Jay Rodriguez Sierra's Muthaflower 3 with Ensemble Novo

Come experience these two incredible bands celebrating the Summer Soul-stice! Arrive early for a refreshing evening cocktail on the back patio before heading inside to swing out of Spring as the soothing din of I-95 gives way to the fresh, airy, intoxicating rhythms and uniquely textured sonic waves of Philadelphia's five-piece, Ensemble Novo. They'll be playing some of the most beautiful music on earth; the bossa nova of Jobim and the samba of Barbosa and more!

Then, usher the Summer in with the hot and gritty, groove oriented, hard blowing sax of NYC's Jay Rodriguez Sierra (Groove Collective founder and current reedman for Fred Wesley and the New JBs). His latest project, Muthaflower 3 is a trio with two of Philly's finest: Aaron Graves on organ and Craig McIver behind the drums. He'll be bringing some down home, soulful sax to the Summer in the City of Botherly Love for an unforgettable night of Dance Floor Jazz Spirit Music! There's just no doubt about it, you're gonna have a funky good time!

Jay Rodriguez is a visionary artist. His voice on all his instruments is one that has led him to be in demand as a leader and sideman with wildly diverse musicians. Jay was introduced to the clarinet in grade school at age 7 . He expanded his reed studies on saxophone/flute with his best friend's brother Jesus Garcia, soon after he met Tito D’Rivera (father of Paquito) and Joe Allard. During a road trip with then famed DR Singer Vicente Pacheco he met lead Alto Saxophonist Mark Friedman who then introduced him to Phil Woods . At 15 he was out on the scene performing and playing around town.

He attended the renowned High School for the Performing Arts with Billy Charlap, Jon Gordon. During his last year there he met the great alto saxophonist Arnie Lawrence who recruited him as one of his new young jazz lions to bring to the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at it's inception. There he studied with a who's who of jazz. Sir Roland Hanna , Walter Davis Jr, Joe Henderson, John Gilmore, Gil Goldstein, Clifford Jordan, Jimmy Heath, Joe Lovano to name few .

When asked about his childhood, Rodriguez recalls:

"My saxophone guru, Mark Friedman, tried to teach me how important it was to be a kid."

"Of course, I didn’t listen, so I was playing gigs constantly. I’d be coming home at 6 o’clock in the morning, then going to school. That was my childhood .I don’t regret it. Well sometimes I do.." Life informs the music and not the other way around."

Jay's first latin cross over experiences into more mainstream jazz came with the great late bassist Victor Venegas ,Marco Rizo and Candido , not to mention Paquito that would take him to sit in at the famed Village gate on Monday Nights for the Salsa meets Jazz series.There he met Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Turrentine ,Ray Barretto and would be featured as a soloist. He would never be the same again.

He is a founding member of the New York City music phenomenon Groove Collective. The have shared the stage and or toured with James Brown, Widespread Panic ,Dave Matthews Isaac Hayes, among others.the rhythm section even backed up Tupac Shakur at the MTV Awards. They were the featured rhythm section on Earl Sebastian's Music Iconic Documentary Red, Hot and Cool.

​This focus and determination have propelled Rodriguez into a highly successful musical career. A three-time Grammy Nominee, he has performed or recorded with a diverse list of talent, including icons Joe Lovano, Elvis Costello, Gil Evans, David Murray,Roy Hargrove, The Mingus Big band, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Willie Colon, Eddie Palmieri, Bobby Sanabria, Stevie Wonder, Joan Osborne, pianist Chucho Valdez, (Widespread Panic bassist) Dave Schools , Medeski , Martin and Wood, Fred Wesley, Roy Nathanson, Bernie Worrell, David Krakauer, the great Cuban all star ensemble Irakere, Paquito D’Rivera, Ray Barretto, Doc Cheatham , Slide Hampton, Teruo Nakamura , James Moody, Clark Terry, Cab Calloway, The New York Philharmonic, Hip Hop artist such Guru’s Jazzmatazz and the Wu-Tang recorded/toured with Prince, DJ Premiere, George Porter Jr. among others.

​Jay is always on the cutting edge having worked with Dj/Producers Francois K , Nicodemus, Little Louie Vega, Dennis Ferrer, DJ Smash, as well as Writers/Essayist Karl Hancock Rux, Amiri Baraka and Carry Mae Weems, and many others.recorded/toured with Prince, , DJ Premiere, George Porter Jr. and more.

He recently collaborated with famed producer Andrew Wyatt for Miley Cyrus and other Pop artists. He released his first solo record in many years "Your Sound "

His important musical contributions have been a part of the NYC sonic tapestry in many genres as a composer, arranger and soloist for the past 30 years.

- Jon Pareles, THE NEW YORK TIMES

Ensemble Novo's strikingly original sound is built on contrasts – the crystalline clarity of the vibraphone crossed with the husky introspection of tenor saxophone, the warmth of nylon string guitar woven into the crisp pulse of samba percussion. As is true of so much from Brazil, this is music that operates on several levels at once. As saxophonist Tom Moon says, “It’s incredibly sensual music, powered by beautiful alternating currents of joy and sorrow. Even at its most complex, Brazilian music never lets you forget what it feels like to dance – and what it means to miss the person you last danced with. We might veer away from the theme and go exploring, but we are always rooted in the rhythm.”

Host or Publisher Black Squirrel Club