Wilton Library is excited to present the first annual Wilton JazzFest on Friday, Aug. 28 and Saturday, Aug. 29, in Wilton, featuring an all-star lineup of outstanding world-class jazz artists. Leading his quintet, Paquito D’Rivera, a 16-time Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning, Cuban–born saxophonist, clarinetist and composer, will headline the festival.
Wilton JazzFest kicks off on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m., when Grammy-winning pianist Taylor Eigsti performs with special guests in the Brubeck Room at Wilton Library. The live music continues on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Schenck’s Island in Wilton, where acclaimed trumpeter Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings take the stage at 12 p.m. The world-renowned Brubeck Brothers Quartet, led by Chris and Dan Brubeck, will perform next at 1:45 p.m. The Paquito D’Rivera Quintet takes the stage at 3:30 p.m. Paquito is celebrated for bridging the worlds of jazz, Latin music and classical repertoire.
We are thrilled to announce that our host for both days of Wilton JazzFest is Mark Ruffin, on-air host for SiriusXM’s Real Jazz channel.
Wilton JazzFest is sponsored by ASML. The festival is free and open to the public; advance registration is required for Taylor Eigsti’s Aug. 28 concert at Wilton Library due to limited seating. Registration opens for the Taylor Eigsti event on Friday, July 31 at 10 a.m. on the Wilton Library website.
On Saturday, Aug. 29, the festival at Schenck’s Island is open to all ages; no registration is required; seating is first come, first served. The event begins at 11 a.m. Food, drink and merchandise vendors will be available at Schenck’s Island. Lawn chairs, blankets and coolers are allowed on the festival grounds. There is no rain date. If inclement weather prevents outdoor performances, all Saturday concerts will take place at the Clune Center for the Arts at Wilton High School.
Schedule
The 2026 Wilton JazzFest schedule is as follows:
Taylor Eigsti
Friday, Aug. 28
7 p.m. at Wilton Library
Advance registration required. Registration opens on Friday, July 31 at 10 a.m.
Taylor Eigsti is a two-time Grammy Award-winning, NYC-based pianist and composer who began his career as a child prodigy in Menlo Park, CA. Dave Brubeck discovered Eigsti and started playing the then-11-year-old brilliant pianist. Over his prolific career, Eigsti has released nine albums as a bandleader — including his consecutive Grammy-winning records Tree Falls (2021) and Plot Armor (2024) — and appeared on over 80 albums as a sideman. In addition to earning four individual Grammy nominations and contributing to the Grammy-winning Miles Ahead soundtrack, Eigsti was named the 2024 “Pianist of the Year” Rising Star by Downbeat Magazine and has performed, toured or recorded with an extensive roster of legendary artists across multiple genres including Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Joshua Redman, Esperanza Spalding, McCoy Tyner, Christian McBride, Sting, John Mayer and Snarky Puppy.
Advance registration is required for this event due to limited seating. Registration opens on Friday, July 31 at 10 a.m. online or call 203.762.6334.
Paquito D’Rivera Quintet
Saturday, Aug. 29
3:30 p.m. at Schenck’s Island
Paquito D’Rivera is a 16-time Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning, Cuban-born saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and author who began his musical training at age five as a child prodigy. Over his distinguished career, he has seamlessly bridged jazz, Latin and classical music, co-founding groundbreaking ensembles like Cuba’s Irakere and Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nation Orchestra, while also releasing over 40 solo albums and recently reuniting with Chucho Valdés for the Grammy-winning “I Missed You Too!” (2022). In addition to performing as a classical soloist with prestigious orchestras and receiving commissions from the Kennedy Center, D’Rivera is an NEA Jazz Master, National Medal of the Arts recipient, and a prolific author whose extensive contributions establish him as a global ambassador for artistic freedom and intercultural exchange.
Brubeck Brothers Quartet
Saturday, Aug. 29
1:45 p.m. at Schenck’s Island
Chris and Dan Brubeck have been making music together for nearly 60 years, establishing a deep rhythmic foundation as the respective drummer and bassist/trombonist/composer of the dynamic Brubeck Brothers Quartet. Along with guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb, the versatile quartet seamlessly integrates funk, blues and world music into their straight-ahead jazz style, frequently masterfully exploring odd time signatures across major North American and European festivals such as Newport, Montreal and Monterey. In addition to performing with their legendary father, Dave Brubeck, and releasing hit albums like the critically acclaimed LifeTimes, the group frequently collaborates with major international orchestras and chamber groups — including the Russian National Orchestra and members of the Philadelphia Orchestra — using Chris Brubeck’s compositions as a vehicle for cross-genre musical exploration.
Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings
Saturday, Aug. 29
12 p.m. at Schenck’s Island
Trumpeter Alphonso Horne is a highly acclaimed musician whom jazz icon Wynton Marsalis named as one of the rising stars of the next generation. A winner of the 2010 National Trumpet Competition, Horne has toured and subbed with prestigious ensembles like the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the Count Basie Orchestra, while also performing at premier global venues and festivals, including Monterey, Montreal and Umbria. His versatile career spans collaborations with diverse artists ranging from Marcus Roberts and Rhiannon Giddens to Rihanna, and includes performances in Tony Award-winning Broadway productions like After Midnight and Shuffle Along, as well as an appearance in the jazz biopic Bolden.
Mark Ruffin, Host
Mark Ruffin is a broadcaster, producer and writer who has been program director/on-air host for SiriusXM’s Real Jazz channel since 2007. He has won the regional Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards two times and has been nominated for a Grammy Award. Ruffin received both the Jazz Journalists Association’s Career Excellence in Broadcasting Award and the Duke Dubois Humanitarian Award from Jazz Week in 2017. Ruffin is also on the board of jurors for the Peabody Awards.
Participating vendors include:
- Cousin’s Maine Lobster
- Jeff’s BBQ & Catering
- JJB Wood Fire Pizza
- Mister Softee
- Sly Bandit Brewing Company
To view the Wilton JazzFest lineup and find out more information, including travel and parking information, visit the Wilton Library JazzFest webpage.
About Wilton Library
For more than 131 years, Wilton Library has served as the cultural and intellectual center of Wilton with the mission to inform, enrich, connect, and inspire our community. Wilton Library is honored to be recognized with state and national awards. The library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in the heart of Wilton Center. For more information, visit the Wilton Library online or call 203.762.3950.
