WestConn Jazz Fest Returns To Danbury With 3-Day Lineup, Headliner Announced

DANBURY, CT — Western Connecticut State University will host its 29th Annual Jazz Fest in Danbury later this month, featuring a three-day lineup of performances at its Westside campus and the Emmet Cohen Trio set to headline.

The festival is scheduled for April 30 through May 2 at the university’s Visual and Performing Arts Center on 43 Lake Avenue Extension.

The events are open to the public, and advance tickets are available through the university’s site.

The festival will begin April 30, with WCSU jazz ensembles, vocal jazz and student combos from 7 to 9 p.m.

On Friday, vibraphonist Steve Nelson will perform with the WCSU Jazz Orchestra beginning at 7 p.m. Nelson has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival, according to event organizers.

The festival will close Saturday with a 7 p.m. performance by the Emmet Cohen Trio. Cohen, a pianist and composer, has gained national recognition and has performed internationally, organizers said.

Advance tickets for most performances are priced around $15 to $20, with higher prices at the door depending on the event. Tickets are available online through the university’s event page.