Let the Music Happen: Belmont/Kurtz Jazz Quartet

Closing out February and setting the stage for brighter days, The Belmont-Kurtz Jazz Quartet will beat the blues away and make you feel happy. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show goes on at 7:00 p.m. in this cool venue. The galleries will be open before and after the performance.

The Belmont-Kurtz Jazz Quartet has been performing in venues in the Pioneer Valley for 15 years. Their music features jazz standards and music from Cuba and Brazil. Their approach to music has evolved over the years and includes elements of R&B, gospel, and funk.

Dan Belmont plays piano and keyboards. He moved to the Valley in 2002 from New York City. In New York, he worked as the musical director of the Castillo Theater for 10 years. Among his musical involvements and projects are the funk group, Free Range Cats, the reggae group, The Alchemists, and the Rock Voices Choir.

Steve Kurtz plays tenor and soprano saxophones. He and his brother Alan grew up in Southern New Jersey. His musical involvements have included working in jazz, funk, R & B, Brazilian and Afro Latin groups. He is the saxophonist for the No No’s, a local R&B/Funk/Rock group. He has had a life-long interest in Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music.

Alan Kurtz is a drummer and percussionist. He is comfortable and fluent in many styles and eras of music and is involved in several musical projects. He is the drummer in the Doug Hewitt Group and Dad, Come Home!, and plays percussion with the No Nos, Same Old Blues, and The Cat’s Pajamas.

Zach Scoble plays acoustic and electric bass. He is involved in a number of musical projects including local progressive rock band Hot Dirt, experimental rock pop-funk band The Leafies You Gave Me, acoustic pop band Mad Habits, and the tango swing and world music band Les Boulevardiers.