2023-24 Boise Jazz Society Season

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Note:  A few BJS member turnback tickets are usually available
at our Member Services Table,  5 minutes prior to each performance.
For more information contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click to Hear a Message from Harold to Boiseans

Harold Lopez-Nussa Trio
with Gregoire Maret
The Soul of Cuban Jazz Today!
In Concert

“López-Nussa’s single-note grace is akin to Herbie Hancock’s,
and his two-fisted attacks are as joyous as Chick Corea’s,” DOWNBEAT

December 3, 2023
Riverside Hotel Sapphire Room
2900 W. Chinden Boulevard, Boise, Idaho
Choose from two Sunday concert times | 5 p.m. or 8 p.m.
All seating reserved | Adult beverages available | Free parking
GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Student Discounts Available

Sponsored by

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Boise Jazz Society @ Boise State University
Harold Lopez-Nussa Trio
with Gregoire Maret
Free, Educational Outreach Events
Morrison Center Recital Hall, Boise, Idaho
December 4, 2023
4 - 5:15 pm:  Inform-ance (Performance and Q&A)
5:30 - 6:30 pm:  Afro-Cuban Dance Rhythms in American Jazz 
(Music, Conversation, and Demonstration)

Give a listen to: Harold López-Nussa - Funky (Official Video)

        Cuban-born pianist and composer Harold López-Nussa begins an exciting new chapter of his fascinating career with his Blue Note debut Timba a la Americana, a vibrant album teeming with joy and pathos that was inspired by the pianist’s recent decision to leave his Cuban homeland and begin a new life in France. Produced by Snarky Puppy bandleader Michael League, Timba a la Americana unveils a brand-new sound across 10 dynamic original compositions performed by a tight-knit band featuring harmonica virtuoso Grégoire Maret, Luques Curtis on bass, Bárbaro “Machito” Crespo on congas, and Harold’s brother Ruy Adrián López-Nussa on drums.  Harold traces the origins of Timba a la Americana to a day during his family’s first winter after leaving Cuba to live in Toulouse, France. It was cold. He was homesick. Harold found himself flipping through voice memos on his phone, listening to jams and fragments of song ideas he’d documented years before. These happened on gigs, or in the music space of his home, or on the street when he was seized with an idea. The little seedlings of songs ported him back to the rhythmic communication that was part of his everyday life in Cuba.  “It was emotional for me to be in France and listen back to these ideas from the past because the transition for me was not easy,” Harold recalls. “In Cuba, musicians would come to my house several times a week, to play, to party. My daughters grew up going to concerts every week. We were very active with music.”  Those recorded inspirations did more than simply sharpen Harold’s longing for his previous life halfway around the world. They confirmed what he already knew: His next creative moves were going to be different. Very different.  The pianist had released a string of acclaimed Latin jazz projects under his own name and participated in collaborative all-star assemblages like Ninety Miles with Stefon Harris, David Sanchez, and Christian Scott. Still, he felt a strong urge to escape the conventional thinking about song form and structure that’s defined Latin jazz since the 1950s. The ideas on his phone – lyrical melodies, intricate odd-meter vamps – suggested new freedoms, unconventional forms. He wrestled with the challenging shapes of the fragments until they became songs.  “It’s almost like I needed to think about Cuba from far away,” Harold says. “I was having all these feelings of challenge, new life, new things going on for us. It was a lot of new, and of course that would be reflected in the music, but I was still feeling this conflict: I want this music to sound like Cuba, but how can it if I’m not there?”

https://www.haroldlopeznussa.com/

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Grégoire Maret

    Gregoire Maret was born in 1975 in Geneva, Switzerland and began playing the Harmonica at age 17. His childhood was filled with a diverse array of musical influences from his Harlem born, African-American mother and his Swiss father, a local jazz musician. Upon graduating from the prestigious Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique de Genève, Gregoire made the critical decision to move to New York City to pursue Jazz studies at the New School University. Over time Maret honed his craft, becoming one of the most sought after Harmonica players in the world. He has developed his own unique sound and his versatile style enables him to play effortlessly across different musical genres. He is often compared to legends Toots Thielemans and Stevie Wonder and has worked with an incredible list of musicians including Youssn’Dour, Me' Shell Ndegeocello, David Sanborn, George Benson, Cassandra Wilson...  In 2005, Grégoire toured with the Pat Metheny Group, receiving a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. He also won the Jazz Journalists Association ‘Player of the Year Award’. After his Grammy win, Maret embarked on a two-year tour with the world-class bassist Marcus Miller and subsequently joined Herbie Hancock’s band.  After spending years on the road, Maret was asked by Suzuki Harmonica to assist in creating his own Gregoire Maret G-48 and G-48W Signature Chromatic Harmonica series. He provided critical advice on the materials used as well as other intricate aspects, consequently contributing to the production of high quality instruments of which all participants are proud of today.  Maret continues to record and tour with notable musicians and co-leads the trio Gaïa, with pianist Federico Gonzales Peña and drummer Gene Lake. Grégoire is currently working on his first solo project.  Most recently, in May 2010, Grégoire Maret played at The Concert for the Rainforest with Elton John and Sting.

Visit:  https://www.npr.org/artists/15446828/gregoire-maret

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Ruy Adrian López Nussa

      Born in Havana, Cuba, Ruy Adrian López Nussa graduated from ISA (Higher Art Institute) with a specialty of percussion.  His ability, virtuosity and versatility allow him to play with a variety of prestigious musicians and bands, such as Ernan López-Nussa, David Sánchez, Sthepon Harris, Harold López-Nussa, Aldo López Gavilán, the rock and roll band Dead Daisies, Joao Donato, Frank Fernández, and the Symphony Orchestra of Moscow.  He has performed not only in the main stages in Cuba but also at relevant international events: Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Monte Carlo Jazz Festival, Marciac Jazz Festival, SF Jazz Festival, Orleans Jazz Festival among many others. In addition he has played in the most relevant jazz clubs around the world such as the Cotton Club in, Blue Note (NYC), Ronnie Scott (London), Carnegie Hall, and the New Morning in Paris.  Visit: https://canopusdrums.com/en/endorsers/ruy-adrian/

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Luques Curtis

       Luques Curtis was born 1983 in Hartford, CT. After having formal training on piano and percussion, he found himself wanting to play the bass. Luques studied at the Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Arts, Artist Collective, and Guakia with Dave Santoro, Volcan Orham, Nat Reeves, Paul Brown, and others. While attending high school, he was also very fortunate to study the Afro-Caribbean genre with bass greats Andy Gonzalez and Joe Santiago. With his talent and hard work he earned a full scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College Of Music in Boston. There he studied with John Lockwood and Ron Mahdi. While in Boston he was also able to work with great musicians such as Gary Burton, Ralph Peterson, Donald Harrison, Christian Scott, and Francisco Mela.  Now living in the New York area, Mr. Curtis has been performing worldwide with Eddie Palmieri, Stefon Harris, Ralph Peterson, Christian Scott, Sean Jones, Orrin Evans, Christian Sands, and others. He is the recent recipient of the 2016 Down Beat Rising Star Bassist on the Critics Poll and also received the Ralph Bunche Fellowship to complete his Masters Degree at the Mason Gross School of the Arts. He co-owns a record label called Truth Revolution Records along side his brother, Zaccai. They have five releases under "Curtis Brothers" with the most recent being "Algorithm". Luques was also part of Brian Lynch's Grammy winning CD "Simpatico" and his Grammy nominated "Madera Latino" as well as Christian Scott's Grammy nominated CD "Rewind That". He also produced Grammy nominated "Entre Colegas" by Andy Gonzalez. You can hear him on Eddie Palmieri's "Sabiduria" and "Mi Luz Mayor"; Gary Burton "Next Generations"; Dave Valentin "Come Fly With Me"; Sean Jones' "Im*Pro*Vise","Roots","Kaleidoscope",and "The Search Within"; Orrin Evans' CD "Faith In Action". As a sideman, Luques Curtis has participated in over 100 recordings.  Visit: https://www.luquescurtis.com/

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General Admission on sale beginning November 17, 2023 at
 https://www.morrisoncenter.com/events/detail/delfeayo-marsalis

Delfeayo Marsalis and the
Uptown Jazz Orchestra

A Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday Extravaganza!

February 13, 2024** | 7:00 p.m. Morrison Center Main Hall
Sponsored by Paula Knickerbocker & Jo-Anne and Jeff Smith
** Swinging with the Cool School!
Free Student Education Event | 10 a.m.

Y'all Listen Up, You Hear!
Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra at New Trier's 2018 Jazzfest   

       Please visit:  https://www.dmarsalis.com/

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 The Riverside Hotel Sapphire Room 

All seating reserved | Adult beverages available | Free Parking I Dinner is not Available in the Sappphire Room 

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Support Jazz Right Here in Boise and take advantage of the Idaho Education Tax Credit!

Donations to the Boise Jazz Society are through Boise State University and qualify for an Idaho Educational Tax Credit — a reduction in the actual tax you owe.  If you itemize your taxes, a donation to any of our education campaigns below may create income tax deductions on both your state and federal returns, plus a 50% Idaho income tax credit.  Your tax benefit is dependent on your personal income level and filing status.  Please contact your tax consultant for additional information.

Click on the Boise Jazz Society Fund at Boise State University:
https://www.boisestate.edu/giving/donate/

Or mail your donation via check to:
The Boise Jazz Society
Boise State University
Department of Music
1910 University Drive
Boise, Idaho 83725-1560

FROM JAZZ LOVERS EVERYWHERE, WE THANK YOU!

For more information please contact:
Boise Jazz Society @ Boise State University
Department of Music
1910 University Drive
Boise, Idaho 83725-1560
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.