The Village of Stony Brook will soon be alive with the sounds of jazz, thanks to the Swing Into Spring Festival.

The small village is slowly becoming Long Island’s music mecca that is recognized by nationally recognized musicians says Tom Manuel, the executive director of the Jazz Loft.

“Carlos Jimenez, who’s going to be here this evening, a wonderful, wonderful group. His Mambo Dolcett will be here. And Aubrey Johnson,” Manuel says about the artists who will perform in the festival. He says he came up with the idea for the festival six years ago.

“The weather’s getting warmer, and businesses are still looking forward to summer. Maybe we could do something in early spring,” Manuel says and adds that this is a time when people really need music.

“Jazz has the spirit of joy. It has the ability to heal," Manuel says.

Business owners say the popularity of the festival gives them a boost in business at a time when they are still trying to recover from the pandemic and during a time of economic uncertainty.

“It brings people in,” says Bernice Fehringer, owner of the Stony Brook Chocolate.

In addition to the Jazz Loft, musicians play in some shops in the village, including Stony Brook Chocolate.

“It brings a lot of foot traffic in. People pop in for a few minutes and listen or they’ll sit and have a cup of hot chocolate,” Fehringer says.

There festival offers music for everyone in the village.

“We have music, all different kinds of groups, solos, duos, trios, quartets,” Manuel says.

For more information on the festival, follow this link.