Athenaeum Jazz 2017 Season!

The Athenaeum’s jazz program continues with the Winter 2017 series of concerts in the Music Room of the Athenaeum library (at 1008 Wall Street in La Jolla). This winter includes ensembles ranging from duo to quintet featuring some of today’s top artists in jazz. Seating is limited, so early reservations are strongly suggested!  For tickets and information, click below or call (858) 454-5872. The Athenaeum has produced two critically acclaimed jazz CDs, Live at Athenaeum Jazz and Live at Athenaeum Jazz volume 2.

The winter series opens on Saturday, February 4 with an Athenaeum debut by the Donald Harrison Quartet, featuring Harrison on alto sax, Zaccai Curtis on piano, Max Moran on bass and Darryl Staves on drums. Harrison has had a stellar career as a leader and collaborator with artists including Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Lena Horne, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Eddie Palmieri, Dr. John, McCoy Tyner, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Miles Davis, Notorious BIG, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. A native of the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans, he is Big Chief of the Congo Nation Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group, which keeps alive the seminal traditions of Congo Square.

Here's our Donald Harrison Jr. Portrait In Jazz Preview (Mon-Fri, Noon-1pm PT)...

Donald performed at the 2011 Jazz 88 Ocean Beach Music & Art Festival!

Tuesday, February 14, marks the return of the remarkable Edmar Castaneda Trio, featuring improvising Colombian harpist Castaneda with saxophonist Shlomi Cohen and drummer-percussionist Rodrigo Villalon and special guest vocalist Andrea Tierra. A native of Bogota, Castaneda has taken New York and major international jazz festivals by storm with his unique approach to the traditional Colombian arpa llanera. In addition to leading his own groups, he has been chosen as a special guest soloist by artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, John Scofield, and John Patitucci.

The series continues on Saturday, February 25, with two of the top jazz instrumentalists of their generation, tenor saxophonist Mark Turner and pianist Ethan Iverson. Known to Athenaeum audiences from his past performances with the collective trio Fly, Mark Turner is one of the most highly regarded tenor saxophonists in jazz. The New York Times praised him simply as “possibly jazz’s premier player … his stature in the jazz world keeps growing ... a great jazz musician.” With a distinctive tone, singular improvisational skills and an innovative compositional approach, Turner has earned a far-reaching reputation as one of jazz’s most original and influential musical forces. In addition to leading his own projects, he is, along with pianist Iverson, a member of veteran drummer Billy Hart’s quartet.

The series concludes on Thursday, March 2, with a special solo date by legendary guitarist and composer Ralph Towner. Known to Athenaeum audiences as a member of the landmark quartet Oregon, Towner has been a key ECM Records recording artist for over 40 years, including six celebrated solo albums. Towner has shaped a distinct language for his classical and 12-string guitars, blending influences from classical, jazz, folk, and world music.

Jazz returns to the Athenaeum Art Center in Logan Heights on Saturday, March 11, 2017 for an intimate evening with a favorite Athenaeum jazz performer, the extraordinary Brazilian vocalist Claudia Villela, joined by noted Brazilian pianist and accordionist Vitor Gonçalves. A Rio de Janeiro native, Villela is known as the most adventurous Brazilian singer in North America. She has collaborated with jazz giants, including Toots Thielemans, Michael Brecker, Kenny Werner, and Bela Fleck, while maintaining close ties to fellow Brazilian masters. While she is a sensuous interpreter of bossa nova standards, Villela has set herself apart with an extensive repertoire of original tunes combining jazz's harmonic vocabulary, poetic Portuguese lyrics and propulsive Afro-Brazilian rhythms.