TIm Ray Trio

We kick off the 2026 Dot Jazz Series with the Tim Ray Trio on Saturday 1/10 at 8pm. Pianist Tim Ray’s wide-ranging skills as a soloist and accompanist have afforded him the opportunity to perform with legendary artists across musical genres. He is perhaps best known as Tony Bennett’s pianist and musical director from 2016 until his retirement in 2000. He regularly performs with leading figures in the jazz world, among them Kurt Elling, Gary Burton, Esperanza Spalding, Phil Woods, Terri Lyne Carrington, Scott Hamilton, Dave Douglas, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Lewis Nash and Rufus Reid. Tim has performed in concert with an extensive list of pop music icons, notably Aretha Franklin, Lyle Lovett, Bonnie Raitt, Jane Siberry and Soul Asylum. His classical credits include solo performances and concerts with the Boston Pops, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and the Glens Falls (NY) Symphony. The concert will feature Tim’s original compositions and arrangements. He’ll be joined by a dream rhythm team: bassist John Lockwood and drummer Austin McMahon. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Students $10. $5 for EBT/WIC card holders. Kids under 18 free at the door. **Show your advance ticket for 10% off dinner (excluding alcohol) at Tavolo, around the corner at 1918 Dorchester Avenue. The Dot Jazz Series is co-produced by Mandorla Music and Greater Ashmont Main Street.

Peabody Hall, Parish of All Saints

Wintersounds: Max Ridley & Zoe Rose DePaz

The Eustis Estate and Mandorla Music invite you to enjoy an afternoon of music and camaraderie inside the mansion at our first Wintersounds concert of the season. Jazz bassist Max Ridley and singer, songwriter, and fiddle player Zoe Rose Depaz will play an intimate duo set featuring original music that draws on their diverse musical backgrounds and inventive covers of folk and Americana tunes. One of the most in-demand bassists on Boston's jazz scene, Max sings, plays, and writes music that spans many styles, and he has released several albums as a bandleader. Zoe's 2022 solo debut Garden features original songwriting that blends folk, blues, soul, and country. Your ticket (Historic New England members: $25, non-members: $35) includes admission to the museum and refreshments. Doors open at 4:00, and music starts at 5:00.

Eustis Estate

Felipe Salles Quartet

A native of São Paulo, Brazil, saxophonist, flutist and composer Felipe Salles has been a professor of Jazz and African American Music at UMass Amherst since 2010. He has performed and recorded with prominent jazz artists, including Randy Brecker, Paquito D’Rivera, David Liebman, Melissa Aldana, Lionel Loueke, Jerry Bergonzi and many more. He has toured extensively in Europe, North and South America, India, and Australia, as a sideman and as a leader of his own group.. His arrangements and compositions have been performed by some of the top groups in the world including The Metropole Orchestra, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Amazonas Band, Helsinki Philharmonic Violas, Meta4 String Quartet, Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra, Manhattan School of Music Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra, New England Conservatory Jazz Orchestra, and New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble, among others. For this concert, he’ll be joined by pianist Nando Michelin, bassist Keala Maumeheiwa and drummer Bertrem Lehmann to perform music from his most recent recording, Camera Obscura, released on the Tapestry label in June 2025. “Camera Obscura does not dazzle with spectacle. It seduces with shadows, with carefully chosen silences, with the slow unfurling of a vision that refuses to conform to immediacy. In a world saturated with speed and surface, Felipe Salles reminds us that depth takes time, and that sometimes, the clearest truths appear not in the light, but in the half-light, where imagination and memory meet." - Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move, June 1, 2025. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Students $10. $5 for EBT/WIC card holders. Kids under 18 free at the door. **Show your advance ticket for 10% off dinner (excluding alcohol) at Tavolo, around the corner at 1918 Dorchester Avenue . The Dot Jazz Series is co-produced by Mandorla Music and Greater Ashmont Main Street.

Zambra Collective

The December 6th Dot Jazz Series concert features Zambra. Zambra (from the Arabic word for "gathering") is a unique collaboration of global artists from Andalusia, NYC, Atlanta, Catalonia, and Tehran. Zambra creates imaginative arrangements that bridge flamenco, Persian classical, Indian, Catalonian, and jazz traditions. Through original compositions and traditional melodies, the quintet celebrates cultural connection, innovation, sisterhood, and the art of improvisation. Devon Gates (bass, vocals) Queralt Giralt Soler (cello, vocals) Ria Modak (guitar, vocals) Ángela Varo Moreno (violin, vocals) Bahar Badiei (oud, vocals) The quintet's members have been mentored by world-class musicians including Joe Lovano, Linda May Han Oh, Terri Lyne Carrington, Vijay Iyer, Danilo Pérez, Javier Limón, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade. Their collaboration emerged from the interconnected communities of Harvard University, New England Conservatory, Brown University, and Berklee College of Music—particularly its Global Jazz Institute and Jazz and Gender Institute. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Students $10. $5 for EBT/WIC card holders. Kids under 18 free at the door. **Show your advance ticket for 10% off dinner (excluding alcohol) at Tavolo, around the corner at 1918 Dorchester Avenue. The Dot Jazz Series is co-produced by Mandorla Music and Greater Ashmont Main Street.

Peabody Hall at the Parish of All Saints

Kim Perlak & Francisco Mela

The Eustis Estate and Mandorla Music invite you to a series of intimate Sunday afternoon concerts in the mansion. Your ticket includes admission to the museum and refreshments. The duo of Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela connects the sounds of modern classical guitar and avant-garde percussion. Their original works and spontaneous composition feature modern, impressionistic, lyrical guitar playing, and a full range of imaginative textures from the drumset. Through this new music, and an open spirit, the duo invites listeners to become a part of each performance in spirit through their active listening presence. The Perlak/Mela Duo was founded at Berklee College of Music in the summer of 2024, where Kim serves as Chair of Guitar, and Francisco serves as professor of Percussion. Historic New England members $25,&nbsp;Nonmembers $35.&nbsp; Doors at 4:00 and concert at 5:00.

The Mandorla Collective Celebrates George Russell

Together with musical directors Rick McLaughlin and Jesse Taitt, we are thrilled to announce the launch of The Mandorla Collective. Each year, a select ensemble of top Boston-based musicians will celebrate the music of a figure central to Boston jazz history whose influence continues to reverberate.&nbsp; Launching this project is an exciting next step in Mandorla Music’s evolution. Since 2013, we’ve been shining a light on the extraordinarily rich and diverse jazz scene of today’s Boston. Working with Rick and Jesse to pay homage to those who’ve come before is a deep honor. On Sunday, November 9th, in Peabody Hall at Dorchester’s Parish of All Saints, The Mandorla Collective’s debut performance will feature a celebration of the music of the late George Russell.&nbsp; Personnel for this performance will be: Allan Chase - saxophones Peter Kenagy - trumpet Randy Pingrey - trombone Amaury Cabral - guitar Liz Sinn - piano Rick McLaughlin - bass Brooke Sofferman - drums $50 - Mandorla Collective Founder $20 - advance general admission ($25 at the door) $10 - college students $5 - EBT/WEC cardholders Kids free To help raise funds to support this ambitious new project, we're offering a special Mandorla Collective Founder ticket option, which includes a pre-concert reception. Come learn more about this new project from Mandorla Music founder Mark Redmond, Mandorla Collective Music Directors Rick McLaughlin and Jesse Taitt, and 2025 Collective members as available. **Show your advance ticket for 10% off dinner (excluding alcohol) at Tavolo, around the corner at 1918 Dorchester Avenue. Peabody Hall is wheelchair accessible, and accessible restrooms are available.

Jorrit Dijkstra's BLINK

Saxophonist Jorrit Dijkstra’s new group BLINK is an avant-garde jazz/improv group that grew out of his Porch Trio, formed for Quincy Porch Fest in 2016. Porch Trio bassist Nate McBride and drummer Eric Rosenthal are joined by two electric guitarists, Boston jazz veteran Eric Hofbauer and young talent Gabe Boyarin. &nbsp; The group draws from various traditions in free jazz and improvised music, and the use of analog electronics and a vintage electric bass gives the band a grungy, experimental rock and noise edge. The band uses a microtonal tuning system between the instruments, which gives it a mesmerizing and dreamy sound, inspired by classic African High Life bands, Indonesian Gamelan and delta blues guitar players. Dijkstra’s compositions are full of collective melodic and multi-rhythmic layerings, and form a springboard for open improvisations. &nbsp; Born in the Netherlands in 1966, Jorrit moved to the United States in 2002. He works as a composer and is a Professor at Berklee College of Music and a faculty member of the New England Conservatory in Boston. His composition and playing draw from the jazz tradition in spirit and sound, but has crossed stylistic and cultural borders in order to express a strong, evolving personal vision. He spent his formative years in Amsterdam’s vibrant improvisation community playing jazz, free improvisation, and world music. Since moving to the United States in 2002, Dijkstra has deepened his affinity with the experimental forces of American music, while staying in touch with his Dutch musical roots. &nbsp; This concert is presented with generous support from the Quincy Arts Council. &nbsp; Q Arts Gallery is located a very short walk from Quincy Center station on the Red Line. Street parking is free on Sundays. &nbsp; $15 in advance, $20 at the door. $10 for students. $5 for EBT/WIC cardholders. Free for kids under 18.

QArts Gallery

Andrew Stern & John Lockwood at the Eustis Estate

The Eustis Estate and Mandorla Music invite you to a series of intimate Sunday afternoon concerts in the mansion. Our October 12th concert features a pair of top Boston instrumentalists, guitarist Andrew Stern and bassist John Lockwood. In any given week, Andrew Stern can be found playing in a very wide range of musical situations, lending his inventive guitar sound to jazz, Americana, rock, and beyond. His most recent release is Lonely Hunter, a solo guitar album featuring original compositions and interpretations of works by such diverse musical voices as Hank Williams, Neil Young, Miles Davis and Duke Ellington. John Lockwood is one of Boston’s most in-demand bass players, best known for holding down the low end for local free jazz legends The Fringe for over 40 years. In addition to a busy schedule on the Boston scene, he’s toured with major jazz figures and performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, and MIT Symphony. Andrew and John have performed together in duo and trio formats over the past 10 years. Traversing Monk to Mingus, Beatles to Beach Boys, they enjoy a unique, in-the-moment rapport that inevitably leads to lively musical adventure. Your ticket (Historic New England members: $25, non-members: $35) includes admission to the museum and refreshments. Doors open at 4:00, and music starts at 5:00.

The After Times at the Dot Jazz Series

During COVID lockdown, childhood friends Josiah Reibstein (bass), Malcolm Campbell (piano) and Joe Musacchia (drums) frequently met to play music&nbsp;in each other's yards. What started as a loose session for stretching out on jazz standards turned into a workshop for original music. As The After Times, they released their debut recording <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4XusyOqvVBVFg4mpyDT5ZM?si=UCDlN7GnSJWkYZ5D95lrbA">'The Feather Room'</a> earlier this year. We're looking forward to having them in Peabody Hall next Thursday!&nbsp; There’s free parking at the venue, which is located just around the corner from the Ashmont/Peabody Square Red Line station. Make an evening of it! Show your advance ticket for 10% off dinner (excluding alcohol) at the wonderful <a href="https://tavolodotave.com/">Tavolo</a>, around the corner at 1918 Dorchester Avenue. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Students $10. $5 for EBT/WIC card holders. As always, kids under are 18 free. <a href="https://events.humanitix.com/the-after-times">TIX HERE</a> The Dot Jazz Series is co-produced by Mandorla Music and Greater Ashmont Main Street.

Clear Audience outdoors at the Eustis Estate

Join us for summer concerts on the expansive lawn of Historic New England's Eustis Estate! Bring a picnic and enjoy music as the sun sets. Clear Audience is made up of four ubiquitous players on the Boston jazz scene: Steve Fell (guitar), Andy Voelker (saxophones), Jef Charland (bass) &amp; Luther Gray (drums). Individually, all four perform in a variety of contexts in Boston and beyond. Happily for us, they've been exploring the unique musical synergy they find together for many years. They play original music by all four members. Their four self-released albums (most recently 2021's 'Front Row Seat') demonstrate a "beautiful sound and full-on adventure" (Jon Garelick, Boston Globe) that's even better live. Historic New England members $10; Nonmember $20; Card to Culture $2. Tickets will also be available in person on the night of the concert. Please call (617) 994-6600 for more information. Alcohol is not permitted. Please bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. Dogs on leashes are welcome. For Card to Culture tickets, EBT/SNAP/WIC card must be presented at check in. In the event of rain, the concert will be canceled or rescheduled

Sam Spear Quintet

The 2025-2026 Dot Jazz Series kicks off on Saturday September 6th with a concert by the Sam Spear Quintet: Sam Spear - alto sax Andy Voelker - tenor sax Brian Friedland - keys Mark Poniatowski - bass Gen Yoshimura - drums The Sam Spear Quintet delivers hard-hitting bop, soulful swing, and blistering ballads. Composed of two saxes, piano, bass, and drums, SSQ performs an eclectic mix of original tunes and cleverly crafted arrangements of jazz standards. The group is showcased on Spear's debut album First Pitch (2024), available on Bandcamp and major streaming platforms. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Students $10. $5 for EBT/WIC card holders. Kids under 18 free at the door. **Show your advance ticket for 10% off dinner (excluding alcohol) at Tavolo, around the corner at 1918 Dorchester Avenue. The Dot Jazz Series is co-produced by Mandorla Music and Greater Ashmont Main Street.

David Chesnut Jazz Festival

Historic New England and Mandorla Music present the third annual David Chesnut Jazz Festival at the Eustis Estate. The outdoor festival features a range of jazz styles performed by an eclectic group of musicians from Greater Boston and beyond: Caio e Jess, the Ana Petrova Organ Trio, Taylor Ho Bynum’s Nextette, and the Gregory Groover Quartet. $30 General Admission; Historic New England Members $20; EBT/SNAP/WIC cardholders $10 (Card to Culture); children free. For Card to Culture tickets, EBT/SNAP/WIC card must be presented at check in. Doors open at 2pm. Music 3-7pm. Set times to be announced. Bring your own chairs and blankets for lawn seating. Festival is outdoors so dress appropriately for the weather. Event is rain or shine. Food and beverages from Roundhead Brewing Co and North East of the Border will be available for purchase. Outside alcohol is not permitted. About the festival’s name: David Chesnut was a coachman and chauffeur who worked at the Eustis Estate from the 1890s until 1905. He had a lifelong passion for music as both a performer and connoisseur, and he was active in the community. The David Chesnut Jazz Festival is helping tell a more inclusive story about the people who were part of the Eustis Estate, while celebrating the power of art and community. Sponsored by the Milton Cultural Council and Playa Bowls. Support provided by Busy Bee Jumpers.

Eustis Estate Museum

Camila Cortina Bello Trio

Bring a picnic to the Eustis Estate lawn and enjoy music as the sun sets! This concert features pianist Camila Cortina Bello, along with Gerson Lazo Quiroga on electric bass and Ivanna Cuesta González on drums. Camila is a Cuban-born pianist, composer, educator, and musicologist whose music is a reflection of her roots, her travels, and the stories she carries with her. $20, $10 for Historic New England Members, $2 EBT/WIC, free for kids . Purchase tickets in advance or at the door. Alcohol is not permitted. Please bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. Dogs on leashes are welcome. In the event of rain, the concert will be canceled or rescheduled.

Albino Mbie

Join us for summer concerts on the expansive lawn of the Eustis Estate, presented with Mandorla Music. Bring a picnic and enjoy music as the sun sets. Guitarist, singer, composer and songwriter Albino Mbie, born in Mozambique, was drawn to the sounds of neighborhood street musicians; he built his first guitar from a 5-liter oilcan, scrap wood, and strings made out of electrical cords. After studying music education and performance at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, he moved to Boston in 2009, one of the first students to receive a full scholarship to Berklee through the African Scholars program. Albino incorporates his musical experiences from Mozambique, the U.S., and many other places around the world, combining rhythmic patterns and musical concepts to create a unique Afro-Pop and Moz-Jazz sound. Members $10; Nonmember $20; EBT Card for Culture $2. Log in or Join now to have your discount applied at checkout. Tickets will also be available in person on the night of the concert. Please call 617-994-6600 for more information. Alcohol is not permitted. Please bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. Dogs on leashes are welcome. In the event of rain, the concert will be canceled or rescheduled.

Jared Sims Quartet

Rescheduled from Feb 2025, cancelled due to weather. Saxophone and flute player Jared Sims (credits include Duochrome, Hellbender, Dead Cat Bounce, Miracle Orchestra etc), is recently back in Boston after some years away, and we're glad to present one of his newer projects, this quartet featuring Rebecca Cline on piano, Fernando Huergo on bass and Gen Yoshimura on drums. Expect upbeat and funky original music infused with Latin rhythms. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Students / fixed income $10, kids under 18 free. Show your advance ticket for 10% off dinner (excluding alcohol) at the wonderful Tavolo, around the corner at 1918 Dorchester Avenue. The Dot Jazz Series is co-produced by Mandorla Music and Greater Ashmont Main Street.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Where

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Experiences