The Westerlies with Vuyo Sotashe — The Mainstage

The Westerlies return to Noe Music after a hugely successful concert in the 2019–20 season — and they come back with something special. Across ten acclaimed albums, this singular chamber jazz ensemble has honed a gorgeous, intricately calibrated approach that brings uncommon intimacy to the unique two-trumpet, two-trombone lineup, drawing on jazz, folk, and chamber music to create what NPR has called “the rarest of hybrids: music that is both folk-like and composerly, lovely and intellectually rigorous.” For this afternoon, they are joined by South African vocalist Vuyo Sotashe — an artist of deep warmth and searching expressivity — for a world premiere adaptation of Maria Schneider's Grammy-winning song cycle Winter Morning Walks. It is the kind of project that happens only when artists who share a genuine artistic kinship decide to leap together.