Jazz Vespers: Maniacs of the 4th Dimension

NYC's unique jazz prayer service, Sundays at 5 since 1965. All are welcome. Free to attend!

This week, we welcome Davis Whitfield (piano), Ben Solomon (sax), Adam Arruda (drums), and Conway Campbell Jr. (bass).

About Davis Whitfield

One of the most exciting and creative pianists in New York today, Davis Whitfield is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, where he received the Presidential Scholarship. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1993, he grew up immersed in the music. Coming from a lauded musical family, he has accomplished a lot at a young age. In 2016 as part of the DC Jazz Fest, Davis was awarded the rising star performing on the main stage at the esteemed Kennedy Center. He appears at every major jazz venue in New York City, including Dizzy's Club, Smalls, Ornithology and The Django, in addition to extensive appearances throughout Europe and Asia. In 2021, he joined the inimitable legend that is Pharoah Sanders for the last concert of his career at the We Out Here Festival in Cambridge, UK. Davis’ band, Scatter The Atoms That Remain, has toured with guests such as Gary Bartz, Randy Brecker, George Garzone, Billy Harper and Isaiah Collier. This year Scatter headlined the inaugural Unity Festival ‘24 held in Jazz At Lincoln Center’s Appel Room and will be headlining the world famous Java Jazz fest in Jakarta, Indonesia in late May ‘24. Still in his early 30s, he already has a voice of his own on the piano and is certainly an artist to keep your eyes on.

About Ben Solomon

Ben Solomon is a saxophonist originally from Chicago. He was a member of Wallace Roney’s Quintet from 2012-2017, which shaped his musical identity and experience. As Roney’s sideman he shared the stage with such legends as Buster Williams, Lenny White, Patrice Rushen, Ron Carter, and Gary Bartz. In 2016 he played two nights with Chick Corea at the Blue Note in New York. He has published two books of saxophone etudes called “Chromatophores”. In 2023 he appeared with the Aaron Parks quartet at the Village Vanguard. In 2024 he released his first quartet album entitled “Echolocation”.

About Adam Arruda

Residing in Brooklyn, New York, Toronto native Adam Arruda is among the most sought-after drummers in the jazz and improvised music scene. He has had the privilege of working with such artists as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Brad Mehldau, Dave Kikoski, Seamus Blake, Aaron Goldberg, Kazemde George, Orlando le Fleming, Ben Eunson, Andrew Renfroe, Simon Moullier, Martin Nevin, Matt Clohesy, Matt Penman, Matt Brewer, Matt Dwonszyk, Sarah Hanahan, Luques Curtis, Or Bareket, Glenn Zaleski, Alex Lore,Wayne Escoffery, Miki Yamanaka, Joel Ross, Mike Moreno, Josh Evans, Greg Osby, Dayna Stephens, Gilad Hekselman, Christian Scott, Charles Altura, Sam Yahel, Simona Premazzi, Kevin Eubanks, JD Allen, Stacy Dillard, Romain Collin, Orrin Evans, Joel Frahm, Veronica Swift, Matt Chalk, Benny Bennack, Aaron Burnett, Martina DaSilva, Alex Goodman, Matt Marantz, Rick Rosato, Tommaso Gambini, Ben van Gelder, Manuel Schmiedel, Igor Lumpert, Leo Genovese, Sam Dillon, Andrew Gould, Jason Prover, Sam Raderman, Ricardo Grilli, Hans Luchs, Sam Dickinson, Russ Macklem, Daniel Ko, Ojiik, Vanessa Perea, Trevor Giancola, Massimo Biolcati, Charles Owens, Eden Ladin, Ben Eunson, Mike Ruby, Billy Buss, Godwin Louis, Nick Hempton, Randy Ingram , Alice Ricciardi, Yasushi Nakamura, Matt Marantz, Lucian Gray, Nick Morgan, Dave Restivo, Saya Gray, Jeremy Pelt, Will Vinson, Bill McHenry, Philip Harper, Ralph Alessi, Jason Palmer, Billy Buss, Joe Gilman, and many more. Adam is a proud endorsee of Canopus Drums and Vater Drumsticks and Percussion.

About Conway Campbell Jr.

Conway Campbell Jr. is a rising New York City-based bassist, composer, arranger, and educator. Hailing from Worcester, MA, he discovered his passion for jazz and composition during his time in high school.. Conway honed his craft at the University of Hartford's Jackie McLean Institute under the mentorship of Ron Carter, Nat Reeves and Gerald Cannon, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Jazz Studies at the Manhattan School of Music studying under Buster Williams. Conway is a member of R&B group Mixed Company, and has performed alongside esteemed musicians like Jeremy Pelt, Jaleel Shaw, Godwin Louis, Jonathan Barber, and Kendrick Scott, performing at notable venues such as Mezzrow, The Jazz Gallery, Smalls Jazz Club and The Django.

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