WESTPORT, Conn. — June 7, 2026 — The energy and electricity were palpable at The Museum of Contemporary Art \ Connecticut (MoCA\CT) on Saturday night, as the Museum welcomed a packed house for a jubilant performance by Grammy-award winning bassist and bandleader Endea Owens + The Cookout. The show was a soulful celebration marking the closing weekend of Art, Jazz + the Blues.

Images from the special evening are available here.

Owens, known to television audiences from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, delivered her signature blend of joyful warmth and artistry to the stage as she brought down the house with special guest jazz powerhouse Brianna Thomas, and an all-star backing band, The Cookout. The band featured a standout selection of modern jazz talents, including pianist Tyler Bullock, trumpeter Alphonso Horne, drummer Jerome Jennings, and saxophonist Zoe Obadia. 

The evening included dynamic selections from Feel Good Music and Caught Up in This Illusion (“Feel Good,” “Where the Nubians Grow”), as well as some jazz favorites, like “All of Me.” Hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” brought an emotional and soulful depth that got the crowd clapping, swaying, and singing along. Much of the audience got up and danced later in the evening, lending a celebratory note to the closing of the monumental exhibition inspired by jazz and the blues. 

“Performing live jazz in front of artwork was such a powerful experience,” said Owens after the show. “My mother collected art throughout my life, so I’ve always felt a connection between visual art and music. Both are forms of storytelling, and being surrounded by these works while performing made me think about my family, my community, and the musical traditions that shaped me. The exhibition brought another layer of meaning to the performance and made the music feel even more beautiful.”

The enthusiasm was reciprocated by MoCA\CT Executive Director Robin Jaffee Frank. “As a closing party, I couldn’t have dreamed of anything better than this,” she said. “The energy, the sense of community, the incredible voices, and the joy that you could feel in this room made the works of art on the walls come alive.”

MoCA\CT extends thanks to the audience, supporters and media who helped make the evening a resounding success. The Museum is especially grateful to The Joyce Thompson Art Fund for its generous sponsorship of Endea Owens. And to performing arts sponsors Conlon Amendola, Attorneys at Law + Design Within Reach + Bill and Jodi Felton + Hofstetter Baron Group + Honda of Westport + Leifer Properties + Cynthia and Carl Muller + Joyce Pauker + Saatva + Sabina and Harlan Stone + The Walton Family. Additional thanks to performing arts partners Gold Sound Media + Ed Webb Design.

About MoCA\CT
The Museum of Contemporary Art \ Connecticut (MoCA\CT) is a premier destination for thought-provoking visual arts exhibitions, musical performances, and arts education programs that enrich the cultural landscape of Connecticut and beyond. Through the arts, community engagement, and multidisciplinary initiatives, MoCA\CT connects diverse audiences with the art and ideas of our time.

Event: Endea Owens + The Cookout
When: Saturday, June 6, 2026, 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Where: MoCA\CT, 19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport, Conn.

For press inquiries, interview requests or additional information, contact:
Sandra Nygaard
Director of Marketing + Communications, MoCA\CT
sandra@mocact.org
718-928-4212