Jazz Stroll 2024 – ArtsFalmouth, Inc.

ArtsFalmouth will host Jazz Stroll 2024 on Saturday, October 5, from 3 to 8 PM at various locations along Main Street, Palmer Ave, and Queen’s Buyway.

The Jazz Stroll is rain or shine. If it’s hot, meander over to the cool jazz performances. If it’s cold, the hot jazz will warm you up!!

All events are free! It’s a great way to enjoy some incredible music, meet friends old and new, and enjoy the liveliness of downtown Falmouth. Come early to shop, and stay late to enjoy a meal!

Again this year, we have a special After-Stroll event with the Bart Weisman Jazz Group at The Vine Restaurant from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. It’s the perfect ending to a delightful evening!

Here’s the schedule:

3 to 4:15 PM
Joe Mongelli Jazz Trio
The Black Dog General Store
214 Main Street, Falmouth

The Joe Mongelli Jazz Trio offers intimate jazz featuring original arrangements of classic jazz, American Song Book, and Latin standards. Joe Mongelli, trumpet, flugelhorn and cornet; Gary Gross, guitar; Rod McCauley, upright bass.

Joe Mongelli’s music draws on a broad, eclectic background of performance experience spanning 30 years. From small group jazz to swinging big bands, symphony orchestras, free jazz, Dixieland, funk and rock, Joe has played it all.

3:30 to 4:45 PM
Nice and Easy
So French
303 Main Street, Falmouth

Jazzy Blues trio featuring piano/organ, bass, and drums. Chris LoCascio leads the group in playing blues and jazz covers with an even mix of vocals and instrumentals.

4 to 5:15 PM
Bongogenesis
Falmouth Museums on the Green
55 Palmer Ave, Falmouth

Bongogenesis is the only Afro-Cuban band on Cape Cod. Their sound originates in traditional Cuban music, such as Son Montuno, Guajira, Bolero, Son-Pregón, and Cha Cha Chá. The music then branches out into many styles that evolved from those fertile roots, including Afro-Cuban Rock, Salsa, Calypso, and most importantly: Afro-Cuban Jazz.

The band consists of Olivia Yingling on vocals and misc. percussion, Greg Polanik on guitar, Tres Cubano, and backup vocals, Sam Holmstock on percussion and backup vocals, and Cliff Letsche on bass.

4:30 to 5:45 PM
Fred Clayton Band
Howlingbird Studio
115 Palmer Avenue Unit 2B, Falmouth

The Fred Clayton Band features Alex Pashoian on guitar, Christan McCarthy on drums; and Fred Clayton on bass and vocals. Clayton has been performing throughout the Cape for the past 15 years. Prior to that, he spent 15 years in Paris, France, working and earning a living by playing music. The band specializes in blues, jazz, Latin and pop music.

See the Fred Clayton Band’s performance at ArtsFalmouth’s Jazz Stroll 2023 here:

4:45 to 6 PM
Tish Adams Duo
ByWay Barber + Massage Co.
49 North Main Street, Falmouth

Tish Adams performed for the virtual Jazz Stroll in 2020.

Vocalist Tish Adams has a compelling stage presence and an extensive repertoire of time-honored standards. She offers fresh interpretations, yet sets a sentimental mood – a passionate tribute to rich Jazz tradition. Her show is seasoned with long-forgotten gems, obscure treasures and a dash of the Blues. She can burn an up-tempo swinger or melt the audience with her sensitive reading of a slow, smoky ballad. Fans compare her to the “great ladies of Jazz.” Musicians call her “a natural.”

Tish’s originals are delightfully funny or as low-down as can be. Her lyrics are playful and cleverly written. She’s turned unexpected topics into great Blues stories.

Pianist Paul McWilliams, shown above, long the partner of jazz great Rebecca Parris, performs with Tish.

See the Tish Adams Duo performance at ArtsFalmouth’s Jazz Stroll 2023 here:

5 to 6:15 PM
Andrew Sexton Trio
Coffee Obsession at Falmouth
110 Palmer Avenue, Falmouth

Led by vocalist, song writer and guitarist Andrew Sexton, the
Trio, features Alec Zeuli on saxophones and Harry Cook on bass. The trio plays an
eclectic mix of jazz standards, originals and selections from the 1920s thru 1970s.

5:30 to 6:45 PM
Dawna Hammers Trio
Pickle Jar Kitchen
170 Main Street, Falmouth

Songwriter, recording artist, entertainer Dawna Hammers grew up with a Dixieland Jazz father; Johnny Hammers, who played saxophone and clarinet with Cape Cod’s finest musicians: Marie Marcus, Dave McKenna, Lou Columbo. She grew up listening to and learning a wide variety of American Songbook classics.

Joined by Berklee College bass professor Danny Mo and popular jazz drummer Kareem Sanjaghi, Hammers will perform a cool variety of songs by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Billie Holiday, Nora Jones, Sade, Joni Mitchell, and some of her own originals. With a warm, wide ranging, spirited voice, melodic and rhythmic keyboard, Hammers will even toot on her father’s tenor sax for a very entertaining session.

6 to 7:15
Paul Ross Jazz Trio
Main Street Gallery
189 Main Street, Falmouth

Paul Ross Trio consists of Paul Ross on alto sax, Matt Hutchinson on keyboard, and Ron Ormsby on upright bass.

The Paul Ross Trio plays fun, classic jazz and pop music: the great melodies of (not too many) years past that you with tunes you remember, can dance to and are fun to hear once again.

A clip from a recent performance of the Paul Ross Jazz Trio at Main Street Gallery:

6:45 to 8 PM
Jim Robitaille Group
The Gallery on Main
317 Main Street, Falmouth

The Jim Robitaille Group features Jim Robitaille on guitar, Tom Casale on bass, and Chris Poudrier on drums, and John McKenna on saxophone.

Guitarist and award-winning composer Jim Robitaille has performed, recorded with, and/or shared the bill with many acclaimed jazz musicians and has appeared on over 20 recording as a leader and sideman.

The Gallery on Main features works by many different artists and hosts live performances throughout the year. The shop is owned by artist Karen Rinaldo and musician Don Cross.

After-Stroll Gathering

The After-Stroll event features the Bart Weisman Jazz Group at The Vine Restaurant from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. Bart Weisman performed last year as part of the Stroll. Enjoy his jazz at The Vine, where you can also order a fine Italian meal. It’s the perfect way to end a delightful evening.

6:30 to 9:30 PM
After-Stroll Gathering with the Bart Weisman Jazz Group
The Vine Restaurant
824 Main Street, Falmouth

The Bart Weisman Jazz Group features Paul McWilliams on piano with Matt Brown on bass and Bart Weisman on drums.

Bart Weisman performs with his Jazz Group, Klezmer Swing Group, Smooth Jazz Group, and Cape Cod Jazz Quartet & Trio on Cape Cod. He is the founder, executive producer & performer for the Provincetown Jazz Festival, hosts Jazz Jam Cape Cod, performs at the West End Restaurant, Bleu Restaurant, and Summer Jazz with Bart Weisman Concert Series at Provincetown Art Association and Museum. Bart is the Jazz Band director at Sturgis East and directs & performs for the Jazz in the Schools program.

The Bart Weisman Jazz Group performs “Blue Moon” at the Grand Cru in Hyannis: