Zaccai Curtis Sextet

For these two nights, pianist Zaccai Curtis leads a fiery sextet reviving Afro-Cuban bebop. His 2024 release Cubop Lives! reimagines jazz history with bold, modern swing, winning a GRAMMY for Best Latin Jazz Album. Born in New York and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Curtis grew up immersed in jazz, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and the rich musical traditions of his Puerto Rican and African American heritage. A student of Jackie McLean’s Artists Collective, he developed into a pianist and composer celebrated for combining technical brilliance with deep rhythmic sophistication.  

Over the years, Curtis has collaborated with major artists including Eddie Palmieri, Brian Lynch, Christian Scott, Donald Harrison, and Santana, while also building a celebrated musical partnership with his brother, bassist Luques Curtis. Together, they co-founded the Truth Revolution Recording Collective and have become leading voices in contemporary Latin jazz.  

Cubop Lives! pays tribute to the explosive fusion of bebop and Afro-Cuban music pioneered by Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo, and Mario Bauzá, while showcasing Curtis’ dynamic working sextet. Featuring Luques Curtis, Willie Martinez III, Camilo Molina, and Reinaldo de Jesús, the ensemble delivers electrifying performances filled with rhythmic fire, virtuosity, and joyous improvisation.