At the Millbrook Library last Saturday Millbrook Arts Group in conjunction with Catskill Jazz Factory presented Puccini Meets Bechet: Parallels in Opera & Jazz with Aaron Johnson Trio. The parallel dimensions of jazz and opera collide with this condensed chamber group featuring operatic vocals, piano, clarinet and soprano saxophone.

Multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Aaron Johnson explored the parallels between Italian composer Giacomo Puccini's Bel Canton Operatic tradition and the sublime sounds of Sidney Bechet's New Orleans. Catskiill Jazz Factory founder Piers Playfair introduced the program.