The River Room - Willimantic

08/28/2026

THIS SATURDAY at 7:30pm!

A Vocalist at Home in Every Style and a Sought-After Trombonist: From the World Stage to WILLIMANTIC!

Here’s a glimpse of what awaits Saturday night at The River Room: Abena Koomson-Davis and the Steve Davis Quintet performing the jazz standard “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise.”

Abena’s remarkable versatility shines in every setting—from soulful, expressive vocals to adventurous jazz improvisation. Paired with Steve Davis, one of today’s most sought-after jazz trombonists, the result is live music with power, spontaneity, and real edge-of-your-seat energy.

A former member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Davis has performed and recorded with such giants as Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard - Blue Note Records, Ron Carter, and Hank Jones. This Saturday, he brings that world-class sound to Willimantic—joined by Abena and an exceptional quintet.

Joining the band will be:

Jonathan Barber - drums
Matt Dwonszyk - bass
Matthew DeChamplain - piano

Saturday, August 29 at The River Room
Doors: 6:30 PM | Show: 7:30 PM
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1996117550327?aff=oddtdtcreator



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtH8vQUBJO4

Steve Davis Quintet featuring Abena Koomson-Davis: Softly, As In A ...

08/25/2026

🎺 This Saturday at The River Room: the The Steve Davis Quintet ft. Abena Koomson-Davis!

Get a taste of the soulful, straight-ahead swing coming your way in this clip—then join us live for an unforgettable evening with one of today’s most celebrated trombonists, a world-class vocalist, and an all-star jazz ensemble!

📅 Saturday, August 29
🕢 Show at 7:30 PM | Doors at 6:30 PM
📍 The River Room, Willimantic
🎟️ Tickets available now—don’t wait!

TICKET LINK: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1996117550327?aff=oddtdtcreator

Steve Davis Matt Dwonszyk Eastern Connecticut State University CT Office of the Arts (COA) Cultural Coalition- Culturesect The Hartford Jazz Society Hartford Courant Willimantic Chronicle Willimantic's 3rd Thursday Street Fest Downtown Willimantic, Connecticut Chris Beaudry Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce Windham Regional Arts Council Windham Region Chamber of Commerce Quiet Corner Buzz

https://youtu.be/MBYkBVI1q4w?si=moOgtkmrG4qPvTcR&t=28

Studio Recording of "Easy" at Van Gelder StudioMusic by Steve Davi...

08/13/2026

🤯 Jazz GIANTS are coming to The River Room this Saturday!

The Randy Ingram Trio will be joined by TWO world-renowned legends: bassist RUFUS REID and drummer JOE LABARBERA.

You may know Joe from his celebrated work with jazz piano pioneer Bill Evans, superstar Tony Bennett, and icons including Woody Herman, Chuck Mangione, Jim Hall, and Art Pepper. He was also a member of Bill Evans’s final trio.

Tickets are still available—but not for long—at riverroomwilli.com.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience historic jazz GIANTS live and in person with the Randy Ingram Trio this Saturday at The River Room!

EVENT PAGE: Randy Ingram Trio ft. Rufus Reid

Hartford Courant The Hartford Jazz Society WFSB - Channel 3 Eyewitness News UConn Music Eastern Connecticut State University Windham Regional Arts Council Romantic Willimantic Annual Chocolate Festival Willimantic's 3rd Thursday Street Fest Chris Beaudry Quiet Corner Buzz

08/12/2026

Join us TONIGHT (Wednesday, August 12th at 6:30pm) at the Shaboo Stage at Jillson Park for the Grand Finale FREE Concert featuring Shaded Soul Band presented by the Leo J. and Rose Pageau Trust!

Bring a lawn chair, picnic basket, and the family for a fun night of live music, games, and perfect weather!

See you there, Willimantic!

08/12/2026

🔥🎸🎶FROM LAST NIGHT'S SHOW:

A little taste of the masterful guitar stylings of UK guitar sensation, The James Oliver band!

08/02/2026

🎸“He can play, literally, anything in any style,”…
..and he’s coming all the way from the U.K. For a very rare and special performance in Willimantic, CT on Tuesday, August 11th!

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness James Oliver band’s genre-bending performance featuring “high-energy blends of early rock ‘n roll, rhythm and blues and rockabilly, with some surf music and terrific originals thrown in for good measure!”

Tickets available now at https://riverroomwilli.com

WILLIMANTIC — A musician from the UK will be traveling to the US for his fourth tour next month and will be visiting Willimantic for a special concert.

07/30/2026

📢 EXTRA, EXTRA! Read All About It!

TICKETS 👉 https://riverroomwilli.com

🎹 World-Renown Jazz Talent Comes To Willimantic:
This Friday and Saturday, 7.31 & 8.1!

, CONNECTICUT - Grammy Award-Winning Pianist Zaccai Curtis leads an all-star trio with Luques Curtis & Richie Barshay for TWO unforgettable nights of world-class jazz this weekend in Willimantic!

Curtis Brings His "Super Trio" Featuring Luques Curtis (bass) & Richie Barshay (drums)

Fresh off winning the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for Cubop Lives, pianist, composer, and bandleader Zaccai Curtis has established himself as one of today's most exciting voices in jazz. A Connecticut native and graduate of the Jackie McLean Artists Collective and New England Conservatory, Curtis has performed with jazz legends including Cindy Blackman-Santana, Brian Lynch, Donald Harrison, Jerry González, Wallace Roney, Ray Vega, Papo Vázquez, and many more. He is also the founder of Truth Revolution Records, the acclaimed independent label behind numerous Grammy-recognized recordings.

Joining Zaccai is his brother, Luques Curtis, one of the most celebrated bassists of his generation. A 2025 Grammy Award winner and DownBeat Rising Star Bassist, Luques has appeared on more than 100 recordings and has performed with an extraordinary list of artists including Eddie Palmieri, Gary Burton, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Stefon Harris, Sean Jones, Orrin Evans, Christian Sands, Ralph Peterson, and Donald Harrison. His remarkable versatility and deep musicality have made him one of the most sought-after bassists in contemporary jazz and Afro-Caribbean music.

Completing the trio is internationally acclaimed drummer Richie Barshay, whose résumé reads like a who's who of modern jazz. Barshay has toured and recorded with Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding, Fred Hersch, Kenny Werner, Bobby McFerrin, Joe Lovano, Lee Konitz, Julian Lage, Natalie Merchant, and many more. A veteran of performances on five continents and featured on over 100 recordings, DownBeat has called him "a major rhythm voice on the rise," while The Guardian praised him as "a major innovator who also knows how to have fun."

Together, these three master musicians bring breathtaking virtuosity, infectious rhythms, and fearless improvisation to the stage. Blending straight-ahead jazz, Afro-Caribbean traditions, and modern creativity, the Zaccai Curtis Trio delivers performances that are both deeply rooted and thrillingly contemporary.

07/30/2026

Take Me To The River Room - Willimantic!

Our Summer 2026 Season is in FULL GEAR and we know you'll enjoy a show (or two, or three!) of the best live music, dance nights, documentary films, open mics and more!

See what's coming up next at https://riverroomwilli.com 😃