“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
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Future Shows
The Jazz Loft in the News
Forward-Thinking Saxophonist, Clarinetist & Composer Jeff Lederer Announces There’s a Yearnin’
A Historic First Recording of Long-Buried Works by Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman & Oliver Nelson
Out May 1 2026 via Little (i) music
Featuring the Wildebeest Wind Quintet and Vocalist Mary LaRose
Saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Jeff Lederer has never lacked for bold ideas — sacred Shaker songs reimagined with ecstatic gospel fire, Albert Ayler by way of sea shanties, Schoenberg refracted through surreal cabaret. But There’s a Yearnin’ may be his most ambitious statement yet: a convergence of jazz and notated music that restores significant, under-heard works to circulation. Due out May 2026 on his own imprint, Little
(i) Music, the album features the first recording of a woodwind sextet by Eric Dolphy, a new realization of Ornette Coleman’s rarely performed Forms and Sounds, and newly arranged Oliver Nelson works for winds and voice — all framed by a freshly rescored original from Lederer.Saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Jeff Lederer has never lacked for bold ideas — sacred Shaker songs reimagined with ecstatic gospel fire, Albert Ayler by way of sea shanties, Schoenberg refracted through surreal cabaret. But There’s a Yearnin’ may be his most ambitious statement yet: a convergence of jazz and notated music that restores significant, under-heard works to circulation. Due out May 2026 on his own imprint, Little (i) Music, the album features the first recording of a woodwind sextet by Eric Dolphy, a new realization of Ornette Coleman’s rarely performed Forms and Sounds, and newly arranged Oliver Nelson works for winds and voice — all framed by a freshly rescored original from Lederer.
Riverhead closes sale of Vail-Leavitt Music Hall to The Jazz Loft
The sale of the historic Vail-Leavitt Music Hall to The Jazz Loft closed today, transferring ownership of the 144-year-old downtown theater from the Town of Riverhead to the Stony Brook-based nonprofit.
The closing marks the end of a long process that accelerated over the past two years, after Riverhead Town moved to recover the property from the nonprofit Council for the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall and later advanced a plan to transfer the theater to The Jazz Loft.
In a press release issued today, Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin called the closing the culmination of several years of work by town officials and The Jazz Loft.
The Jazz Loft launches major endowment matching campaign
in partnership with Stony Brook University
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook has announced the launch of a special fundraising initiative that opens the door to one of the most powerful philanthropic opportunities in its history. Through an extraordinary matching program offered by New York State and a long-standing collaboration with Stony Brook University, donors have the potential to significantly amplify their support for The Jazz Loft’s work and create transformative, long-term impact for jazz education, performance, preservation and cultural programming.
With lead gift donations from Jazz Loft supporters David & Cynthia Lippe and Ivana & Robert Lourie currently totaling 400K, The Jazz Loft aims to raise an additional $100,000 in new gifts, which may qualify for additional matching funds. The goal is to build a $1 million dollar endowment.
The Jazz Loft at Southampton Concert Series
Returns to The Avram for Its Fall 2026 Season
The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series is returning to the Avram Theater at Stony Brook Southampton with its Fall 2025 Season, entertaining audiences and bringing the rich traditions and innovative spirit of jazz to the East End.
Its initial spring and summer season was a roaring success, and the series will continue to showcase some of the best jazz musicians and singers in the genre. Held in collaboration with The Jazz Loft and curated by its founder, musician and Stony Brook Endowed Artist in Residence Thomas Manuel, the series is a celebration of creativity, history and artistry. It will explore various facets of jazz music, with each performance offering a unique experience.
The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series Kicks Off with ‘Jazz as Democracy’
The Avram Theater at Stony Brook Southampton reverberated with the sound of jazz music with the opening show of The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series, “Jazz As Democracy.”
The April 24 concert celebrated the pioneers who intertwined jazz with the principles of democracy, featuring the music of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Nina Simone and John Coltrane, with original compositions from band members.
This was the first of five concerts to be held at Stony Brook Southampton over the spring and summer, featuring world-class jazz musicians.
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 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.
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.