Jeff McGill Quartet RETURNS LIVE! Third Thursdays JazZ At La Zingara Bethel CT

La Zingara Ristorante, 8 PT Barnum Square, Bethel, CT,

Seating at 6:30, jazz from 7 to 9

Tickets $15 at Eventbrite

$20 at the door. Dinner and drinks a la carte

Meet The Group:

Jeff McGill - Pianist

With more than 30 years of experience in the music industry, Jeff McGill’s career has included work as a pianist, composer, arranger and music educator.  

Since 1985, the Jeff McGill Group has performed pieces that span a number of jazz styles, from swing and be-bop, to Latin, contemporary, fusion, and the blues.  The group has appeared in concerts and jazz clubs throughout the region, including Birdland in New York City, CitiCenter Festival of the Arts in Danbury, Hartford International Jazz Festival, Ives Concert Park in Danbury, New Haven Jazz Festival, Palace Theater in New Haven, and Rich Forum in Stamford.  Mr. McGill has also made festival appearances on programs that featured such well-known artists as Chick Corea, the Artie Shaw Orchestra, Herbie Mann, and Pieces of a Dream.  

Originally from Stony Brook, New York, and now a resident of Newtown, CT, Jeff graduated from St. Lawrence University, studied jazz at the Crane School of Music, Berklee College of Music and with legendary jazz pianists and educators Charlie Banacas and Andy Laverne. He was a member of the faculty at the Gunnery in Washington, CT, where he became chairman of the Arts Department and developed the music curriculum.  In 1993 he co-founded the Music Learning Center where he serves as director while teaching jazz piano, ensembles, and working with students and instructors alike on the use of technology in music education.

Guest, Ken Gioffre - saxophone

Saxophonist Ken Gioffre has recorded for the Sony, Universal, Blue Note-Manhattan, MCA, Dennon, and Sire labels.  He has also performed and recorded for the ABC, NBC, CBS, A&E, HBO, ESPN, and BET television networks.  Mr. Gioffre appeared nightly on the television show New York at Night and has also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC’s Today Show, HBO’s The Sopranos, A &E’s Breakfast With The Arts, Fox News’ Fox and Friends, Sinbad’s Soul Music Festival as well as the movie Last Holiday starring Queen Latifa.

In addition to his national and international tour experience, he has performed or recorded with Nancy Wilson, B. B. King, Dianne Reeves, Tito Puente, Mose Allison, Ruth Brown, The Temptations, Cab Calloway, Dr. John, Michael Bolton, Queen Latifa, Lou Rawles, Martha Reeves, Donny Osmond, Jimmy Webb, Buddy Guy, Ben E. King, The Wynans, Kid Creole, Toots Thielmans, Dave Kozz, Eddie Money, KC and the Sunshine Band, John Pattitucci, Will Lee, Randy Brecker and many, many others.

Mr. Gioffre currently tours and records as saxophonist for Smokey Robinson.

Tom Devino - Drums

Tom Devino is a graduate of Western Ct. State University where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion. He has toured extensively in the United States and Europe including performances at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, The Hartford Jazz Festival, Mohegan Sun Arena, The Mohegan Sun Cabaret and Wolf’s Den, Foxwoods Casino, and in New York City at 7th Avenue South and The Bottom Line. Tom can be heard on Recordings by Cindy Bullens, Michael Fisher, Martin Jude, The Brain Forest, and The Bill Cofrances Jazz Quartet. He has performed with Clark Terry, Lou Marini, Warren Chasson, Chris Brubeck, Don Trenner, Lucky Peterson, and Jacomo Gates to name a few. . His film work includes soundtracks from “Desperate Hours” and “White Lies”. Currently residing in Connecticut, Tom can be heard performing with many of the area’s great Jazz ensembles including The Harold Zinno Jazz Orchestra, The Bill Cofrances Jazz Quartet, The Ken Nigro Nonet, The Jeff McGill Quartet, The Don Trenner Trio and his own Tom Devino Jazz Quartet

Lou Pappas - double bass

Lou Pappas’ career encompasses both Jazz and Classical music. Originally from Colorado, his first classical performing experience came with the Colorado Springs Symphony, at the same time working with visiting jazz and popular artists such as Jay McShann, Tom Scott, composer Patrick Williams and Phil Urso.  After three years with the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra, he moved to New York to accept the position as bassist with the United States Military Academy Band at West Point.  As a member of the “Jazz Knights”, he has performed at jazz festivals in New York City, Atlanta, Denver and Seattle, with guest artists including Byron Stripling, Claire Fischer, Randy Brecker, James Williams and fellow bassist John Clayton.  He is also a member of the Greater Newburgh Symphony, the Bergen Philharmonic in Teaneck, NJ, and has played with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic , Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, Westchester Philharmonic and the Chappaqua Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Pappas is presently the Adjunct Artist Instructor of Double Bass at Vassar College.