TURNmusic presents January Jazz Jam, and a 12-piece orchestra at The Phoenix
January 15, 2026 | By Waterbury Roundabout Note: Resolution of issues between the building owner at 5-7 Stowe St. and the tenants, including The Phoenix are on hold awaiting action in Washington County civil court. Events at the gallery and music hall are proceeding as scheduled.
Monthly jazz jams at The Phoenix attract jazz players, singers and fans. Photo by Gordon Miler
TURNmusic invites local music lovers to two upcoming January performances at The Phoenix Gallery & Music Hall: the monthly Jazz Jam on Jan. 21, and a Jan. 24 concert on an album-release tour by Boston trombonist Michael Prentky and his 12-piece orchestra.
Jan. 21: Jazz Jam with Nina Towne
Local jazz players, singers and fans are invited to the January Jazz Jam with Nina Towne on Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m.
The popular monthly events provide an opportunity for a community of all ages – from school-age performers to elders – to gather and play, sing and hear jazz, and socialize. The lineup is loosely organized in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Players join in on the songs others bring, and/or bring a few copies of sheet music for the tunes you want to call. Many tunes are called from The Real Books. Singers, are asked to bring copies of lead sheets or sheet music for your tunes in your key.
Suggested donation: $10 at the door. All ages. BYOB.
Jan. 24: Michael Prentky’s Album Release Tour
Trombonist Michael Prentky. Courtesy photo
Boston trombonist Michael Prentky is touring the Northeast U.S. and Canada with his 12-piece orchestra, performing tunes from their debut genre-defying album, “sad boy: ADD: apocalypse.”
Waterbury is one stop on the tour during January and February that includes Montreal, Boston, Philadelphia and Providence. The orchestra includes a string quartet, four trombones, a tuba, and a rhythm section. Prentky will conduct, play trombone, sing, and recite original poetry for the performances of the entire album.
Prentky will take the opportunity to premiere new original klezmer compositions that will include teaching audiences traditional corresponding Yiddish line dancing, such as the zhouk (a.k.a. hora) and terkisher.
Six years in the making, Prentky’s album is an epic, Zappa-esque suite for small orchestra that showcases his eclectic interests: dreamy beach house guitar riffs, avant-pop orchestral strings, breakbeat klezmer, Pacific brass chorales, confessional poetry and instrumental frenzies.
Prentky’s musicianship is hailed as adventurous and all-encompassing. He’s navigated performances with rapper 50 Cent, Mozambican funk band Kina Zoré (featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts), avant-garde jazz with the Walking Cliché Sextet, and Balkan Romani music with Sarma Brass Band. Noah Schaffer at WBUR in Boston says, “The subject matter is intense, but Prentky’s music is as satisfying as it is daring.” Goldmine Magazine’s Mike Greenblatt calls Prentky’s record an “adventurous extravaganza… Frank Zappa would’ve loved it.”
For the Jan. 24 performance, doors open at 7 p.m., music at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, $15-30 on a sliding scale, are available in advance online at sevendaystickets.com or at thephoenixvt.com. The show is all ages. Under 21 are free. BYOB.