Six-Concert ‘Jazz In July' Series Kicks Off Tonight In New York City
Founded in 1985, the series will run through July 26 and feature six concerts, which can be attended in person or via livestreaming.
NEWPORT, RI - AUGUST 4: Aaron Diehl performs at the Harbor stage during the third day of the Newport Jazz Festival at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI on Aug. 4, 2019. (Photo by Nic Antaya for The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Boston Globe via Getty Images
The jazz pianist and composer Aaron Diehl became its artistic director last summer, the series' third musician to hold this position. His immediate predecessor was pianist Bill Charlap, who succeeded the series' founder, pianist Dick Hyman.
The concert July 15 will feature the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra – performing in NYC from LA for the first time in a decade—joined by rhythm guitar master and vocalist John Pizzarelli.
The July 16 concert will feature the Carlos Henriquez Nonet. Henriquez was recognized for his talent at age 14 by jazz master Wynton Marsalis, who has been his champion ever since. Henriquez is the longtime bassist of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and a composer.
The July 19 concert will feature four tenor sax players, Melissa Aldana, Chris Lewis, Walter Smith III and Lew Tabackin, joined by rhythm section led by Diehl.
The July 22 concert will celebrate Geri Allen and Mary Lou Williams, each, according to 92NY, 'a towering pianist, groundbreaking composer and innovator with bold conceptions of what jazz could be.' Performing will be NEA Jazz Master and four-time Grammy-winning drummer, composer and producer Terri Lyne Carrington; Vanisha Gould, a jazz vocalist and storyteller; Nicole Glover, a member of Christian McBride's Ursa Major and supergroup Artemis; Diehl; and bassist Yusushi Nakamura, Carrington's co-curator of the evening.
Spanish pianist and composer Marta Sánchez and her quintet will perform on July 23, while the July 26 concert will feature composer-bandleader Darcy James Argue's 18-piece ensemble, Secret Society,00 performing a set of Argue's compositions. The Aaron Diehl Trio also will perform his 'Organic Consequence' from his Space, Time, Continuum album, as well as the world premiere of A Banquet for the Birds , Argue's new suite for piano and jazz orchestra.
Asked in a recent interview with Forbes.com what he learned about programming and audiences from his first year overseeing 'Jazz in July,' Diehl said, 'I was initially concerned that some of the programming might be too divergent from previous years. We had an opening night more familiar to 92NY's audience, in a format including pianists from Kenny Barron to Helen Sung. On the final concert, Tyshawn Sorey presented 95 minutes of continuous music without stopping. I was curious how it would be received. Even from the stage, I could feel people listening and leaning into the experience! There was a notable moment in the middle of the concert when the crowd erupted into applause after a lengthly building of musical tension; I think that was telling—listeners want to go on the journey with the band! It's up to us, the musicians, to be an effective conduit. Ultimately, I would like to slowly build people's trust in what is presented, and I encourage folks to maybe come and hear an artist unfamiliar to them.'
Diehl also said he hoped to appeal to 'the people who have been loyal to the series for many years, while also attracting new attendees.'
He said A Banquet for the Birds , written by Argue, was 'inspired by excerpts of Emily Wilson's translation of Homer's The Iliad . Darcy and I had a conversation over a year ago about a new work. He had mentioned wanting to write something around the thick symbolism embedded in the epic poem, specifically scenes of birds and their associations with omens from the gods. Darcy's imagination is endless in his writing, and it's a work that I believe will resonate with audiences, especially in the face of all of the conflict that is happening in our modern era.'
Asked about things he's most looking forward to, he said, 'Besides working with all of the incredible artists and the excellent team at the Y, it is always a pleasure to get a chance to speak to concertgoers. I'm excited to welcome both new and familiar faces, and getting the opportunity to speak to them afterwards.'
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