Branford's Summer Jazz Series Approved by Selectmen

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

BRANFORD, CT — One of the highlights of the summer in Branford – the summer jazz series on the Town Green on Thursday nights – will be on again in 2017.

The Board of Selectmen recently unanimously approved the scheduling of the concerts, which start at 6:30 p.m., beginning on Thursday, June 29th, and running every Thursday night, rain permitting for nine weeks until August 31st.

While newcomers to Branford may think the popular jazz series has been around forever, the history of the series tells a different story.

For many years, the Branford Recreation Department provided free Sunday afternoon concerts on the Town Green, and the music ranged from blues, to country, to big band, to swing.

Residents from the community met with the Recreation Department and suggested that increase in the music shows would increase if it changed the musical focus to jazz, and held the concerts on a weeknight – where more people could attend.

The rest, as they say is history.

Since 2009, the Thursday night jazz series has been a summer staple in Branford. Many well-known jazz acts have played the event.