A decade ago, the Manchester CT Jazz Festival was designed to bring top musical talent to Manchester’s Cheney Hall theater. Just as importantly, it was conceived as a fundraiser for Manchester’s Beth Sholom B’nai Israel.
The festival has since become a success as both a community gathering and as a fundraiser. It even sponsors scholarships for high school musicians who intend to study jazz in college. Local school jazz ensembles, some of which are highly rated or award-winning, have become a regular feature.
Dr. Ken Wichman and local jazz pianist, composer, arranger and teacher Alex Nakhimovsky have run the festival since its beginning. Wichman was the head of the synagogue’s fundraising committee, and Nakhimovsky brought personal experience from the local jazz scene.
Alex Nakhimovsky is performing at this year’s Manchester CT Jazz Festival in Vanisha Gould’s quartet. He is also a co-founder of the festival and one of its main programmers. (Courtesy of Manchester CT Jazz Festival)
Both Wichman and Nakhimovsky recall the first few years of the festival, which may not have lost money but barely crossed the threshold for fundraising.
“It was three days long at first. We were unduly ambitious,” Wichman said. “The first year was lightly attended, and we only made 250 bucks.”
It has since bounced between one and two days. Last year’s festival sold all its tickets before it opened. This year’s event has two parts: Dec. 6 starting at 6:30 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. It’s the first two-day setup in several years.
Saturday’s performers include the Hall High School Jazz Combo; Hartford-based drummer Jonathan Barber’s Vision Ahead featuring Matt Knooepel, Tony Davis, Matt Dwonszyk and Cameron Campbell; the New York-based vocalist Vanisha Gould with a quartet of Nakhimovsky, Dwonszyk and Sam Bolduc; and Hartford’s own Liviu Pop Group.
Sunday’s acts are the Good Vibes Fellowship, made up of students at Timothy Edwards Middle School; the Grass Routes Bluegrass band, The Hall Monitors, consisting of music faculty from Hall High School; and the Dan Pugach Big Band with Nicole Zuraitis.
Versatile Hartford-based drummer Jonathan Barber is one of the featured artists at this year’s Manchester CT Jazz Festival. His Vision Ahead ensemble performs on Saturday night on Dec. 6. (Courtesy of Manchester CT Jazz Festival)
Drew Crandall, a local jazz musician who helps with sponsorships and publicity for the festival, said it is his third year being involved “and I love it. I love how they weave local musicians into it, including from schools like UConn or Hall High School. Having it at Cheney Hall means everything is intimate and up close.”
The impressive jazz program at Hall High School is represented at the Manchester Jazz Festival. Not just with a student ensemble, but with The Hall Monitors (pictured), a group made up of Hall music instructors. (Courtesy of Manchester CT Jazz Festival)
Nakhimovsky has spent a lot of time in Cheney Hall both as a performer and an audience member. As the main programmer of the festival, he noted that “everybody is always very happy with the acoustics there. It has a wonderful vibe. Cheney Hall is very special in many ways. It’s one of only a few rooms in Hartford that can provide that atmosphere.”
Nakhimovsky also likes the late fall timing of the festival, as most other jazz festivals usually take place outdoors in the summertime.
“It’s great to hear jazz in December when it’s cold outside,” he said. “People are so supportive.”
The 2024 Manchester CT Jazz Festival takes place on Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. at Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Road, Manchester. Tickets are $40 for one day ($80 for VIP seating) or $70 for both days ($140 VIP). manchesterctjazzfest.com.