Jazz Up Your August

The Jazz Loft will be presenting its 4th Annual Harbor Jazz Festival from Wednesday 8/15 to Sunday 8/19. This year's festival includes a lineup of premier jazz artists including pianist Bill Charlap, cornetist Warren Vache, Nickki Parrot bassist and vocalist, Houston Person tenor saxophonist, Matt Wilson drummer, Frank Vignola guitarist, Dan Pugach drummer, Marc Devine pianist and Warren Chiasson vibraphonist. Local favorites including The Interplay Jazz Orchestra, The Jazz Loft Trio and The Jazz Loft Big Band will perform. For something different, The Stony Brook Roots Ensemble offer their repertoire of traditional American music including bluegrass, country,Western swing and new folk.

New this year, the Saturday performances will be held on the Stony Brook Village green under an open air tent. The audience will face the performers and view Stony Brook Harbor. BBQ will be available and for the kids there will be a free instrument petting zoo.

The festival begins on 8/15 with a performance of the Jazz Loft Trio followed by an open jam and a VIP reception for the opening of a new art exhibit by Frank Davis. The festival concludes with a free performance of The Jazz Loft Big Band on Sunday evening in front of the Stony Brook Post Office. Tickets for each performance are $30 adults,$25 seniors,$20 students. Full festival and full day passes are also available. The full schedule and tickets are available on www.thejazzloft.org