“The Laid-Back Village Of Stony Brook Is Poised To Become Long Island's Jazz Mecca... Jazzophiles Will Be Treated To Everything From Museum-Quality Memorabilia To Pulse-Pounding Live Performances...”-Newsday
"Playing and teaching at the Jazz Loft is always a joy for me, as it allows me not only to meet new people, but it affords me the opportunity to be re-acquainted with many of my old friends. The exhibits always bring a warm feeling to my heart. " Warren Vache
“The Jazz Loft is miraculous! A gorgeous museum, performance and educational space right here in the community. I’m grateful, and proud, that this volunteer-run, non-profit organization is supported where I live. I travel a great deal around the world performing, but this is my favorite place to play.” Ray Anderson
“The Laid-Back Village Of Stony Brook Is Poised To Become Long Island's Jazz Mecca... Jazzophiles Will Be Treated To Everything From Museum-Quality Memorabilia To Pulse-Pounding Live Performances...”-Newsday
This Week's Shows
We are all saddened by the sudden passing of Danny Bacher. Danny was the first performer ever when TJL started fundraising to renovate our building in 2014. For the last decade he became an important and irreplaceable part of our Jazz Loft family. We know he’d want us to go forward and this weekends concerts will be dedicated to Danny’s life and legacy. I hope you’ll join us to celebrate his life.
Loss of Beloved Jazz Loft Performer Danny Bacher Leaves Friends & Fans Heartbroken
Stony Brook, NY-The Jazz Loft family is devastated to learn of the untimely death of one of its most beloved performers, Danny Bacher, who passed away on December 16 following a heart attack. He was 48 years old. Bacher’s credentials and world-class talents make for an impressive and illustrious list. Bacher excelled as a vocalist, soprano saxophonist, dancer and composer and delivered jokes and banter effortlessly. Bacher recently published a book titled Collecting Laurel and Hardy, about his personal extensive collection of Laurel and Hardy memorabilia. At the time of his death, he was working on a Harry Nilsson recording project.
“It goes without saying that The Jazz Loft will never be the same without Danny,” said Tom Manuel, friend and founder of The Jazz Loft. “I will always have the utmost respect and admiration for Danny as a musician and an artist. Quite frankly he embodied what no artists have anymore. He was 100% in, 100% of the time— a consummate performer. He truly loved every stranger that sat in front of him. The music was always the number one priority. He appreciated the songwriter, the arranger, the history, the vision of the show, and especially the musicians that backed him up.”
Bacher was an early supporter and performer for The Jazz Loft and is credited with the first “official Jazz Loft gig,” which occurred well before the renovations were completed around 2014.
“We did a concert at what was at the time called The Ward Melville Heritage Organization Education & Cultural Center to bring awareness to the Loft project,’ recalls Manuel. “As the years progressed Danny became such an important part of the personality of our Sinatra Show, Rat Pack Show, and our Nutcracker amongst other things.”
Along with his numerous appearances at The Jazz Loft throughout the year, Bacher kept a busy touring schedule and worked at venues such as the Blue Note, Birdland, Feinstein’s 54 Below, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Town Hall. He performed several times at Carnegie Hall and most recently alongside the legendary Michael Feinstein. Bacher released two studio albums as a leader, “Swing That Music!” and “Still Happy” on the Whaling City Sound label. A recent recipient of the prestigious Margaret Whiting Award, Bacher was also nominated for best male vocalist in the 2019 National Jazz Times reader’s poll along with Harry Connick, John Pizzarelli, and Michael Buble, and in 2020 and 2021 placed in the top four in the country alongside Kurt Elling, Gregory Porter and the legendary Tony Bennett. He also received a 2023 Bistro Award for outstanding achievement as a singer/instrumentalist in the New York entertainment community. Bacher was personally selected by the 98-year-old jazz legend, Terry Gibbs, as the vocalist to record his Songbook.
When not performing, Bacher dedicated his time to arts education in his home state of New Jersey. As part of the nationally-recognized Educational Arts Team, he taught arts-integrated curricula to a variety of grade levels, as well as acting, theater improv, magic and puppetry. Along with his brother, Danny was the co-creator of the beloved after-school puppet series “The Backyard Players” (2008-2012), and has helped to run Camp Liberty, an arts-based summer program in Jersey City, for the past decade.
“Danny was a special person and real friend to me,” said Manuel. “I loved him like a brother and I’ll really miss him.”
Danny Bacher is survived by his wife Erin Bernard-Bacher, his brother Josh, and his parents, Jane and Joel.
Future Shows
The Jazz Loft in the News
Quincy Jones
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Today the music world and our global community at large lost one of the most important figures in Jazz and pop music, the great Quincy Jones. "Q" was an incredible trumpet player, arranger, composer, producer, and all around Jazz ambassador and advocate for this music spanning the last 7+ decades. Thanks to Q we have some of the most iconic music and recordings that have become a part of our cultures soundtrack from Sinatra to Michael Jackson, Ray Charles and more. He was an activist who stood for what was right, even when the majority was choosing to do what was wrong. Today at The Jazz Loft we honor the life and legacy of Quincy Jones and we have our honor memorial banner hanging in his memory.
Quincy also shares this honor with our recently departed board member Jean Prysock. Jean was a founding board member of The Jazz Loft and she played a key role in the founding meetings and planning of what would become TJL. The wife of famed singer Arthur Prysock, Jean worked tirelessly as a volunteer, was active as a volunteer with school and community work as well as embracing access for the handicapped in sporting events. The National Conference of Christians and Jews presented her the Ambassador of Good Will award and she was also recognized by local professional business groups and was named to the Nassau County Advisory Board of Volunteers Services.
Jean’s motto was “Respect yourself and others will do the same. And remember no one owes you anything. Learn to love, learn to be better and the world will become a better place to live. When you help someone else up the hill, you help yourself.”
The Jazz Loft is especially grateful for these two lives well lived and for the lasting legacy of Jean Prysock and Quincy Jones.
NYU Intern Nadia Othman
Created Audio Recordings at The Jazz Loft
Nadia Othman is a student at New York University currently working towards a Bachelor of Music in Music Technology. Over the summer of 2023, she interned at The Jazz Loft as a recording engineer, where she had the pleasure of recording and mixing several of the shows taking place in addition to controlling the live sound. When she isn’t recording music, Nadia is either working at Death By Audio building effects pedals or singing. With a background in classical voice, she has spent her time in college expanding her style to include more genres such as jazz, and she has been inspired by the outstanding performances she recorded this summer.
Harborfields Band Experiences The Jazz Loft In Stony Brook
Students were given a tour of the loft, got to see Duke Ellington-related items, and perform in front of family and friends.
STONY BROOK, NY — The Harborfields High School Jazz Band recently traveled to the Jazz Loft in Stony Brook for a multifaceted field trip experience, the school district announced.
An auspicious date for this music — Duke Ellington’s 125th birthday, sandwiched on a day between the Blossom Dearie Centennial and International Jazz Day — proved to be an occasion to remember.
The Jazz Loft & Staller Center to present three performances of ‘The Bird’s’ Iconic ‘Charlie Parker with Strings’
Alto Jazz saxophonist and composer Charlie Parker broke all the rules of Jazz when he recorded two albums entitled Charlie Parker with Strings, works that attempted to bridge the gap between Jazz and classical music. Nothing like Strings had ever been done before. History has proven Parker’s instincts correct, as these works are now universally recognized as masterpieces.
Jazz enthusiasts will have three opportunities to catch performances of the iconic Charlie Parker with Stringson Thursday, April 4 and Saturday, April 6 at The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook; and on Friday, April 5 at The Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook. All three concerts will begin at 7 p.m. and will be featuring Chris Donohue and Dayna Sean Stephens, both on alto saxophone.
All About Jazz Article:
Dan Pugach Big Band At The Jazz Loft
By Dan Bilawsky
March 27, 2024
On March 22, 2024, two weeks to the day after Dan Pugach released his first big band record, the celebrated drummer-composer brought his large ensemble to The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook for an album release event that was a resounding success by any measure. That 90-seat venue—a performance space, museum and educational hub with a well-earned reputation as the crown jewel site on the Long Island jazz scene—played host to a stellar two-set concert that earned a standing ovation from the sold-out house.
The Jazz Loft: Ya Dig?
Photo by Sophia Trifoli
When walking into The Jazz Loft at Stony Brook Village, the sly, rhythmic sounds of “Wanderlust” by Duke Ellington and Coleman Hawkins may be the first thing to perk your interest. Or, perhaps, it may be the building’s memorable aroma — a distinguishable smell of amber, musk and leather. Finally, taking a few steps inside the opening room, awe may take over as you enter an elegantly enrapturing space — a room filled with one of the greatest collections of jazz memorabilia in the world.
Only a five-minute drive away from Stony Brook University’s main campus, The Jazz Loft is one of only five jazz museums in the United States. Being a club and performance hall, The Loft promotes jazz conversation through jazz productions and educational outreach. Last fall, I had the opportunity to be a marketing intern at The Loft, which opened my eyes to its deeper narratives and initiatives.
Swing Into Spring Festival returns to Stony Brook Village in March
The signs of spring in Stony Brook Village bring more than just warm breezes and the return of the ospreys. Jazz music will once again be filling the air as the Swing Into Swing Festival 2024 returns this March 19 to 23, bringing with it an assortment of opportunities to hear live Jazz music throughout the community at six locations.
The five-day music festival will culminate in concert performances by the Bad Little Big Band featuring trombonist Bruce Bonvissuto; Dan Pugach Big Band; the Andy McKee Quintet; a Community Jazz Night & Jam Session Techniques Workshop on Wednesday from 405:30 p.m. The festival includes an educational component and during the day The Jazz Loft will welcome Rocky Point Middle School and High School Jazz Ensembles for workshops and a tour, as well as welcoming patrons from the Cutchogue Library for a tour and performance.
Funding for the Festival comes in part from the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development & Planning and Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright.
The Jazz Loft acquires Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker
memorabilia collection
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook, has recently acquired a collection of more than 50 memorabilia items from jazz saxophonist legend Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker, that includes master acetates from some of his most important recording sessions; a personalized instrument case; his union card; numerous notes, letters and correspondence; and his Birdland contracts.
An exhibit highlighting Parker and the newly acquired memorabilia will open in February, along with numerous events and concerts centered on Parker’s music. The concert series will culminate in several performances of “Charlie Parker with Strings,” one of his most well-known recordings.
TJL Celebrates Founder Tom Manuel Being Honored
as SBU Endowed Faculty
Fourteen Stony Brook University endowed faculty members were formally installed on November 6. The ceremony, held at the Charles B. Wang Center Theater, included addresses from Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis, PhD; Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Carl Lejuez, PhD; and keynote speaker Heather J. Lynch, PhD.
Jazz Bassist From Huntington Posthumously Honored
With 'Sideman' Award
Lloyd Trotman played the iconic bass riff at the beginning of the hit song "Stand by Me."
He was honored by The Jazz Loft and LIMEHof.
Lloyd Trotman, a jazz bassist, was posthumously honored with the "Sideman" Award by The Jazz Loft and the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHoF), according to a news release.
Trotman, a Huntington resident, played the iconic bass riff at the beginning of the hit song "Stand by Me." His daughter, Linda Trotman, accepted the award for her father. Trotman, born on May 25, 1923, died on Oct. 3, 2007. He would have been 100 this year.
All About Jazz Article
"Take Five With Thomas Manuel Of The Jazz Loft"
Meet Thomas Manuel
Jazz historian, music educator and cornet player Dr. Thomas Manuel holds the endowed Artist in Residence chair within the Jazz department at Stony Brook University. In addition to this he serves as a trustee to the Frank Melville Memorial Foundation, is a member of the Huntington Arts Council Decentralization Advisory Committee, and is the founder and President of The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook, N.Y., an innovative and creative space which joins jazz performance, jazz preservation and jazz education in celebration of the past, present, and future.
TBR Newsmedia Article: Your Turn:
Philanthropists among us
By Thomas Manuel
From the ancient Greeks to Ben Franklin, Andrew Carnegie, George Clooney, Bill Gates, and countless individuals in between, philanthropy, a love for humanity and a desire to see it thrive, has been a common thread. It has been said that effective philanthropy requires a lot of time and creativity; the same kind of focus and skills that building a business requires. Miriam Beard once pointed out, “The results of philanthropy are always beyond calculation.”
Philanthropic giving is not just a phenomenon found in certain parts of the world, rather it is a spirit of giving back which is global. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain in speaking about philanthropy expanded that the best philanthropy is not just about giving money but giving leadership. The best philanthropists bring the gifts that made them successful — the drive, the determination, the refusal to accept that something can’t be done. These are the characteristics they invest into their philanthropy.
New York Times Article:
The House That Jazz and Moxie Built
A trumpeter creates a space to exhibit his trove of memorabilia with the new Jazz Loft.
By KARIN LIPSON
As a teenage trumpeter who loved jazz, Tom Manuel would visit the Dunton Inn, a local spot in East Patchogue where a group of old-timers — some of whom had played alongside Tommy Dorsey, Harry James and Louis Armstrong — would let the untried kid from Lake Ronkonkoma sit in during weekly jam sessions.
“I was terrible, compared to them,” said Mr. Manuel at the Jazz Loft, an exhibition, preservation and performance space in Stony Brook that celebrated its grand opening on Saturday. Mr. Manuel, now a 37-year-old musician, teacher and jazz historian, founded the loft, which houses a vast assemblage of jazz memorabilia, including musical instruments, archival photographs, original sheet music, personal letters, master recordings and vintage LPs.