About this Event
NYC's unique jazz prayer service, Sundays at 5 since 1965. All are welcome. Free to attend!
Join us in person for this Jazz Vespers featuring Rico Jones (saxophone), Jordan Williams (piano), Yunior Terry (bass), and David Hawkins (drums).
About Rico Jones (saxophone
“Rico is one of the few original voices emerging. His musicianship and passion have forged to create an original voice we will joyfully be hearing more from in the future!” - Vincent Herring
Rico Jones is steadily becoming one of the top young saxophonists of his generation. A Colorado native, Rico has been deeply compelled by artistic expression since early childhood. Before music, Rico taught himself how to draw. His creativity similarly lent itself to music as he started his path as a musician by learning to play by ear. Rico grew up in Denver performing under the guidance of local artists such as Paul Romaine, Greg Gisbert, Eric Gunnison, Art Lande, Brad Goode and Vlad Girshevich. As the years passed Rico became enthralled by black American musical art forms. Blues, and Jazz became a primary mode of expression for Jones and his ensembles. As he grew, his heritage as a Latino with indigenous roots became a focus for his artistic expressions.
He has performed as a leader with notable artists such as Dave Kikoski, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Matt Clohesy, Yasushi Nakimura, Ari Hoenig, Lage Lund, Kush Abaday, Joe Martin, Colin Stranahan, Rick Rosato, Rich Perry, Steven Feifke and many others.
In 2019 Rico Jones was awarded 1st prize in the Vandoren Emerging Artist competition. He later premiered a new big band composition written for him by Todd Bashore at the Music For All festival with Jazz Band of America. Rico was also chosen in 2019 to take part in the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center, and the 2019 JAS Aspen workshop. In October 2019 Rico performed his first international concert in Paris at Sunset/Sunside Jazz Club. In 2020 Rico competed in the first ever Rudin Jazz Championship at Lincoln Center under the direction of Jon Faddis. Jones was also placed as a finalist in the North American Saxophone competition.
As a senior in college he taught masterclasses at high schools and colleges across Colorado as an artist for the Vandoren company.
Rico and two of his ensembles also received a total of 4 Downbeat awards for the 2020 edition of their SDA program including “Jazz Soloist”, “Small Jazz Ensemble” and two awards in the “Latin Jazz” category.
He graduated from his undergrad at the Manhattan School of Music, receiving the William H. Borden award for outstanding achievement in jazz in May of 2020 and was granted a full scholarship to their masters program.
In 2021 Rico Received two more DBA awards from Downbeat Magazine, “Jazz Soloist” and “Jazz Arrangement”.
In April, Rico performed at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre with his band CounterCurrent.
Rico Jones later led his electric band CounterCurrent at the 2021 Telluride Jazz Fest along-side Robert Glasper, Allison Miller, Christian Sands, Preservation Hall Band, and many others.
About Jordan Williams
Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Jordan began playing jazz classics by ear at age 6. He began his formal jazz studies at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts and European classical piano studies at Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School when he was 7 years old.
Jordan is a recent graduate of The George Washington University earning degrees in both Jazz Studies and Engineering. While at GW, he received a four-year scholarship as a Presidential Scholar for the Arts, and performed regularly with the Latin Band, Jazz Combo, The Voice (a gospel band) and at numerous public jazz venues throughout the D.C. Metro area.
Throughout his childhood, he developed a European classical repertoire that included the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joesph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy, and many more.
In conjunction with his European classical studies at an early age, Jordan learned a plethora of jazz standards and began performing with great jazz musicians on the Philadelphia jazz scene. These performers include Robert Landham, Mike Boone, Robert Henderson, Richard Adderly, Sherry Butler, Jonathan Michel, Khary Shaheed, Nimrod Speaks, and more. By age 11, he had formed his own band, The Young Lions Jazz Trio, and he performed his first concert as a leader at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. He also performed in various jazz big bands and orchestras since the age of 12. As a teenager, Jordan began to assist the Musical Director at his local Baptist church in Philadelphia, PA; playing select church services and accompanying singers as instructed. He has worked regularly as a pianist in Baptist churches throughout the Washington, DC and New York, NY metropolitan areas.
His biggest jazz influences have been James P. Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Wynton Kelly, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Kenny Kirkland, Mulgrew Miller, and a plethora of other greats. His current living mentors include his father (who played drums and first introduced him to jazz music), Orrin Evans, Cyrus Chestnut, Jason Moran, Benny Green and more.
Influenced by his community, culture, and the "Sound of Philly", he aspires to perform music that speaks to everyone. Jordan is a recognized jazz pianist on a mission to uphold the great heritage of the American classical art form - jazz.
About Yunior Terry
Yunior Terry Cabrera is Clinical Assistant Professor of Music. He is a graduate of the National School of Art (ENA) in Havana, Cuba with a double major in violin and bass. He holds a B.A. from CalArts, and an M.A. from Rutgers University.
Cabrera's principal teachers in the United States have been Charlie Haden, Derek Oles, Peter Rofe (Los Angeles Philharmonic), Putter Smith, Alphonso Johnson and Kenny Davis. While in Cuba, he performed and toured with the Havana Symphony as a violinist. After completing a year of study and ceremonies, he was initiated into the Cabildo Sabalu of Matanzas, Cuba. As an Arara practitioner, he is a cultural bearer of African rhythms, chants, and ceremonies that originated in the African kingdom of Dahomey. He continues to research these traditions along with other African diaspora-based musical and cultural traditions. Since moving to NYC, he has deepened his understanding of Jazz traditions through performing with Steve Coleman, Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Dafnis Prieto, Eddie Palmieri, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Michele Rosewoman, Andy Narell, Ravi Coltrane, and Yosvany Terry. He was part of the Latin Jazz All Stars project with Dave Valentin, Giovanni Hidalgo, Hilton Ruiz, Steve Turre, and Mario Rivera.
Prior to joining NYU, Cabrera taught master classes and workshops at Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music, India; Bates College; Monash University, Australia; Harlem School of the Arts; Berklee College of Music; and Banff Music Center, Canada. He was also an adjunct professor of music at The New School for Social Research, and a recipient of Meet the Composer Van Lier Fellowship.
About David Hawkins
David Hawkins is a rising drummer based in New York City. His broad musical palette has given him the opportunity to tour, record and perform with a variety of musicians across several genres.
Artists he has performed with include: Branford Marsalis, Johnny O’Neal, Philip Harper, Elew (Eric Lewis), JD Allen, Joey Calderazzo, Bobby Watson, Calvin Keys, Sharay Reed, Nicholas Semrad (Cory Henry) and Jocelyn (in support of Darius Rucker), among others.
Hawkins began his musical development in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, under the tutelage of mentor Dana Murray (Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Witherspoon, Wax Poetic w/ Norah Jones).
In 2023, David relocated to NYC where he is quickly emerging as a prominent member of the area’s music scene, and abroad. He brings a depth and passion that is extremely palpable and set him apart as an artist to watch.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Saint Peter's Church, 619 Lexington Avenue, New York, United States
USD 0.00
