Jazz at the Athenaeum Winter 2023 Series

Jazz returns to the Athenaeum for our annual series of winter concerts in the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Room (at 1008 Wall Street in La Jolla). This series features both Athenaeum favorites and debuts by internationally-acclaimed artists. Seating is limited so order soon!

The winter series opens on Tuesday, February 14, A special Valentine’s Day performance and live recording session by legendary alto saxophonist Charles McPherson and acclaimed jazz pianist Ethan Iverson. The Athenaeum’s relationship with McPherson goes back to beginning of the library’s jazz series in the late 1980s. Wynton Marsalis summed up McPherson’s decades-long eminence in jazz, “Charles is the very definition of excellence in our music. He’s the definitive master on his instrument. He performs with unbelievable fire and an unparalleled depth of soul.” For many years, Iverson has made pilgrimages to visit and study with McPherson. Widely known for his role as a co-founding member of the influential jazz trio The Bad Plus, Iverson has excelled in a range of projects since leaving the trio, including his role as musical director for choreographer Mark Morris and work with Billy Hart, Mark Turner, and Tom Harrell, as well as elder statesmen like Albert “Tootie” Heath and Ron Carter. Time Out New York recognized him as, “Perhaps NYC’s most thoughtful and passionate student of jazz tradition.” This program is the first public performance of this collaboration between the 83 year-old bebop master McPherson and 49 year-old Iverson, leading artists from their respective generations of jazz.

The series continues on Sunday, February 19, with a long-awaited return of the Tord Gustavsen Trio from Norway, featuring Gustavsen on piano, Steinar Raknes on bass, and Jarle Vespestad on drums. Gustavsen made unforgettable prior appearances at the Athenaeum in 2008 and 2014, as well as a crystalline holiday program in 2010 with vocalist Solveig Slettahjell. A leading artist on the ECM Records label since the early 2000’s, Gustavsen’s musical vision draws together influences from Scandinavian folk music, gospel, Caribbean music, and cool jazz alike, presenting a unique universe of lyricism and subtle funkiness. His way of melding jazz history with ‘Nordic’ reflective moods and lyrical beauty has created a unique voice on today’s music scene. BBC Jazz commented, “Gustavsen's music is intuitive and heartfelt… truly beautiful.” Stereophile wrote, “The qualities in Gustavsen's music of affection and respect—for each note, interval, rolling modulation, silence, and fellow player—are perhaps as high as I have heard in improvised music. The emphasis is not on how many notes can be played, or how virtuosically, but on how much music can be made with as few notes as possible.” DownBeat wrote, “The collective aesthetic of the ensemble is quietly spellbinding. To Gustavsen, each note seems to hold sacred power.”

Next up on Sunday, February 26, is the Kevin Hays Trio, featuring Hays on piano, Matt Brewer on bass, and Colin Stranahan on drums. Hays made his last appearance at the Athenaeum in 2015. A Grammy-winning jazz pianist, composer, and singer/songwriter, Hays is internationally recognized as one of the most original and compelling musicians of his generation. His many recordings have received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Downbeat Magazine and Jazz Times, as well as the “Coup de Coeur” award from the Académie Charles Cros (France). Kevin has appeared on numerous albums as a guest artist, recording with Chris Potter, Bill Stewart, Joshua Redman, Jeff Ballard, Nicholas Payton, and Al Foster, among many others. Notable collaborations include a piano duo project with Brad Mehldau (Modern Music - Nonesuch), world tours with James Taylor, Sonny Rollins, John Scofield, Joe Henderson, and Roy Haynes. In addition to his celebrated work as pianist and composer, Kevin has become increasingly known as a gifted and expressive singer/songwriter. Brad Mehldau commented, “Kevin Hays is a true original. Everything he plays has a deep intelligence and swing.” The New Yorker wrote, “There are plenty of talented pianists… but few have Hays’ melodic charms and sense of style.”

The series concludes on Thursday, March 9, with the duo of pianist Geoffrey Keezer and vocalist Gillian Margot in their first local performance since moving from San Diego in 2018. The multiple Grammy-nominated Keezer is celebrated internationally for his highly regarded discography, unique compositions, and acclaimed performances in a variety of configurations. Keezer began his career playing in jazz clubs as a teenager, holding down the piano chair for Art Blakey at age 18, and touring with Ray Brown, Joshua Redman, Diana Krall, Art Farmer, and Benny Golson in his 20s. More recently he has toured with Wayne Shorter, Dianne Reeves, David Sanborn, Chris Botti, Sting, Christian McBride, and his wife and musical partner, Gillian Margot. With an exquisite voice, a disarmingly wide range and a style that is deeply rooted in the tradition of the great jazz vocalists, Margot possesses a gift of storytelling and stunning lyrical delivery. A native of Toronto, Canada, Margot studied under a generation of jazz legends including Oscar Peterson and Freddy Cole. Equally at home in the musical worlds of jazz, R&B, chamber, and pop, she has performed in major venues worldwide with artists including rock icon Sting, famed soprano Kathleen Battle, and jazz stars Jeremy Pelt, Chris Botti, and Robert Glasper.

The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert.

Masks optional. If you have a fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms, please stay home.

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