rising stars and unique cultural experiences celebrating the rich historic tradition and vibrant future of Jazz through the years.
Festival highlights include performances by Grammy-nominated percussionist and bandleader Chembo Corniel; Grammy-nominated pianist, vocalist, and host of National Public Radio’s Jazz Inspired, Judy Carmichael; “Bassist of the Year” finalist Mark Wade and his Trio; vocalist Rahsaan Cruse, Jr.; saxophonist Dan Block, guitarist Pasquale Grasso and his Quartet, guitarist Derek Duleba, as well as the Equity Brass Band, the house band for the Jazz Loft. Selected performances will include classic swing, New Orleans Jazz, Latin Jazz, stride piano and contemporary interpretations of iconic works.
Additional highlights include a vintage LP (long-playing record) listening session exploring the impact of technology on American popular music, a special gallery exhibition featuring Jazz photography and memorabilia from legendary photographer and album cover designer Burt Goldblatt and renowned bassist-photographer Milt Hinton.
“Southampton has held a place in Jazz since the 1920s when Jazz groups were playing in Herb McCarthy’s main street Southampton speakeasy called the Coalbin,” said Stony Brook University professor, Endowed Artist in Residence Fellow, Jazz Loft founder and president Thomas Manuel. “In the late 1940s artists like Vincent Quattroche were talking about the invention of Bebop on the radio and the great Jazz happenings at the Whiskey Wind Tavern in Greenport. This festival is a nod to our incredible heritage, but also a look at the future of Jazz on the East End. I am thrilled, inspired, and honored that our inaugural Southampton Jazz Festival can be the catalyst for the arts in Southampton and I’m beyond excited for the stellar lineup that will be performing.”
Looking to establish a new summer tradition and experience of exceptional music, artistry and community on the East End, the Jazz Loft @ Southampton Summer Jazz Festival will continue the Jazz Loft at Southampton’s series celebration of creativity, history and artistry, offering a unique experience that explores various facets of Jazz music and its influence on democracy, culture and community. It is part of the campus’ ongoing effort to help establish Stony Brook Southampton as a hub for the arts, entertainment and education.
Performances
7/23 | Pre-Concert Listening Lecture: Technology of Jazz Listening on Recordings in the 1950s | 6:00pm
Join festival curator and Stony Brook University professor and Jazz Loft president Thomas Manuel and audio expert John Piro in the Avram Gallery for a vintage hi-fi LP listening session. This engaging pre-concert event explores the impact of technology on American popular music through rare and historic master acetate recordings played on a period audio system, allowing audiences to experience the music as it was heard in the 1950s.
7/23 | Miles Davis’ “Birth of the Cool” Project | 7:00pm
Experience one of Jazz’s most influential recordings by world-renowned Jazz trumpeter, bandleader and composer Miles Davis with a live performance that figures in the history of Jazz and 20th-century music, performed by a stellar nonet (a nonet is a nine-piece group) featuring some of New York’s finest Jazz musicians. Vocalist star Rahsaan Cruse, Jr. joins the ensemble to perform rarely heard vocal arrangements from the legendary sessions alongside other timeless classics inspired by the “Birth of the Cool” era.
7/24 | Chembo Corniel Latin Jazz Quintet | 7:00pm
Grammy-nominated percussionist and bandleader Chembo Corniel brings his electrifying Latin Jazz Quintet to Stony Brook Southampton for an evening of irresistible rhythms and masterful musicianship. Blending Afro-Cuban traditions with contemporary Jazz, the group delivers a vibrant and authentic sound that will have audiences moving from the first note to the last.
7/25 | Pre-Concert Pop-up Performance | The Equity Brass Band | 2:00pm
Led by festival curator and Stony Brook University professor and Jazz Loft president Thomas Manuel, The Equity Brass Band kicks off the festival’s final day with the joyful spirit of New Orleans. Featuring classic Jazz, brass band favorites, and a festive parade atmosphere, this lively performance invites audiences to celebrate NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana)-style with music, movement, and fun.
7/25 | Pasquale Grasso Quartet | 4:00pm
Acclaimed guitarist Pasquale Grasso is widely regarded as one of the most extraordinary Jazz musicians of his generation. Praised for his breathtaking technique, lyrical artistry, and deep connection to the Jazz tradition, Grasso has earned international recognition for his fresh and sophisticated approach to the guitar. Joined by his outstanding quartet, he brings an evening of masterful improvisation, timeless melodies, and exhilarating swing. Combining the elegance of the Great American Songbook with the energy of bebop, the Pasquale Grasso Quartet delivers a captivating performance that celebrates both the history and future of Jazz.
7/25 | Mark Wade Trio Pre-Concert Pop-Up Performance | 6:00pm
Bassist Mark Wade and his Trio present a performance of original compositions by the acclaimed bassist and bandleader as part of his upcoming 2026 release of New Stages on Dot Time Records. A five-time finalist for “Bassist of the Year” in the DownBeat Magazine Readers’ Poll, Wade has built a reputation as one of modern Jazz’s most distinctive and dynamic instrumentalists. Music from New Stages captures that ongoing evolution with a bold step forward that reimagines the architecture of classical compositions through the lens of a modern Jazz trio. Drawing from a wide range of works across the classical spectrum, it is an expansive exploration of sound, composition and collaboration.
7/25 | Judy Carmichael Trio | 7:00pm
Grammy-nominated pianist, vocalist and host of National Public Radio’s Jazz Inspired, Judy Carmichael is internationally celebrated for her dazzling stride piano style and engaging stage presence. Joined by saxophonist Dan Block and guitarist Derek Duleba, Carmichael closes the festival with an unforgettable evening of virtuosity, wit, and swing.
Tickets
The Summer Jazz Festival Pass is an all-access pass that includes all performances/lectures and costs $150. The Festival Pass offers the best value for audiences, providing entry to every featured performance at a discounted rate compared to individual tickets. Each individual performance costs $45 for general admission, $42 for Stony Brook University alumni, seniors, faculty and staff and $22.50 for students.
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About Stony Brook Southampton
Stony Brook Southampton, on Long Island’s East End, is home to the Avram Theater and Avram Family Art Gallery, the Lichtenstein Center (MFA programs and Southampton Writers Conference), School of Health Professions (graduate programs), the FoodLab, and the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (Marine Sciences Center and the Semester by the Sea program). (Directions)
About the State University of New York at Stony Brook (Stony Brook University)
The State University of New York at Stony Brook is New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public university. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With more than 27,000 students, more than 3,000 faculty members, more than 237,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the world’s biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #59 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook’s membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The university’s distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize, Fields Medal, Breakthrough prizes in mathematics and physics, and MacArthur Fellows Genius Grants. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy — one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $8.93 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
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