2026 Concert Series at The Avram

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.

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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 of Chicago, 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.

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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.

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Date: Thursday, April 23 | 7 pm
Location: The Avram

A sweeping jazz journey from Africa to America—Afro/American Sketches — originally titled by Oliver Nelson in 1961 — tells a story of struggle, resilience, and hope that resonates across generations.”

Afro/American Sketches presents Nelson’s landmark composition, 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.

Jazzhattan Suite, also composed and arranged by Oliver Nelson, will also be featured that evening.

Oliver Nelson Jr. is a contemporary jazz and classical flutist, music educator, and the son of the legendary jazz saxophonist and arranger Oliver Nelson Sr. He is primarily known for preserving and performing his father’s extensive musical legacy, often leading ensembles to play classic charts from iconic albums.

Nelson is a skilled flutist who has performed with prestigious groups such as the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. He has also recorded with jazz greats like Bela Fleck, Benny Golson, and Grady Tate for tribute projects dedicated to his father.

He serves as an adjunct lecturer at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and has taught at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

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Date: Thursday, May 28 | 7 pm
Location: The Avram

”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.

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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.

¡Viva La Habana!

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Date: Thursday, August 27 | 7 pm
Location: The Avram

All Heart is a joyous, high energy celebration of Afro Cuban jazz, led by Carlos Jiménez Mambo Dulce in an all star Cuban descarga, the jam session tradition fueled by rhythm, spontaneity, and soul. Drawing inspiration from icons including Tito Puente, Arsenio Rodríguez, Ray Barretto, La Lupe, Celia Cruz, Mongo Santamaría, Cachao, and José Fajardo, the performance channels the infectious grooves and emotional intensity at the heart of Cuban music.

Driven by rich percussion, bold horns, and electrifying call and response, the atmosphere is vibrant, communal, and impossible to resist. Designed for everyone, listeners and dancers, longtime jazz fans and first time concertgoers, All Heart is an evening where joy takes center stage and the music invites the whole room to move, celebrate, and connect.

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Date: Thursday, September 17 | 7 pm
Location: The Avram

Things to Come showcases the artistry of Nicole Zuraitis—one of the most compelling and versatile voices in jazz today—and offers a glimpse into the music’s future. A 2024 Grammy Award winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album (How Love Begins), Zuraitis has earned multiple Grammy nominations in recent years, recognized for both her vocal artistry and live performance.

A vocalist, pianist, composer, and arranger, Zuraitis brings depth, sophistication, and emotional honesty to every performance. Her collaborations span generations and genres, including work with Dave Brubeck, Christian McBride, Darren Criss, and Livingston Taylor. Blending deep respect for tradition with a modern sensibility, her music feels timeless yet unmistakably forward-looking.

Rooted in swing, enriched by storytelling, and alive with creative possibility, Zuraitis’s work reflects jazz as a living, evolving art form. Things to Come is an evening that celebrates excellence, innovation, and the next chapter of jazz—inviting listeners of all ages to experience a voice that truly represents what lies ahead.

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Date: Thursday, October 22 | 7 pm
Location: The Avram

From Birdland to Broadway brings the excitement, swing, and star power of New York City’s legendary jazz scene to Southampton. Guitarist Frank Vignola leads his celebrated Birdland Quartet, featuring guitarist Vinny Raniolo and bassist Gary Mazzaroppi, alongside some of the city’s top jazz musicians.

Every Wednesday night, Vignola and his quartet light up the stage at the iconic Birdland Jazz Club, often joined by special guests from the upper ranks of the jazz world. That same energy, spontaneity, and musical brilliance comes to the Avram Theater in a concert that moves effortlessly between straight ahead jazz, beloved standards, and Broadway inspired favorites.

With dazzling virtuosity, infectious rhythm, and a sense of fun that’s impossible to miss, the band swings, romps, and reimagines the Great American Songbook, transporting audiences from Birdland, to Broadway, and straight into the heart of live jazz.

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Date: Wednesday, November 18 | 7 pm
Location: The Avram

Set your time machine for 1960s Las Vegas. The lights are low, the air hums with swing, and the Rat Pack is headlining The Sands. Ol’ Blue Eyes leads the way, joined by Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and a few of their sharpest, coolest friends. The music swings, the jokes fly, and the ice clinks in a glass of Jack Daniel’s.

No time machine? No problem. Just head to The Avram this November, where the spirit of Sinatra and company comes roaring back to life in “The Rat Pack Review.” Led by Tom Manuel and featuring acclaimed vocalists Pete Caldera and Rahsaan Cruse, Jr., along with The Jazz Loft’s 17-piece Big Band, this high-energy show celebrates the style, swagger, and songbook of the Rat Pack era.

Audiences can expect more than just faithful renditions of classic tunes. The show brims with laughter, playful banter, and plenty of “I’ll drink to that!” moments that channel the original camaraderie of Frank, Dean, and Sammy.

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Date: Wednesday, December 16 | 7 pm
Location: The Avram

The Avram is proud to present Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s Nutcracker Suite, one of the most beloved and frequently performed jazz reinterpretations of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic.

A treasured annual tradition, this festive concert features The Jazz Loft’s 17 piece Big Band, led by Tom Manuel, bringing Ellington and Strayhorn’s brilliant arrangements to life with elegance, swing, and orchestral color. Familiar melodies are transformed through rich harmonies, infectious rhythms, and the unmistakable sophistication of jazz’s greatest composer collaborators.

The second half of the evening adds even more holiday sparkle as the illustrious Champian Fulton takes the stage on vocals and piano, performing an array of classic seasonal favorites. Warm, swinging, and full of charm, her performances capture the joy and intimacy of the holidays while keeping the music fresh and inviting.

Celebratory, stylish, and perfect for all ages, this concert blends jazz tradition with seasonal magic, an unforgettable way to welcome the holidays at The Avram.

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