Category: Past event

May 2017 Jazz Concert: Vijay Iyer at Village Vanguard

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May 2017 Jazz Concert: Vijay Iyer Trio at Village Vanguard

May 2017 Jazz Concert: Vijay Iyer Trio at Village Vanguard
Vijay Iyer; credit Jimmy Katz

Listening to jazz music at Village Vanguard, a celebrated New York jazz spot, is part of a sacred ritual for music fans. This week the club is hosting Vijay Iyer Trio from May 9 to May 14.  Iyer’s trio (Iyer, piano; Marcus Gilmore, drums; Stephan Crump, bass) is particularly famous for its albums Accelerando(2012) and Historicity (2009). Accelerando was voted #1 Jazz Album of the Year for 2012 by three separate critics polls at DownBeat, Jazz Times, and Rhapsody.

The concert at the Village Vanguard starts with simple introduction of the musicians by Iyer with a compulsory explanation of the pronunciation of Iyer’s name. It then gets into continuous musical journey seemingly uninterrupted and fluid. It feels that one tune smoothly leads to the next like sea waves so the audience is getting deep into the sound. The musicians’ high calibre is in full view. There is no solos per se as the band improvises together.

Iyer was interested in music from his childhood playing in school orchestra and continuing performing when studying at Yale University which he graduated with a degree in Physics and Mathematics. He then pursued his scientific and musical exploration at the University of California at Berkeley getting a Ph. D. in the cognitive science of music. In addition to performing and writing his own compositions, he is the Franklin D. and Florence Rosenblatt Professor of the Arts at Harvard University. Before Harvard University he was teaching at Manhattan School of Music, NYU and The New School. Iyer started playing professionally with Steve Coleman, a bandleader and a saxophone player back when he was still at Berkeley.

In talking to Oberlin Review at the time of a Master program there at Oberlin Conservatory in April 2017, he stressed the importance of keeping the music within “the living context” and for the artists to think broadly about the world and their responsibility in serving it.

Vijay Iyer, a 2013 McArthur Fellow, had been “the most lauded piano player in jazz” according to The New Yorker profile in February 1, 2016 issue. It is quite interesting that in that same profile the fact that Iyer until then was not invited to play at Village Vanguard was brought up. The record is corrected now.

Tickets can be booked here.

Venue: Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue, NY                           Dates: May 9 – 14, 2017 at 8.30pm and 10.30pm

 

2017 Lincoln Center Festival: Taming of the Shrew by Bolshoi Ballet

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2017 Lincoln Center Festival: Taming of the Shrew by Bolshoi Ballet

Ballet in two acts by Jean-Christophe Maillot

2017 Lincoln Center Festival: Taming of the Shrew by Bolshoi Ballet
Image source: lincolncenter.org

Elegant and witty choreography, superb technique, a swirl of energy  – what else can one wish to see at the ballet performance? The fans of this colorful art genre will be absolutely delighted to see this smart staging of the classic tale of the battle of the sexes. Ballet de Monte-Carlo director-choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot masterly production of  W. Shakespeare play for the Bolshoi to the selected compositions by D. Shostakovich had won a strong acclaim from the time of its opening in 2014. The Telegraph review praised Maillot choreographic style as “an eclectic, high-octane and often witty fusion of classical and modern”.

Bolshoi Ballet dancers bring their well-known mastery to the high-speed love story. The Guardian review points to “mesmerizing” rendering of Katarina’s role by Ekaterina Krysanova and “hypnotic energy” of Vladislav Lantratov as Petruchio. The rest of the main characters and ballet cast are as articulate and infectious in telling the story as the principals. In the critics’ opinion the high-speed of the production is the only comment that can be made. The rest is just a sheer joy!

Tickets can be booked here.

 

Venue: David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, NY                             Dates: July 26 – July 30, 2017

 

July 14, 2017 Jazz & CHIHULY concert at New York Botanical Garden

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July 14, 2017 Jazz & CHIHULY concert at New York Botanical Garden

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF JAZZ

July 14, 2017 Jazz & CHIHULY concert at New York Botanical Garden
Chris Washburne

The collaboration between  New York Botanical Garden and Catskilll Jazz Factory brings the summer concert program Jazz & CHIHULY  to the scenic Conservatory lawn of the garden. The second concert in the series is a celebration of 100 years of American Jazz from it’s folk roots to such american classics like Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith. The program brings together bandleader Chris Washburne on trombone, Brazilian pianist Andre Mehmari , vocalist Brianna Thomas and friends.

July 14, 2017 Jazz & CHIHULY concert at New York Botanical Garden
Andre Mehmeri by Maristela Martins

The concert series are part of elaborate program around the CHIHULY glass sculpture exhibition on the grounds of New York Botanical Garden. 20 works are spread-out on over 250 acres, including artist’s early drawings and more recent creations. This is the second collaboration between Dale Chihuly and NYBG as his art naturally blends in with the nature and seems to be destined to be exhibited at NYBG. The first exhibition was held in 2006 attracting 350,000 visitors.

July 14, 2017 Jazz & CHIHULY concert at New York Botanical Garden
Brianna Thomas

Chihuly stresses the uniqueness of glass as the only material that lets the light through. In his works he capitalizes on this property of the material. With that in mind, garden environment is an ideal showroom for seeing Chihuly’s works as it gives viewers a chance to see the changes in light and its reflection in the ponds depending on time of day. Playing on this notion, the nighttime illumination adds some magic to the works. The garden will be open late for the visitors to experience it.

The concertgoers will have a chance to view CHIHULY exhibition in daylight and with the nighttime illumination after the performance.

Venue: New York Botanical Garden, NY                                               Time: Friday, July 14, 2017 at 6pm 

2017 Lincoln Center Festival: H’Sao Band Performance on July 28

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2017 Lincoln Center Festival: H’Sao Band Performance on July 28

A cappella performance mixing melodies from Chad with modern world soul and jazz

2017 Lincoln Center Festival: H'Sao Band Performance on July 28
H’Sao / image source lincolncenter.org

This amazing Montreal-based band was formed in 2001 when three brothers teamed up with their childhood friend to start performing. Using only their voice at first and adding musical instruments later the group caught the attention of the music fans and gained popularity in Montreal, Canada. H’Sao style can be described as Afro-fusion or Afro-jazz defined by authentic vocal harmonies, electrifying rhythm and stunning dance.

Masterly mixing a cappella singing from their native Chad with the new world gospels, soul and jazz music the group had established itself on the music scene. It travels around the world participating in the prominent musical festivals and events from New Zealand and Australia to Europe, Asia and Americas. Their lyrics are addressing the issues of social justice, love and peace.

H’Sao concert in NYC is part of the Nomadic Knights series of Lincoln Center Festival. More information about their albums can be found here.

 

Venue: Stanley Kaplan Penthouse, Lincoln Center, NY                                Date: July 28, at 8pm