Athenaeum Jazz at [Scripps Research] the Athenaeum Fall Series

Thursday, September 29; 7:30 PM—Willie Jones III Quintet

Wednesday, October 12, 7:30 PM—The Bad Plus

Wednesday, October 26, 7:30 PM—Miguel Zenón Quartet

Jazz returns to the Athenaeum for our annual series of fall concerts, this time relocated from Scripps Research to our Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room at 1008 Wall Street in La Jolla. (Known as Jazz at Scripps Research, due to construction, the concerts will be held at the Athenaeum library until later 2023.) Seating will be limited, so early reservations are advised! Please join us for three special evenings featuring Willie Jones III, The Bad Plus, and Miguel Zenón.

The series opens on Thursday, September 29, with the Willie Jones III Quintet, an all-star ensemble featuring Jones on drums, past Tonight Show Band member Ralph Moore on tenor sax, San Diego’s own Gilbert Castellanos on trumpet, Sam Hirsh on piano, and Luca Alemanno on bass. Jones first appeared at the Athenaeum library with the stellar collective Black Note alongside longtime friend Castellanos.

An L.A. native who studied with West Coast masters Billy Higgins and Tootie Heath, Jones moved to New York City in 1997. His career credits are the definition of an “in-demand” musician, having been chosen by Hank Jones, Milt Jackson, Cedar Walton, and Arturo Sandoval to be a core member of their ensembles, plus stints with Joe Lovano, Horace Silver, Wynton Marsalis, and Sonny Rollins. In addition to his sideman gigs, Jones has recorded eight albums as a leader, including his latest, Fallen Heroes, which celebrates the music and legacy of four jazz greats Jones had the privilege to work with Ndugu Chancler, Roy Hargrove, Larry Willis, and Jimmy Heath.

JazzTimes wrote, “Jones is one of the most animated drummers on the New York scene . . . this band’s essence: they pounce on every idea that the music presents and bring these vibrant pieces to life.”

Wednesday, October 12, brings the latest incarnation of the renowned cooperative band, The Bad Plus, featuring original members, bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King, plus guitarist Ben Monder and tenor saxophonist Chris Speed. The Bad Plus originally came together 21 years ago and has avoided easy categorization ever since, winning critical hosannas and a legion of fans worldwide with their creativity, unique sound, and flair for live performance. The intensely collaborative band has constantly searched for rules to break and boundaries to cross, bridging genres and techniques while exploring the infinite possibilities of exceptional musicians working in perfect sync.

The band consists of a group of passionate collaborators with no single “leader.” The Bad Plus is set to release their 15th studio recording and debut self-titled album as a dynamic new quartet on September 30. “Evolution is necessary for life and creativity,” say Dave King and Reid Anderson. “We’ve evolved, but we’re still The Bad Plus.”

The New York Times called the group “combustible . . . with a book of finely orchestrated, catchy original tunes, and a knack for radically reconstituted pop covers.” Their latest recording promises to be an exhilarating project that sparks an exciting new chapter for this iconic group.

The series concludes on Wednesday, October 26, with the Miguel Zenón Quartet. Brilliant Puerto Rican–born alto saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenón returns to San Diego with his stellar longtime quartet featuring Venezuelan pianist Luis Perdomo, Austrian bassist Hans Glawischnig, and Puerto Rican drummer Henry Cole, playing the music from his forthcoming album.

A multiple Grammy Award nominee and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow, Zenón is one of a select group of musicians who have balanced and blended the poles of innovation and tradition. Widely considered one of the most influential saxophonists of his generation, he has also developed a unique voice as a composer, concentrating on perfecting a fine mix between Latin American folkloric music and jazz.

The Village Voice wrote, “The big to-do about this saxophonist’s nod to Puerto Rican composers is the way his alto sounds, its effervescent lines carrying the kind of warmth that generates more emotional candor than I previously thought possible. Serving such romantic melodies, it also helps reveal another side of Zenón. His group is an apex of relentless interplay.” The Chicago Tribune commented, “The instrumental prowess of Zenón's playing, the vigor of his compositions, and the sensitivity of his band to Puerto Rican song forms point to new possibilities in jazz.”

The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert. Masks are optional. Proof of vaccination or negative test within 48 hours of the event is required. Event capacity is limited to 70% for now.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall Street, San Diego, United States