Let’s face it: few metropolitan areas serve up top-flight jazz every night of the week, and it’s hard to think of any in Connecticut. Be thankful, then, for Jazz Week, which actually stretches across 10 days of blowing and comping at area clubs, pubs and restaurants around New Haven.
There’s much to hear, and many highlights: Friday night with saxophonist Kris Jensen’s Quartet at Cafe Nine ($10); Saturday with bassist-composer Ben Wolfe (pictured) and his Trio at the Owl Shop on College Street (free); Sunday brunch with Gary Grippo at Kelly’s Gastro Pub (free if you buy a meal); Monday at Toad’s Place with guitarist Rohn Lawrence ($5); Tuesday with the Jake Epstein Quartet at 9th Note on Orange (free with food and drinks); the Z3’s virtuosic, jazz-ish romps through the music of Frank Zappa at Stella Blues on Wednesday ($10); and a full schedule through the following weekend. A number of sets are timed so that you can hit more than one show a night, and of course there’s tons of food to be sampled at the restaurant-type venues. Check jazzhaven.org for the full schedule.
JAZZ WEEK 2014 runs from Aug. 15 to 24 at various locations around New Haven. Most events are free with purchase of food and drink. Information: jazzhaven.org.
