The John Brighenti Trio performing the music of Rodgers and Hart

Program Type:

Performances

Age Group:

Adults
  • Registration is required for this event.
  • Registration will open on May 13, 2026 @ 9:00am.

Event Details

Composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart collaborated on over 500 songs for stage and screen in the 1920s until Hart's death in 1943. Their Broadway musicals were highly regarded, and their works became standards by cabaret and jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald.

John Brighenti (piano) is a native of Connecticut born in New Britain. He is a 1967 graduate of the Hartt College of Music of the University of Hartford where he received a Bachelor of Music Education with a minor in both classical piano and music theory. John’s professional experiences as a pianist include performing with numerous orchestras, lounge groups, jazz ensembles and vocalists in the New England States, Atlanta, Phoenix, Las Vegas and cruise ships.  His weekly appearances and monthly Jazz Nights at Vito's Wethersfield are "legend." He performs twice a month at Mohegan Sun Casino in the Grand Lobby and at Todd English's Tuscany Restaurant. In addition to performing, John finds great satisfaction in his role as a teacher of piano and music theory. Read more at https://www.johnbrighenti.com/.

Jeff Taylor (saxophone) graduated with Bachelor of Music degree (cum laude) from the University of Connecticut in 1983. He spent seven years “on the road” with The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, playing lead alto sax and clarinet throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Jeff started subbing with the Hartford Jazz Orchestra in the mid 1980s. He played bari with the ensemble from 2002 to 2005ish, tenor from 2015 to 2020 and presently plays lead alto! He has taught in privately, in group woodwind instruction, and at summer jazz camps. He has presented clinics and has adjudicated middle and high school regional and All-State festivals for over 30 years.

David Chevan (bass) is a bassist, composer, and educator whose creative work bridges jazz with African American and Jewish musical traditions. He co-leads The Afro-Semitic Experience, directs the Nu Haven Kapelye—Connecticut’s largest klezmer orchestra—and leads Bassology, his swinging jazz ensemble. His compositions range from liturgical jazz pieces to big band and klezmer works, all rooted in a deep commitment to cultural dialogue and community connection. A longtime advocate for music education, David has served on the board of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation for over 25 years.