Stony Brook Southampton, in collaboration with The Jazz Loft, will present The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series, a spring and summer lineup of five concerts featuring world-class jazz musicians.
The series will include acclaimed artists including recent Grammy Award recipient Dan Pugach.
Curated by Thomas Manuel — Jazz Loft founder and Stony Brook University Jazz Department Endowed Artist in Residence Fellow — the series aims to bring the rich traditions and innovative spirit of jazz to the Southampton community.
The theme of each performance looks at jazz both historically and contemporarily, incorporating extraordinary entertainment and education. The Jazz Loft’s mission is one of jazz preservation, education and performance, and this partnership with Stony Brook Southampton will provide East End residents with the opportunity to experience and learn about great jazz first-hand.
Four of the five concerts will be hosted at the Avram Theater, which is located on the Stony Brook Southampton campus. The fourth concert will be held in a large tent with a dance floor on the athletics field. This is the first jazz series to be presented at the Avram since Stony Brook University began management of the campus.
“The Jazz Loft @ Southampton is part of a vibrant spring and summer season that brings together our community, faculty, staff, and students around powerful themes — from jazz as a symbol of democracy to the legacy of Long Island’s juke joints and the soul of Latin jazz,” said Wendy Pearson, vice president for strategic initiatives and executive director of Stony Brook Southampton. “We’re excited to once again showcase The Avram as a cultural venue and to partner with The Jazz Loft, whose mission aligns closely with ours in extending access to the arts, education, and engagement. Together, we’re bringing world-class performances to the East End and continuing the renewal of Stony Brook Southampton as a center for creativity, connection, and community.”
“I am thrilled for our new collaboration with Stony Brook Southampton and the opportunity to bring The Jazz Loft’s programming to the East End,” said Manuel. “This is a collaboration that our artists and musical community at large are very excited about.”
The 2025 concert lineup will include:
“Jazz As Democracy” (Thursday, April 24, 7 pm in The Avram)
Jazz music is the perfect metaphor for democracy. Celebrating artists who pioneered the principles and characteristics of democracy, this concert will highlight artists/composers such as Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Mary Lou Williams, Billy Strayhorn and others. Performers include The Jazz Loft All Stars, featuring vocalist/composer/pianist Mala Waldron.
“The Art of New” (Thursday, May 29, 7 pm in The Avram)
This concert will showcase all original music by the freshest voices in jazz on the scene today, including Grammy-winning artist Dan Pugach, composer/drummer/arranger, and vocalist/composer Allison Rumley, and an all-star ensemble presenting original compositions.
“Long Island Jazz Legends & Local Juke Joints” (Thursday, June 19 [Juneteenth], 7 pm in The Avram)
Celebrating the architects of jazz who called Long Island home, especially the East End, this concert will include Teddy Charles, Teo Macero, Hal McKusick and The Heath Brothers. Performing will be Project 464, the ensemble of jazz legends whose collective age equals 464 years: Ellington alum, drummer Steve Little, Gerry Mulligan alum, bassist Bill Crow, Benny Goodman alum, cornetist Warren Vache, Etta Jones alum, tenor saxophonist Houston Person, pianist Tardo Hammer and cornetist Professor Manuel.
“The Spirit & Soul of Latin Jazz” (Thursday, July 24, 7 pm under the tent on the Athletics Field)
This concert will focus on the rhythms and cultures of Spain, Cuba, the Caribbean, Mexico, Brazil and beyond and will emphasize the art of collaboration and explore how Latin rhythms have shaped American popular music through the decades. Performers will include Carlos Jimenez Mambo Dulcet.
“Abstract Angularity” (Thursday, August 28, 7 pm in The Avram)
Exploring the relationship between artists and musicians, this concert will join the Pollock-Krasner House. This concert will also bring into the fold painter/artist Kevin McEvoy, who will be commissioned to create a new work in honor of the concert series first season. The Jazz Loft Jazz Orchestra (17-piece ensemble) will present a program celebrating creative voices in jazz who pushed and challenged boundaries in American popular music.
Tickets will be priced individually at $36 per performance for general admission, $33 for seniors and $18 for Stony Brook students. A series pass for all five concerts will be $144. Purchase tickets online.
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