The year may be 2026, but the Sea Cliff General Store was swinging like it was 1926. Members of the Sea Cliff Arts Council’s Jazz Workshop performed for dozens of attendees who packed in to enjoy drinks, conversation, and music.
The after-hours event featured a rotating group 11 musicians performing jazz standards and original interpretations, drawing a crowd that filled the space and spilled into the aisles.
The jazz workshop itself has been running for about three years, according to organizer Frank Ferrara, and has grown from a small group into a diverse ensemble of musicians spanning a wide range of ages and experience levels.
Ferrara described the workshop as a hybrid of rehearsal and instruction, where participants learn through playing together. Musicians develop skills such as improvisation and listening while working through the songs.
“We have a set repertoire,” Ferrara said, “and in the context of rehearsing these songs I’m able to talk about form, or help somebody with what scales they’re using.”
Store owner Laura Bonelli said the collaboration grew naturally out of the store’s ongoing effort to support local artists.
To accommodate the performance, staff rearranged the store’s layout, moving tables and opening up the central area while keeping the stage intact. Bonelli said the venue was designed to remain flexible for a variety of events, from music to film screenings and community gatherings.
The group’s performance at the general store marked only its second public appearance, following a debut at the end of last year. Ferrara said the setting presented logistical challenges due to the size of the ensemble but provided a more intimate space to perform.
“Performing there is wonderful,” he said. “They’ve provided Sea Cliff with a venue, which we really need.”
For guitarist Steph Sobel, the workshop has been both a musical and personal journey. Sobel said she joined with little experience in jazz but found the collaborative environment welcoming.
“I came in with zero knowledge of jazz,” she said. “He was able to work with a serious beginner, with me, as well as really accomplished musicians, and find a role for everybody.”
Sobel added that the weekly sessions have become a highlight for many participants.
Beyond the music, organizers emphasized the workshop’s role in building connections among participants. Ferrara noted that members have formed friendships and social bonds outside rehearsals and have “really become a community.”
Mark Sobel, producer at large for the Arts Council and a village trustee, said the program reflects the organization’s broader mission to create accessible opportunities for artistic expression.
“Having a space makes it possible for things to really take hold and have some sort of rhythm,” he said.
Bonelli echoed that sentiment, noting that the general store aims to serve as a gathering place for the village.
“It brings a community together,” she said. “It’s a place. It’s a very cool, relaxed vibe.”
The event also supported the Arts Council financially, with 10 percent of proceeds donated back to the organization. Bonelli said she believes giving back is an important part of the store’s role in the community.
“I really like what the Arts Council does, and I think that it’s expanding,” she said. “I just feel like the they’ve done so much for the village that it’s important to give back.”
The general store and neighboring businesses along Sea Cliff Ave will also be participating in the West End Block Party on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. The event will feature live music, activities for children, and the opportunity to visit local stores after hours.
