Aya Sekine's Double Strut + Michael Hilgendorf Quartet: Live @ Moondog Café

The evening will begin with the return of Aya Sekine’s electro-acoustic duo project, Double Strut, this time featuring Detroit saxophonist and DIY producer Jake Shadik. Aya Sekine is a highly acclaimed Japanese jazz pianist and recent Detroit transplant that we’ve been fortunate enough to welcome to our stage often in 2024. Sekine’s adventurous and abstract approach to playing is ecstatic, inspiring and fiercely modern. We can’t wait to hear what she and Jake Shadik cook up together.

The second set serves as a homecoming for Michigan-bred NYC-based guitarist and composer Michael Hilgendorf who is assembling a quartet on this occasion. A recent graduate of the Manhattan School of Music’s Masters in Jazz Studies program, Hilgendorf has been cutting his teeth on the NYC jazz scene, sitting in at Birdland, the Apollo Theatre, Mercury Lounge, The Jazz Gallery and others. We’re stoked to hear what musical shapes they sketch out!

Doors will open at 7pm with performances at 8pm and 9pm. Peace, blessings and happy holidays to ya’ll!

Host or Publisher JM Darling