Jazz Vespers: Andrea Wolper, Takaaki Otomo, Ken Filiano

About Andrea Wolper:

Although vocalist, composer, and arranger Andrea Wolper started her professional career singing jazz standards, her multidisciplinary talents and musical curiosity have led her to forge her own path down the byways of improvisatory vocal jazz. A “brilliant musical story-teller,” a “superior” songwriter and “terrific arranger,” Andrea’s blend of jazz standards, original compositions, and imaginatively arranged songs from a variety of genres add up to “an inventive, thrilling, appealing musical vision.” A mainstay of the New York jazz scene, she has headlined in top clubs including the Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, Mezzrow, the 55 Bar, Zinc Bar, and innumerable others. She tours in the U.S. and abroad, and also records and performs for other artists across jazz genres, from the straight ahead Heavenly Big Band to free jazz icon William Parker, and the late vocal jazz innovator Jay Clayton. Andrea’s recordings as leader, including her “magnificent,” “exceptional,” “masterful” 2024 release, “Wanderlust,” can be found at andreawolper.bandcamp.com. More at andreawolper.com.

About Takaaki Otomo:

Born and raised in Japan, Takaaki Otomo began studying classical piano before discovering jazz at age 15. He won the Grand Prize at the 1st Kobe Next Jazz Competition in 2007. After relocating to New York, he performed at notable venues such as Jazz at Kitano and Saint Peter’s Church. His 2017 album New Kid in Town, produced by Bernard Hoffer, reached No. 11 on the JazzWeek chart and was featured in DownBeat Magazine. After several active years back in Japan, he returned to New York in May 2025.

About Ken Filiano:

Ken Filiano is a bassist, composer, improviser, and teacher who performs around the world, fusing the rich traditions of the double bass with his own seemingly limitless imagination. A “creative virtuoso” (JazzValley), Ken has performed and recorded with a veritable who's who in multiple genres. He leads two quartets, Quantum Entanglements and Baudolino's Dilemma, and is co-leader of numerous ensembles. He has been an integral member of groups led by such artists as Karl Berger and Ingrid Sertso, Connie Crothers, Bill Dixon, Vinny Golia, Taylor Ho Bynum, Jason Kao Hwang, Diane Moser, Roswell Rudd, Fay Victor, WeFreeStrings, and numerous others, and collaborates with poets Davida Singer, Barry Wallenstein, UpSurge!, and others. Ken's extensive discography includes the solo bass CD, "Subvenire"(Nine Winds) and Quantum Entanglements' "Dreams From a Clown Car" (Clean Feed). He teaches master classes in bass and improvisation, has a private bass studio, is a frequent guest teacher at School for Visual Arts and Hunter College (New York City), and is a Guiding Artist and Advisor at Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Saint Peter's Church, 619 Lexington Avenue, New York, United States