Branford College Tea: The Cookers Jazz Ensemble

This Friday, April 10th, from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the Branford Common Room, Branford will host a special College Tea co-sponsored by the Yale School of Music, the Schwarzman Center, and the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science.  The event will feature a conversation with three members of The Cookers, the legendary all-star jazz ensemble, whose recent decision to cancel appearances at the Kennedy Center attracted national attention. See Here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/arts/kennedy-center-new-years-eve-concerts-canceled.html. 

Join David Weiss, George Cables, and Eddie Henderson for a conversation and Q&A led by Branford student Matthew Verich, ‘26.  Long celebrated as some of the most distinguished figures in contemporary jazz, these musicians bring decades of experience not only as performers, but also as artists deeply engaged with the cultural and public dimensions of their work.  This timely discussion will explore jazz, activism, artistic responsibility, and the role of music in public life, while also inviting reflection on the relationship between artists, institutions, and principles.  Whether you are interested in jazz history, politics, and culture, this is a rare opportunity to engage with living jazz legends in an intimate Branford setting.