Brown Bag Concert Series: Winter 2024

Free and Open to the Public

The Brown Bag Concert Series, presented by Mechanics Hall and 90.5 FM WICN, has been a beloved tradition in Worcester since 1983. These hour-long concerts by acclaimed regional and national performers are held in the Great Hall on select Wednesdays from noon to 1pm. Bring your own “brown bag” lunch, and enjoy wonderful music while eating your lunch! Cabaret-style seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. All concerts are free, open to the public, and subject to change.

The accessible entrance to Mechanics Hall is located on Waldo Street. Elevators are located in the ground-floor lobby and provide access to the second and third floors. Please note, there is no elevator access to the balcony. All concerts take place in the Great Hall on the third floor. If you need assistance, please contact the Mechanics Hall Ticket Office, Wednesday through Friday from 11:00am-5:00pm, by calling 508-752-0888.

Whenever possible, Brown Bag Concerts are also broadcast live on WICN 90.5FM, and streamed live on WICN.org.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Tickets: Free -- Open to the Public
Time: Doors 11:30am | Show Noon
Audience: All Ages

Winter 2024 Schedule

Tomoko Iwamoto

November 13, 2024

Jazz violin and vocalist. Born and educated in Japan, Tomoko Iwamoto majored in electrical engineering at Keio University, but spent a lot of time playing jazz saxophone and singing in the R&B band. She graduated from college in 1988, and worked as an engineer in Tokyo for a year before moved to the U.S. to become a professional musician.

Winter 2024 Brown Bag Concert: Tomoko Iwamoto

Trío Búho

November 20, 2024

A Latin jazz group featuring pianist José Soto, bassist Greg Loughman, and percussionist Ricardo Guerra. Together, they have forged a new and distinctive voice, rooted both in the rhythms and songs from across Latin America and the improvisational approach of jazz. A unique and irresistible blend, rhythmically infectious, melodically appealing, and peppered with exciting and surprising complexities. Costa Rican pianist José Soto has performed internationally with artists including Luciana Souza, Chico Pinheiro, Danilo Perez, and Cheo Feliciano. Bassist Greg Loughman has performed with artists including Jerry Bergonzi, Mark Murphy, the Rhythm Future Quartet, and Danilo Perez. Cuban-American percussionist Ricardo Guerra has studied with Lazaro “Tato” Alfonso (Irakere), teaches at Belongó Afro Latin Jazz Alliance of NY, and has performed with such varied artists as George Cables, Billy Wylder, and the Boston Lyric Opera.

Winter 2024 Brown Bag Concert: Trío Búho

Myanna

December 4, 2024

Contemporary Soul/Jazz. One of the hottest and most soulful saxophonists to be based in Massachusetts, Myanna plays music that mixes together jazz improvisation with funky rhythms, expressive playing and catchy tunes. Her music, whether it is an original or a cover tune, is colorful and infectious, and she is a consistent crowd pleaser.

Winter 2024 Brown Bag Concert: Myanna

U.S. Navy Band Northeast with New England Conservatory Symphonic Winds and Chamber Singers

December 11, 2024

This annual holiday concert serves up the spirit of the season in a big way. Navy Band Northeast, a 35-musician ensemble based on board NAVSTA Newport and one of 11 official U.S. Navy bands worldwide, team with the NEC Symphonic Winds directed by Bill Drury and NEC Chamber Singers directed by Erica Washburn.

Winter 2024 Brown Bag Concert: U.S. Navy Band Northeast with New England Conservatory Symphonic Winds and Chamber Singers

Brown Bag Concert Series Sponsors

Brown Bag Concert Series Archive

Recognizing the historical significance of nearly 40 years of the Brown Bag Concert Series, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has documented the history of the series in its Jazz History Database. The database includes information from 1989-2008.

“Studio 3,” a half-hour music and interview television program featuring some of the best jazz groups in New England and beyond, was taped between 1993 and 2000 before live audiences in the studios of WGMC-TV3 or on location, including Brown Bag concerts at Mechanics Hall. All shows were produced and hosted by jazz vocalist Toni Ballard, with production support from Greater Media Cable, and aired from 1993 to 2003 on WGMC-TV3. The WPI Jazz History Database includes Studio 3 videos.

» JAZZ HISTORY DATABASE