Popular Thursday Night Jazz Series Begins In Branford

By Jack Kramer

Correspondent

BRANFORD, CT – To a lot of people in Branford the real kickoff to the summer season is the start of the popular Thursday night jazz series on the Town Green.

Well, the waiting is over.

The first jazz show will be this Thursday, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, town workers were setting up the stage, getting ready for the jazz.

Opening the series on Thursday will be the “Recess Bureau,” a collection of musicians who strive to continue on the ever evolving path of music and explore possibilities of improvisation, and aims to go against the standard of jazz.

In his short time since graduating from Western Connecticut State University, bassist and bandleader Jeff Moro has produced/mixed and mastered 5 records, one of which was the self-titled, “The Recess Bureau” EP.

Aside from being the bandleader in The Recess Bureau, he is a part of Hartford based hip-hop groups "Clas!ck" and "Joey Batts & Them."

He also plays upright bass in a Danbury based rockabilly group called, "The Red Hots,” and also has upright bass duties in the Rosemary Minkler Trio. Jeff has studied/played with world renowned musicians such as John Patitucci, Michael League (Snarky Puppy), Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Jimmy Greene, Kenny Barron, Joe Lovano, Renee Rosnes and 4 time Emmy award winning composer, Ed Dzubak.

“Being the first act to play at this year’s Branford Jazz series is an experience we in The Recess Bureau are ecstatic about,” said Moro. “Having the opportunity to play original music in front of a big crowd of attentive listeners is something we can only dream about, but for this evening we’ll have the chance to live it.”

There will be nine shows, running every Thursday and ending on Thursday, Aug. 24th.