Tobin’s Run on 51

3-Part Jazz Series curated by Christine Tobin

“There’s a kind of alchemy at work, particularly in how [Tobin] uses her warmly distinctive voice, malleable, poised phrasing and impeccable intonation to get inside the material and make it personal.” —The Irish Times

As seen in Ireland Rising, Muldoon’s Picnic, and Christine Tobin Sings Leonard Cohen

A brand new series of jazz nights curated by award-winning Irish singer/songwriter Christine Tobin and acclaimed guitarist Phil Robson. Each night, Tobin and Robson invite some of New York’s best Irish and international musicians to play sets and share stories about jazz music’s greatest artists and treasures.

Thursday, April 27 | 8 PM

Rip Rig & Panic
This evening’s show takes its title from an album by the virtuosic jazz musician Rahsaan Roland Kirk. He was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute and many other instruments. His unique boundary-pushing style, onstage vitality, comic banter and political rantings epitomize the zeitgeist of the 1960’s and the reshaping of the world as it was known. A range of very special guests capture that spirit with more music, stories and fun on Tobin’s Run.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Featuring

Zem Audu, saxophone
with
Angelica Sanchez, piano
James Genus, bass
Vinnie Sperrazza, drums

Jed Levy Quartet
Jed Levy, saxophone & flute
Phil Robson, guitar
James Genus, bass
Vinnie Sperrazza, drums

James Genus

James Genus is an American jazz bassist and among the most in-demand jazz bass players in the world. He plays both electric bass guitar and upright bass and has performed with an impressive list of artists. For instance, you can hear Genus every week playing in the Saturday Night Live band!

Genus was born in Hampton, Virginia and began playing bass at 13. He studied at Virginia Commonwealth University  
from 1983 to 1987 where he studied under jazz great Ellis Marsalis (father of Branford, Wynton and Delfeayo). Receiving a degree in jazz studies, he later moved to New York and played and recorded acoustic and electric bass for some of the biggest talents in jazz, including David Sanborn, Bob James, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, and Wynton Marsalis, Dave Douglas & many more.

Zem Audu

Nigerian-born, London-raised, and Brooklyn-based Zem Audu is an award winning saxophonist, composer and producer with a fresh sound that blends contemporary jazz, and soulful grooves. He has had the great pleasure of playing and recording with many of the world's finest musicians including: Jason Moran, Hugh Masekela, Plan B, Paloma Faith, and the legendary Skatalites. Zem's latest studio album “Spirits” featuring Mike Stern is scheduled for release this spring

Angelica Sanchez

Pianist/Composer/Educator Angelica Sanchez moved to New York from Arizona in 1994. Since moving to the East Coast, Sanchez has played with such musicians as Wadada Leo Smith, Paul Motian, and Richard Davis. Sanchez leads many groups including her own quintet. Her music has been recognized in numerous publications, including Jazz Times Magazine, The New York Times, and The Chicago Tribune.  She was the 2008 recipient of the French/American Chamber Music America grant and the 2011 Rockefellers Brothers Pocantico artist residency. Her debut solo album “A Little House” was featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition in May 2011 and her latest album “Wires & Moss,” which features her full Quintet, was chosen as one of best Releases of 2012 in The New York City Jazz Record.

Jed Levy

"Levy's tone is lucid...a player whose modern approach is to make every note a positive statement. " - Jazz Journal International

Saxophonist Jed Levy has been a mainstay on the New York jazz scene for over 20 years. In addition to performing and recording as a leader, he has had long standing working relationships with such jazz luminaries as Jaki Byard, Don Patterson, Jack McDuff, and Headhunters drummer Mike Clark.

Levy has toured Japan as a leader and appeared at several international jazz festivals. He has also received much acclaim for his work leading bands at such New York venues as Sweet Basil, Blue Note, Birdland, Visiones and Zinno.

Vinnie Sperrazza

Vinnie Sperrazza is a Brooklyn-based jazz drummer. Originally from a small town south of Utica, New York, Vinnie moved to NYC right after earning a degree in jazz studies from William Paterson University. While at WPU, he began a long-term musical relationship with the legendary pianist James Williams. During this time, he performed in many memorable concerts and recordings with such individuals as Clark Terry, Bill Mobley, Steve Wilson and Javon Jackson. Sperrazza is the co-leader of 40Twenty with Jacob Sacks, Jacob Garchik, and Dave Ambrosio, while also playing in a trio with Sacks and bassist Masa Kamaguchi. His first album as a bandleader and composer, Apocryphal, was released to widespread acclaim by Loyal Label on September 9, 2014.