Elysium Furnace Works is proud the announce the initial concerts for its 2025 season.
To kick off 2025, EFW will present its very first solo piano festival. On each Saturday in March this year, EFW will present five of the most brilliant pianists performing anywhere today. All five concerts as part of the EFW Solo Piano Festival will be presented at St. Andrew & St. Luke's Episcopal Church, located at 15 South Ave. in Beacon, NY — each concert will begin at 8 PM.
To launch the Elysium Furnace Works Solo Piano Festival on March 1, 2025, EFW is honored to present the acclaimed virtuoso Dave Burrell. Mr. Burrell came to prominence as an influential innovator in New York’s free jazz scene in the 1960's, subsequently playing alongside such trailblazing musicians as saxophonists Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Marion Brown and David Murray. In addition to more than forty albums under his own leadership, he has recorded over eighty albums as a sideman, as well as having composed multiple operas, in addition to many other multidisciplinary collaborative works. Mr. Burrell's accomplishments and profile as a revered figure internationally are truly without parallel in any music.
Advance tickets for Dave Burrell's concert are on sale now at Get tickets.
The artists following Mr. Burrell for the EFW Solo Piano Festival will include:
After majoring in music at the University of Hawaii, he enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts in 1961. After graduating with degrees in composition/arranging and performance in 1965, he moved to New York City, where he quickly established himself as one of the most innovative and original pianists, collaborating with the emerging leaders in contemporary jazz, joining the groups of tenor saxophonists Marion Brown, Pharoah Sanders and Archie Shepp.
Burrell’s Jazz Opera Windward Passages, written in collaboration with Swedish born librettist Monika Larsson, blends opera voices with world class jazz instrumentalists, a 21-piece jazz opera orchestra, dancers and chorus. Seldom has the classically trained voice played such a unique improvising roll as in this important, ground-breaking endeavor. Burrell and Larsson are currently developing a contemporary opera score titled Listening to Lincoln.
Burrell’s dance drama, Holy Smoke, with blue-print by Monika Larsson, is being developed for contemporary dance. La Vie de Boheme, Burrell’s arrangement of Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme, that he recorded on BYG Records, France in 1969, was recently presented at the Bordeaux Jazz Festival in France with Dave Burrell Puccini Trio featuring Giovanni Falzone, trumpet and Paulo Botti, viola.
Dave Burrell appears regularly on national and international radio broadcasts, NPR’s Bi-Centennial Tribute to Jelly Roll Morton, Dr. Jazz; Duke Ellington’s Centennial Duke and the Piano; Louis Armstrong’s The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, and Leonard Bernstein: An American Life.
Dave Burrell was featured on NPR’s nationally syndicated show Fresh Air, hosted by Terry Gross. Burrell performed the music of Jelly Roll Morton solo piano, The Lomax Legacy: Folklore in a Globalizing Century symposium, along with jazz author and scholar John Szwed, presented by American Folk Life Center at the Library of Congress and at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Washington, D.C. RAI, Italy recently aired “Dave Burrell Plays His Songs” featuring singer Leena Conquest and lyricist Monika Larsson.
Recent solo piano performances: Le Mans Jazz Festival, France, Sala Venni, Florence, San Servolo Meeting, Venice, Italy, Berlin Brandenburg Jazz Festival, and his solo piano after hours performances Dave Burrell ‘Round Midnight at Bimhuis, Amsterdam, Holland. The next weekly engagement at Bimhuis is scheduled for the fall of 2014. Recent duos include Leena Conquest: Catanzaro, Italy and Theatre Paul Eluard, Cugnaux, France; Archie Shepp: Duc des Lombardes, Paris, France; Han Bennink: Philadelphia Art Alliance; Silke Eberhard: Berlin Jazz Festival, Institute Francais, Berlin; and most recently, with bassist William Parker at the Sons d’Iver Festival Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France on February 1, 2014. Dave Burrell Trio performed at Casa di Popolo Jazz Festival, Montreal, and Poisson Rouge, New York.
As a composer–in-residence at Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, Dave Burrell’s commissions include “Look Again”—African-American History is American History: Bill of Sale for a Slave. (2007), Syllables of the Poetry of Marianne Moore (2008), Western Extension of the United States of America 1811 (2009) In 2010 Burrell launched the start of a 5 year project at Rosenbach Museum and Library, The American Civil War 1861-1865. The first installment, Portraits of Civil War Heroes, premiered in 2011, followed by Civilians During War Time in 2012, with guest violinist Odessa Balan, and Turning Point with guest trombonist Steve Swell. Listening to Lincoln with guest soprano Veronica Chapman-Smith and lyricist Monika Larsson to premiere on April 10 and 12, 2014.
Burrell wrote an original score to Louis Massiah’s documentary WEB Du Bois: A Biography in Four Voices (1996), Oscar Micheaux’s 1925 silent black and white film Body and Soul (2006). The compositions are featured on his High Two recording Momentum. Dave Burrell and Leena Conquest appear in Frank Cassenti’s documentary Billy Holiday Forever (Paris, France 2012).
Dave Burrell has recorded over 40 recordings under his own name between 1968-to present. Some titles include High, High Two, Echo, La Vie de Boheme, After Love, In-Sanity, Only Me, Dreams, Black Spring, Lush Life, ‘Round Midnight, Teardrops for Jimmy, Windward Passages, Daybreak, Brother to Brother, In Concert, Jelly Roll Joys, Esquisses for a Walk, Live at Caramoor, Changes and Chances, Recital, Expansion, Consequences, Margy Pargy, Momentum, Dave Burrell Plays His Songs, No Fools No Fun, and most recent Dave Burrell Conception in 2013.
Dave Burrell appears on 130 recordings. He is renowned for his pivotal recordings with tenor saxophonists Archie Shepp: Live from Pan-African Festival, There is a Trumpet in MySoul, Blasé, Kwanza, Attica Blues, Cry of My People, Montreaux One, Montreaux Two, Lover Man, Pharoah Sanders: Tauhid, Marion Brown: Jubalee, Three For Shepp, Live in Japan, David Murray: Hope Scope, Lovers, Deep River, Ballads, Spirituals, Remembrances, Lucky Four, Picasso, Windward Passages. Other important recordings are 360 Degree Music Experience: From Ragtime to No Time, In-sanity, Grachan Moncur: New Africa, Sunny Murray: Homage to Africa, Bob Stewart: Here and Now, and Consequences with drummer Billy Martin. The Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield and Essence of Ellington with William Parker’s Ensembles. Horo Records in Italy recently released a duo recording, No Fools No Fun with Ellington-drummer Sam Woodyard from 1979. Dave Burrell appears on the Argentine saxophonist Roberto Pettinato’s Sony/Columbia Argentina Records releases Purity and Same Egg.
A frequent lecturer, Burrell’s Master Classes include Strasbourg Conservatory, Tremblay Conservatory (Paris), Conservatoire Municipal (Paris), Guildhall School of Music and Dance (London), Columbia University, New York University, Queens College, Bard College, New York. University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, Bryn Mawr College, Duquesne University, School of Music, Pennsylvania. Brandeis University, Massachusetts. Rice University, Houston, Texas. DePauw University, Indiana. Library of Congress and Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. Burrell’s most recent commissions include Rosenbach Museum and Library, Philadelphia, and Whitney Museum, New York City.
Dave Burrell is the recipient of numerous grants and awards including National Endowment for the Arts, Philadelphia Music Foundation, William J. Cooper Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, Pennsylvania State Council on The Arts, MidAtlantic Foundation, John Garcia Gensel Award, and the Pew Fellowship in Jazz Composition.
Dave Burrell joined the Steinway Artist Roster in 2007.
During the past twenty-nine years, Eri has been sharing her uniquely lyrical and evocative music with listeners in New York City, throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Africa, Jamaica, and Australia; with appearances in concerts, clubs, and major festivals.
In 2024, Eri has released two recordings, Fly With the Wings, with Quadraphonic, her new Quartet; and her third solo album, Let’s Keep Walking. Both feature all new original compositions, and bring her recording output as a leader to seventeen releases.
The New Yorker wrote about Eri’s 2022 release, A Woman With a Purple Wig: “Purposeful songs….address racial and sexual discrimination, yet also step back to celebrate simple joys. Colors are Beautiful is as affirming as the title track is critical.” Filmmaker Aleksandra Szczepanowska was moved to create music videos of both songs. “A Woman With a Purple Wig," won the prize for best music video at the prestigious Big Apple Film Festival, Spring 2023.
Downbeat magazine gave four stars to Eri’s previous release, Firefly, saying: “Her CD reaffirms Yamamoto’s standing as a contemporary pianist of the highest order. Her virtuosity never gets in the way of playing it straight from the heart.”
In 2023, Eri put together a new group, “Colors or the Night,” with long-time collaborators William Parker and Ikuo Takeuchi on bass and drums. Their CD on Mahakala Records captures their rapport as they improvise openly and freely on Eri’s set of original songs.
Eri was born in Osaka, Japan. She began playing classical piano at age three, and started composing at eight. In 1995, she visited New York for the first time, and was so inspired by a performance by pianist Tommy Flanagan that she decided to move to New York to study jazz. She entered the New School University's prestigious jazz program, where she studied with Reggie Workman, Junior Mance, and LeeAnn Ledgerwood.
While in school, Eri started playing at the Avenue B Social Club in the East Village; and in 1998 her trio began a twenty-year engagement at the historic Arthur’s Tavern in Greenwich Village.
Eri has also been collaborating with such creative and celebrated musicians as William Parker, Daniel Carter, Hamid Drake, Federico Ughi, Yves Leveille and Paul McCandless. Eri has appeared on several William Parker recordings, and has performed in the U.S. and throughout the world with his groups.
Finally, Eri is a gifted educator. She received her master of music in education and composition from Shiga University, Japan. She has taught private lessons and workshops to jazz musicians of all instruments from the U. S., Japan, Europe, and North Africa.
Saft moved from Brooklyn to the Hudson Valley around 2007, and lived near Roswell Rudd. The two often played together, and Rudd passed on knowledge of some of his own music and that of Herbie Nichols.
He has performed and recorded with an eclectic variety of artists including John Zorn, Wadada Leo Smith, Iggy Pop, Steve Swallow, Bobby Previte, and Marc Ribot. He has also written several original film scores including Murderball and God Grew Tired of Us; selections from these were released by Tzadik Records as A Bag of Shells. The same label has released several of Saft's recordings.
To kick off 2025, EFW will present its very first solo piano festival. On each Saturday in March this year, EFW will present five of the most brilliant pianists performing anywhere today. All five concerts as part of the EFW Solo Piano Festival will be presented at St. Andrew & St. Luke's Episcopal Church, located at 15 South Ave. in Beacon, NY — each concert will begin at 8 PM.
To launch the Elysium Furnace Works Solo Piano Festival on March 1, 2025, EFW is honored to present the acclaimed virtuoso Dave Burrell. Mr. Burrell came to prominence as an influential innovator in New York’s free jazz scene in the 1960's, subsequently playing alongside such trailblazing musicians as saxophonists Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Marion Brown and David Murray. In addition to more than forty albums under his own leadership, he has recorded over eighty albums as a sideman, as well as having composed multiple operas, in addition to many other multidisciplinary collaborative works. Mr. Burrell's accomplishments and profile as a revered figure internationally are truly without parallel in any music.
Advance tickets for Dave Burrell's concert are on sale now at Get tickets.
The artists following Mr. Burrell for the EFW Solo Piano Festival will include:
March 8: Kris Davis
The extraordinary, prodigiously gifted pianist, educator, label owner and singular creative force returns to Beacon for a performance rich with her noted technical dexterity and phenomenal, nonpareil invention. Get tickets.March 15: Alexis Marcelo
From his work with Yusef Lateef, JD Parran and original Can vocalist Malcolm Mooney to his collaborations with GZA of Wu-Tang Clan and Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets; from the Bronx to The Metropolitan Opera, performing as part of the Met's critically acclaimed restaging of the opera X—The Life and Times of Malcolm X in 2023; the fierce up-and-coming keyboardist Marcelo will showcase his exceptional breadth and improvisational daring. Advance tickets are on sale at Get tickets.March 22: Eri Yamamoto
The lamentably under-recognized Japanese pianist Yamamoto has been an veteran eminence of the NYC Downtown scene and a longtime educator; her singular, rapturous artistry is sure to mesmerize, inspire and (we hope) gain many new fans in her first Beacon performance. Advance tickets are on sale at Get tickets.March 29: Jamie Saft
The renowned Rasta polymath and former Hudson Valley titan returns to Beacon to close out our solo piano festival on a blazing high note, drawing upon decades of exceptional work with artists ranging from Iggy Pop to John Zorn and countless artists in between, when not leading his own remarkably diverse, ecstatic projects. Advance tickets are on sale at Get tickets.Elysium Furnace Works 2025 Concert Schedule
As if this festival wasn't enough for one season—Elysium Furnace Works has many more concerts scheduled for 2025. Our remaining concerts will all take place at the exquisite 19th c. VBI Theatre of Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, located 12 Vassar Street in Poughkeepsie, NY—all of our other concerts will also begin at 8 PM.May 3
Larry Ochs / Joe Morris / Michael Wimberly — ROVA Saxophone Quartet co-founder Ochs makes his Hudson Valley debut in an incendiary trio with bassist Morris and drummer/percussionist Wimberly;June 21
Brandon Lopez / Ikue Mori / Zeena Parkins — a supercharged trio of innovators, bassist Lopez (William Parkwr, Tyshawn Sorey) joins longtime collaborators and multi-instrumentalists Mori (DNA, John Zorn) and Parkins (Björk, Yoko Ono, Zorn) for unparalleled electro-acoustic sonic adventures;July 19
Squanderers ( Wendy Eisenberg / David Grubbs / Kramer ) — this “glowingly new—2024 vintage" trio features guitarists Wendy Eisenberg (Allison Miller, John Zorn) and David Grubbs (Gastr del Sol, Bastro, Squirrel Bait) alongside multi-instrumentalist and legendary producer Kramer (Shimmy-Disc, Shockabilly, Bongwater, New York Gong), which promises to be “divining urges not dirges";September 20
Darius Jones Trio — one of the most acclaimed alto saxophonists of his generation, Jones performs his remarkable compositions accompanied by the one of the world's most talented, commanding rhythm sections, bassist Chris Lightcap and drummer Gerald Cleaver;October 18
Bobby Previte — the illustrious drummer, percussionist, composer, bandleader and Downtown NYC luminary Previte presents an ensemble TBA;December 13
Da Odd Couple — EFW closes out its 2025 season with this explosive project featuring two legendary DJs, Rob Swift and Mista Sinista, renowned turntablists and founding members of the celebrated X-Ecutioners crew, who have worked with everyone from Kool G Rap and Cypress Hill to Mike Patton and Mike Shinoda, even making a famous (some say infamous) appearance at NYC's Vision Festival many years back — we're honored and thrilled to present these artists' incomparable skills across four turntables.About Elysium Furnace Works
Elysium Furnace Works is a cooperative project co-led by Mike Faloon and James Keepnews. EFW seeks to present the work of vanguard artists in settings as dedicated and uncompromising as the art itself, focusing primarily although not exclusively on live music performances in and around New York's vibrant Hudson Valley. Follow us on Facebook and on Instagram.About Dave Burrell
Distinguished composer-pianist Dave Burrell is a performing artist of singular stature on the international contemporary music scene. His dynamic compositions with blues and gospel roots recall the tradition of Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson and Duke Ellington, as well avant-garde composers Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane.After majoring in music at the University of Hawaii, he enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts in 1961. After graduating with degrees in composition/arranging and performance in 1965, he moved to New York City, where he quickly established himself as one of the most innovative and original pianists, collaborating with the emerging leaders in contemporary jazz, joining the groups of tenor saxophonists Marion Brown, Pharoah Sanders and Archie Shepp.
Burrell’s Jazz Opera Windward Passages, written in collaboration with Swedish born librettist Monika Larsson, blends opera voices with world class jazz instrumentalists, a 21-piece jazz opera orchestra, dancers and chorus. Seldom has the classically trained voice played such a unique improvising roll as in this important, ground-breaking endeavor. Burrell and Larsson are currently developing a contemporary opera score titled Listening to Lincoln.
Burrell’s dance drama, Holy Smoke, with blue-print by Monika Larsson, is being developed for contemporary dance. La Vie de Boheme, Burrell’s arrangement of Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme, that he recorded on BYG Records, France in 1969, was recently presented at the Bordeaux Jazz Festival in France with Dave Burrell Puccini Trio featuring Giovanni Falzone, trumpet and Paulo Botti, viola.
Dave Burrell appears regularly on national and international radio broadcasts, NPR’s Bi-Centennial Tribute to Jelly Roll Morton, Dr. Jazz; Duke Ellington’s Centennial Duke and the Piano; Louis Armstrong’s The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, and Leonard Bernstein: An American Life.
Dave Burrell was featured on NPR’s nationally syndicated show Fresh Air, hosted by Terry Gross. Burrell performed the music of Jelly Roll Morton solo piano, The Lomax Legacy: Folklore in a Globalizing Century symposium, along with jazz author and scholar John Szwed, presented by American Folk Life Center at the Library of Congress and at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Washington, D.C. RAI, Italy recently aired “Dave Burrell Plays His Songs” featuring singer Leena Conquest and lyricist Monika Larsson.
Recent solo piano performances: Le Mans Jazz Festival, France, Sala Venni, Florence, San Servolo Meeting, Venice, Italy, Berlin Brandenburg Jazz Festival, and his solo piano after hours performances Dave Burrell ‘Round Midnight at Bimhuis, Amsterdam, Holland. The next weekly engagement at Bimhuis is scheduled for the fall of 2014. Recent duos include Leena Conquest: Catanzaro, Italy and Theatre Paul Eluard, Cugnaux, France; Archie Shepp: Duc des Lombardes, Paris, France; Han Bennink: Philadelphia Art Alliance; Silke Eberhard: Berlin Jazz Festival, Institute Francais, Berlin; and most recently, with bassist William Parker at the Sons d’Iver Festival Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France on February 1, 2014. Dave Burrell Trio performed at Casa di Popolo Jazz Festival, Montreal, and Poisson Rouge, New York.
As a composer–in-residence at Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, Dave Burrell’s commissions include “Look Again”—African-American History is American History: Bill of Sale for a Slave. (2007), Syllables of the Poetry of Marianne Moore (2008), Western Extension of the United States of America 1811 (2009) In 2010 Burrell launched the start of a 5 year project at Rosenbach Museum and Library, The American Civil War 1861-1865. The first installment, Portraits of Civil War Heroes, premiered in 2011, followed by Civilians During War Time in 2012, with guest violinist Odessa Balan, and Turning Point with guest trombonist Steve Swell. Listening to Lincoln with guest soprano Veronica Chapman-Smith and lyricist Monika Larsson to premiere on April 10 and 12, 2014.
Burrell wrote an original score to Louis Massiah’s documentary WEB Du Bois: A Biography in Four Voices (1996), Oscar Micheaux’s 1925 silent black and white film Body and Soul (2006). The compositions are featured on his High Two recording Momentum. Dave Burrell and Leena Conquest appear in Frank Cassenti’s documentary Billy Holiday Forever (Paris, France 2012).
Dave Burrell has recorded over 40 recordings under his own name between 1968-to present. Some titles include High, High Two, Echo, La Vie de Boheme, After Love, In-Sanity, Only Me, Dreams, Black Spring, Lush Life, ‘Round Midnight, Teardrops for Jimmy, Windward Passages, Daybreak, Brother to Brother, In Concert, Jelly Roll Joys, Esquisses for a Walk, Live at Caramoor, Changes and Chances, Recital, Expansion, Consequences, Margy Pargy, Momentum, Dave Burrell Plays His Songs, No Fools No Fun, and most recent Dave Burrell Conception in 2013.
Dave Burrell appears on 130 recordings. He is renowned for his pivotal recordings with tenor saxophonists Archie Shepp: Live from Pan-African Festival, There is a Trumpet in MySoul, Blasé, Kwanza, Attica Blues, Cry of My People, Montreaux One, Montreaux Two, Lover Man, Pharoah Sanders: Tauhid, Marion Brown: Jubalee, Three For Shepp, Live in Japan, David Murray: Hope Scope, Lovers, Deep River, Ballads, Spirituals, Remembrances, Lucky Four, Picasso, Windward Passages. Other important recordings are 360 Degree Music Experience: From Ragtime to No Time, In-sanity, Grachan Moncur: New Africa, Sunny Murray: Homage to Africa, Bob Stewart: Here and Now, and Consequences with drummer Billy Martin. The Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield and Essence of Ellington with William Parker’s Ensembles. Horo Records in Italy recently released a duo recording, No Fools No Fun with Ellington-drummer Sam Woodyard from 1979. Dave Burrell appears on the Argentine saxophonist Roberto Pettinato’s Sony/Columbia Argentina Records releases Purity and Same Egg.
A frequent lecturer, Burrell’s Master Classes include Strasbourg Conservatory, Tremblay Conservatory (Paris), Conservatoire Municipal (Paris), Guildhall School of Music and Dance (London), Columbia University, New York University, Queens College, Bard College, New York. University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, Bryn Mawr College, Duquesne University, School of Music, Pennsylvania. Brandeis University, Massachusetts. Rice University, Houston, Texas. DePauw University, Indiana. Library of Congress and Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. Burrell’s most recent commissions include Rosenbach Museum and Library, Philadelphia, and Whitney Museum, New York City.
Dave Burrell is the recipient of numerous grants and awards including National Endowment for the Arts, Philadelphia Music Foundation, William J. Cooper Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, Pennsylvania State Council on The Arts, MidAtlantic Foundation, John Garcia Gensel Award, and the Pew Fellowship in Jazz Composition.
Dave Burrell joined the Steinway Artist Roster in 2007.
About Kris Davis
Kris Davis is a Grammy award-winning pianist and composer described by The New York Times as a beacon for “deciding where to hear jazz [in New York] on a given night.” Davis has released 24 recordings as a leader or co-leader and collaborated with artists such as Terri Lyne Carrington, Dave Holland, John Zorn, Craig Taborn, Ingrid Laubrock, Tyshawn Sorey and Esperanza Spalding. She was named a 2021 Doris Duke Artist alongside Wayne Shorter and Danilo Perez, Pianist of the Year by DownBeat magazine in 2022 and 2020, and Pianist and Composer of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2021. In 2019, Kris Davis’ “Diatom Ribbons” was named jazz album of the year by both the New York Times and the NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll. The album draws from the musical worlds of free improvisation, spoken word, electronica, mainstream jazz, R&B and rock. In September 2023, Davis released ‘Diatom Ribbons – Live at the Village Vanguard’ featuring Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington on drums, Julian Lage on guitar, Val Jeanty on turntables and electronics, and Trevor Dunn on bass. Davis is the Associate Program Director of Creative Development at the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice and the founder of Pyroclastic Records. Davis is a Steinway Artist.About Alexis Marcelo
Alexis Marcelo is a New York City-based pianist whose musical journey began with classical training, providing a solid foundation for his diverse style. Influenced by the vibrant musical landscape of 1980s and 90s New York City and the rich sounds of the African diaspora, Alexis embraces his identity as a Black Latino artist. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in African Music/ Jazz Piano from the University of Massachusetts, where he studied under Dr. Yusef Lateef, exploring composition and improvisation through the unique lens of audiophysiopsychic music. This approach fosters deep listening and the creation of new musical ideas that resonate with the essence of his heritage. Active in today’s improvised music scene, Alexis has performed extensively across Europe and the United States, collaborating with artists from various genres, including GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets and original vocalist for the German band Can, Malcolm Mooney. He released a record titled Nananom Xu in 2024, featuring JD Parran and Daniel Carter, and is preparing to release new material soon. He will also have his first solo concert in Europe at the Unerhoert festival in Zurich. Through his innovative performances and profound understanding of music, Alexis continues to explore the limitless possibilities of sound.About Eri Yamamoto
Since moving to the United States in 1995, Eri Yamamoto has established herself as one of jazz's most original and compelling pianists and composers. Jazz legend Herbie Hancock has said, “My hat’s off to her... already she’s found her own voice.”During the past twenty-nine years, Eri has been sharing her uniquely lyrical and evocative music with listeners in New York City, throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Africa, Jamaica, and Australia; with appearances in concerts, clubs, and major festivals.
In 2024, Eri has released two recordings, Fly With the Wings, with Quadraphonic, her new Quartet; and her third solo album, Let’s Keep Walking. Both feature all new original compositions, and bring her recording output as a leader to seventeen releases.
The New Yorker wrote about Eri’s 2022 release, A Woman With a Purple Wig: “Purposeful songs….address racial and sexual discrimination, yet also step back to celebrate simple joys. Colors are Beautiful is as affirming as the title track is critical.” Filmmaker Aleksandra Szczepanowska was moved to create music videos of both songs. “A Woman With a Purple Wig," won the prize for best music video at the prestigious Big Apple Film Festival, Spring 2023.
Downbeat magazine gave four stars to Eri’s previous release, Firefly, saying: “Her CD reaffirms Yamamoto’s standing as a contemporary pianist of the highest order. Her virtuosity never gets in the way of playing it straight from the heart.”
In 2023, Eri put together a new group, “Colors or the Night,” with long-time collaborators William Parker and Ikuo Takeuchi on bass and drums. Their CD on Mahakala Records captures their rapport as they improvise openly and freely on Eri’s set of original songs.
Eri was born in Osaka, Japan. She began playing classical piano at age three, and started composing at eight. In 1995, she visited New York for the first time, and was so inspired by a performance by pianist Tommy Flanagan that she decided to move to New York to study jazz. She entered the New School University's prestigious jazz program, where she studied with Reggie Workman, Junior Mance, and LeeAnn Ledgerwood.
While in school, Eri started playing at the Avenue B Social Club in the East Village; and in 1998 her trio began a twenty-year engagement at the historic Arthur’s Tavern in Greenwich Village.
Eri has also been collaborating with such creative and celebrated musicians as William Parker, Daniel Carter, Hamid Drake, Federico Ughi, Yves Leveille and Paul McCandless. Eri has appeared on several William Parker recordings, and has performed in the U.S. and throughout the world with his groups.
Finally, Eri is a gifted educator. She received her master of music in education and composition from Shiga University, Japan. She has taught private lessons and workshops to jazz musicians of all instruments from the U. S., Japan, Europe, and North Africa.
About Jamie Saft
Jamie Saft is an American keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist and composer. He was born in New York City and raised a Conservative Jew, and studied at Tufts University and the New England Conservatory of Music.Saft moved from Brooklyn to the Hudson Valley around 2007, and lived near Roswell Rudd. The two often played together, and Rudd passed on knowledge of some of his own music and that of Herbie Nichols.
He has performed and recorded with an eclectic variety of artists including John Zorn, Wadada Leo Smith, Iggy Pop, Steve Swallow, Bobby Previte, and Marc Ribot. He has also written several original film scores including Murderball and God Grew Tired of Us; selections from these were released by Tzadik Records as A Bag of Shells. The same label has released several of Saft's recordings.
