Painful Decision: Branford Summer Jazz Concert Series Canceled

BRANFORD, CT — A hard letter to write. An even harder, and more painful, decision to make.

Known as Jazz on the Green, the Branford Summer Jazz concert series has been canceled.

"Dear Branford Summer Jazz Concert Series Families, Supporters, and Friends,

We hope that this letter finds you healthy and safe. During this unique and challenging time of COVID- 19, this pandemic has impacted all of us both professionally and personally. It has changed the world in which we live in. Our Community has come together to support each other, as we all need a distraction from this unpredictable Coronavirus. Over the past several weeks, the Jazz committee has been faced with the most difficult decision of suspending the Branford Summer Jazz series concerts for this year. This decision was painful and not easy for all involved. We are deeply saddened, but the health and safety of the community, artists, concert goers and volunteers has been in the forefront with the utmost importance in this decision.

In accordance with state and local guidance regarding public gatherings, the Branford Jazz Series committee has concluded that at this time we risk too much in having a gathering of our size, not only for the concert goers, but also the artists that would be traveling from near and far to provide us with their music.

For over a decade, The Summer Jazz Concert Series has been a destination on Thursday evenings to sit with family and friends on the picturesque town green toes tapping, enjoying a picnic dinner, good company and listening to Jazz music from top artists from around the country. As heartbreaking and devastating it is to announce these words to our jazz supporters and sponsors, it is balanced with a renewed sense of optimism that the Branford Summer Jazz Concert Series will bounce back greater and as energetic as ever in 2021. Our artists are excited to know that they will be a part of next year’s lineup. Visit our website, www.branfordjazz.com to learn about each one of them.

The mission for Branford Jazz has always been “to enrich, entertain, and educate the community by hosting a broad variety of live jazz performances. We welcome the days when we can all gather in a safe manner, while jazz music fills the air. We pursue our mission through collaborative partnerships with local businesses and sponsorships to enhance the quality of life for all.”

It is the Branford Jazz Concert Series motto for good reason and is the echoed sentiment of our Jazz family. The Branford Jazz community is unlike any other in the jazz music industry, and we believe that we can emerge from this adversity stronger and better connected than ever before.
We wish you the best of health during these challenging times and anxiously look forward to when we can all be together again. Be safe.

Sincerely,

Alex Palluzzi, Jr., Director

Dale B Izzo, Assistant Director