Program
Joel Frahm Trio featuring Omer Avital
7:30PM
An amazing trio of musicians you won't want to miss! If you’ve spent time in the New York jazz scene during the last two decades, you have undoubtedly heard superlative statements like the one about the exceptional saxophonist Joel Frahm. His past recordings have been universally acclaimed and his live performances breathtaking. And now on his new CD, We Used To Dance, released May 1 on Anzic Records, he has come into his own as one of the most important saxophonists of his generation.
“Joel Frahm, one of the young band leaders often heard in New York’s small jazz clubs, sounds supremely comfortable playing the tenor saxophone.”--Ben Ratliff, The New York Times
Manuel Valera Quartet
Sets at 9:30, 11, and 1AM
As a composer and pianist, Manuel Valera’s main objective when composing is to find a way to melt all his influences into something unique. “Growing up in Havana, Cuban music is an undeniable part of my heritage and colors my writing,” says Valera. “I draw from my background, for example, including Cuban music with Impressionistic harmonies or Baio from the North of Brazil with Bartok’s rhythmic elements. Overall, I try to create complex music that is simple to the ears.”
"The blending of Latin music with jazz harmony and improvisation has produced more than a mere hybrid, as a survey of New York's younger players would reveal. Manuel Valera, a Cuban pianist in his mid-20's, illustrates that evolution handily: postbop and classical romanticism are as integral to his vocabulary as Latin folk forms, and they all find natural expression in his music."Nate Chinen, New York Times
