Mainstage Concerts

BIG DRUM / SMALL WORLD
This immersive, globally themed main-stage program features performances of all new commissions by prominent, internationally recognized jazz composers hailing from countries as diverse as, West Africa (Lionel Loueke), Israel (Omer Avital), Cuba (Yosvany Terry), Puerto Rico (Miguel Zenon), India (Rudresh Mahanthappa) and the United States (Marcus Strickland). Each unique composition is inspired by elements of both the American jazz tradition and the indigenous music of each composer’s respective country of origin.

Big Drum / Small World merges a broad range of musical ideas and celebrates artistic collaboration and stylistic amalgamation. Since its inception, jazz has always been an inclusive, unifying art form that has vividly reflected our collective national character and diverse cultural dynamism. In keeping with this tradition, Big Drum / Small World aspires to illuminate how jazz continues to unite us and exemplify our increasingly interdependent world.

SUBWAY SONGS
This captivating multi-media main-stage debut features performances of all original music from the quintet’s critically acclaimed 2006 CD, Subway Songs (Sunnyside Records) enhanced by immersive video, lighting and sound design that creatively reflect the cultural dynamism and vibrancy of the New York City subway experience.

Subway Songs was inspired by the observation that on any given weekday, over 7 million highly diverse, mostly tolerant and peaceful individuals converge on the New York City subway with rarely a serious conflict or incident. This perpetual and increasingly vulnerable social improvisation has a unique way of peeling away economic, cultural, ethnic and religious differences and beautifully illuminating the universality of the human condition.