5-Day Jazz Festival Coming To Stony Brook

THREE VILLAGE, NY - From Suffolk County Legislature Kara Hahn: Spring is finally in the air and so too will be the sound of music for visitors to Stony Brook later this month when the village plays host to “Swing into Spring” a new five-day jazz festival designed to attract more tourists, music lovers and even “foodies” to the historic business district. The event is the brainchild of Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn, who developed it in collaboration with Thomas Manuel, President and Founder of The Jazz Loft, and vocalist Catherine Green. Suffolk County is sponsoring the festival through a grant intended to promote tourism through the arts. It will run from Tuesday, March 27, 2018 through Saturday, March 31, 2018 at the Jazz Loft and in restaurants and will highlight talent drawn from across Long Island.

“By March, most people have grown tired of hibernating and are ready to get out to enjoy an evening of great music and fine dining,” said Legislator Hahn. “A few months ago, I approached Tom about collaborating on a project to bring people back to our main streets and great downtown venues through music, and from that discussion the ‘Swing into Spring’ jazz festival was born. My aim was to resonate with Stony Brook’s already substantial character as a cultural and historic tourist destination, and I think ‘Swing into Spring’ hits just the right note.” Stony Brook is home to numerous museums, art galleries, parks and historic buildings that date from the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Added Hahn, “My hope is that people will come for the festival and come back because they have fallen in love with the village and all it has to offer.”

“I am delighted that so many of Stony Brook’s fine restaurants wanted to collaborate with Legislator Hahn and the Jazz Loft to launch this new jazz festival,” said Tom Manuel. “We’ve put together five days that offer something for everyone. Families can enjoy dinner out and small jazz combos in an intimate setting. Students of music can attend the jazz improvisation workshop, and stay to perform at the evening jam session. Then there are three nights of performances at the Jazz Loft, including a full-size big band.” Manuel added, “There are not many elected officials who enthusiastically support the arts the way Legislator Hahn does. She really gets the power the arts have to bring our community together.”

Funding for the music festival was made possible through Legislator Hahn’s advocacy to have this project included in the adopted 2018 Suffolk County Operating Budget as one of the approximately 180 cultural, historical and film organizations or events, county-wide, to receive a grant. Funds for these programs are drawn from the tax applied to overnight stays in Suffolk County’s hotels and motels and must be used to
promote tourism and boost our local economy. Four local restaurant venues will be hosting musical performances, including Three Village Inn, Pentimento, Sweet Mamas and Lakeside Emotions Wine Boutique.

“The entire Pentimento team and I are excited to be included in Swing into Spring,” said owner-manager Lisa Cusumano. “I am convinced that great music and great food have the power to create unforgettable experiences.”

The festival kicks off on Tuesday, March 27 th with concurrent performances beginning at 5PM to 7PM in several Stony Brook village venues and culminates at the Jazz Loft Saturday night with performances by an 18 piece big band. For more information about the event including a full schedule of events, please visit www.thejazzloft.org/swing-into-spring.

“The long winter is finally coming to an end, and now is the time to celebrate here in Stony Brook village with the great food and great music that will have everyone swinging into spring,” Legislator Hahn concluded.

Photo courtesy of Suffolk County Legislature; Jazz Loft