Miguel Zenón quartet at VJC
The Vermont Jazz Center (VJC) presents Miguel Zenón in concert with his longstanding quartet on Saturday, March 7, at 7:30 pm, 72 Cotton Mill Hill, No. 222. The Grammy Award-winning saxophonist will appear with Luís Perdomo on piano, Matt Penman on bass, and Henry Cole on drums.
Zenón is known for creating projects that reflect a love for the music, culture, and people of Puerto Rico. Zenón’s influences stem from the language invented by Charlie Parker, the post-bebop stylings of John Coltrane, and are also strongly affected by his fascination with complex rhythms.
In 2008, Zenón received the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the genius grant. The MacArthur website states that the award was granted for expanding boundaries of Latin and jazz music. As a composer and saxophonist, Zenón demonstrates a mastery of jazz mediums, from African American and Latin American rhythmic concepts to free avant-garde jazz. In 2011, Zenón used the money received from the MacArthur “genius” fellowship to launch the Caravana Cultural Project, a jazz awareness program designed to eventually visit all 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico. The free-of-charge, daylong events include pre-concert educational sessions, a performance with Zenón’s quartet, and the on-stage inclusion of area youth musicians.
Born in 1971 in Caracas, Venezuela, pianist Perdomo started playing on Venezuelan TV and radio stations at the age of twelve. In 1993, Perdomo relocated to New York and enrolled with a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music.
Bassist Penman is originally from New Zealand, moving to the US to attend Berklee College of Music and is the founder of the James Farm quartet, a jazz super-group with Joshua Redman, Aaron Parks, and Eric Harland.
Drummer Cole was born in 1979 and raised in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
Make reservations early; it is anticipated that this concert will sell out. Admission is $25-plus general admission (sliding scale). Tickets can be reserved online at www.vtjazz.org or by phone (802) 254-9088, ext. 1. Handicapped access is available by emailing or calling to schedule a time for a staff member to provide assistance.
