MAY 5-8 | Hewlett 50
May 05 - May 06, 2022
Miner Auditorium
PLEASE NOTE:
This page is an archive of a past production
Please visit our calendar for all upcoming SFJAZZ shows.
Original show description below.
Miguel Zenón's FRI, MAY 6 concert will be broadcast live as part of Fridays Live, available to all SFJAZZ Members.
Alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón is a monster musician, and Golden City Suite, his musical tribute to the immigrant communities of San Francisco, is the latest proof. Commissioned by the Hewlett Foundation and SFJAZZ, the 75-minute suite draws inspiration from Zenón’s own research. In 2018, the MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” recipient and founding member of the SFJAZZ Collective conducted interviews in the city’s Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, African-American and other ethnic communities.
Armed with new perspectives on the contributions of immigrants to San Francisco and its evolution, Zenón now has composed his extended work for a large ensemble of top-tier musicians. Golden City Suite will feature Zenón’s own blazing work as a saxophonist. Few improvisers operate at his level: He combines “sheer romance, sanctified spirit and mathematical precision. When his solos get moving, he rocks back on his heels and the notes just fly, like blizzards of diamonds” (San Jose Mercury News). During his 15 seasons with the SFJAZZ Collective, Zenón emerged as “one of the important contemporary revisers of Latin jazz” (The New York Times). Combining his deep knowledge of Caribbean folk forms and grooves with advanced compositional techniques, the Puerto Rico native now ranks among the most uniquely ambitious composers in all of jazz. In Golden City Suite, Zenón tells his latest epic tale.
Armed with new perspectives on the contributions of immigrants to San Francisco and its evolution, Zenón now has composed his extended work for a large ensemble of top-tier musicians.
WITH SUPPORT FROM
CONCERT SPONSOR
Barbara Z and Barry X Lynn
CONCERT UNDERWRITERS
John Graetz and Ana Suarez
The instrumental prowess of Zenon's playing, the vigor of his compositions and the sensitivity of his band to Puerto Rican song forms point to new possibilities in jazz.
Chicago Tribune
The instrumental prowess of Zenon's playing, the vigor of his compositions and the sensitivity of his band to Puerto Rican song forms point to new possibilities in jazz.
Chicago Tribune
Personnel
Miguel Zenón alto saxophone
Diego Urcola trumpet & valve trombone
Jacob Garchik trombone & euphonium
Alan Ferber trombone
Miles Okazaki guitar
Matt Mitchell piano
Matt Brewer bass
Dan Weiss drums
Daniel Diaz percussion
Brian Staufenbiel theatrical director
David Murakami projection design
This young musician and composer is at once reestablishing the artistic, cultural, and social tradition of jazz while creating an entirely new jazz language for the 21st century.
MacArthur Foundation
Personnel
Miguel Zenón alto saxophone
Diego Urcola trumpet & valve trombone
Jacob Garchik trombone & euphonium
Alan Ferber trombone
Miles Okazaki guitar
Matt Mitchell piano
Matt Brewer bass
Dan Weiss drums
Daniel Diaz percussion
Brian Staufenbiel theatrical director
David Murakami projection design
This young musician and composer is at once reestablishing the artistic, cultural, and social tradition of jazz while creating an entirely new jazz language for the 21st century.
MacArthur Foundation
Watch & Listen
Miguel Zenón
De Donde Vienes?
Miguel Zenón
Juguete
Miguel Zenón
De Donde Vienes?
Miguel Zenón
Juguete
MAY 5-8 | Hewlett 50
SAT, MAY 7 • 11 AM
MAY 7–8
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