Feb 24, Fri | 7:30 pm: Rachel Z, duo with bassist Solomon Dorsey
Rachel Z (aka Rachel Nicolazzo) first made her mark in the jazz world performing with the classic fusion band Steps Ahead, then working with Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell, and others. In the 1990s, she recorded her debut for Columbia Records, and worked with Wayne Shorter on his High Life project, playing synthe-sizer and piano and touring extensively. Rachel has released several more recordings as a leader, including Love is the Power, blending hip-hop grooves with melodic piano and poems about the search for eternal love and wisdom through music.*
Buy Tickets/Reserve Seats

Mar 9, Fri | 7:30 pm: Vijay Iyer, solo piano
One of the most original and commanding pianists and composers to emerge in recent years, Vijay Iyer is the son of Indian immigrants and a largely self-taught musician. His recordings as a leader have elicited raves rarely heard: "unfailingly imaginative and significant" (JazzTimes); “bracingly expressionist jazz” (The New York Times), “an oncoming phenomenon, already up to his fingers in the most advanced music” (Amiri Baraka). In addition to working in creative music circles (with Steve Coleman, Roscoe Mitchell, Amiri Baraka, Dafnis Prieto, others), Mr. Iyers has a Masters in Physics, a Ph.D. in Technology and the Arts, and lectures on topics ranging from composition and improvisation to cognitive science.*
Buy Tickets/Reserve Seats

Mar 16, Fri | 7:30 pm: Laurence Hobgood, piano; Robert Pinsky, narrator
An Evening of POEMJAZZ
Featuring renowned poet Robert Pinsky and Grammy-winning jazz pianist Laurence Hobogood. POEMJAZZ treats a voice speaking poetry as having a role like that of a horn: speech with its own poetic melody and rhythm, in conversation with the the music.
Buy Tickets/Reserve Seats

Mar 23, Fri | 7:30 pm: Peter Furlan/Neil Alexander Trio
Peter Furlan is a saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator. He has performed and recorded with Te-rumasa Hino, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Foster, Brian Lynch, Steven Bernstein, The Mahavishnu Project, and many others. He is the founder, artistic director and conductor of the Rockland Youth Jazz Ensemble and an ajunct music professor at Bergen Community College. The trio features accomplished pianist and key-boardist Neil Alexander.*
Buy Tickets/Reserve Seats

Apr 13, Fri | 7:30 pm: Latin Jazz: Percussionist/Vocalist Mayra Casales “Unplugged”
Mayra Casales is considered to be one of the most versatile and well rounded percussionists of her generation. Born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Miami, Florida, Mayra has a firey and loving spirit which can be felt in her enthusiastic playing. Mayra has performed and recorded with some of the all time great jazz and Latin artists, including Regina Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Wayne Shorter, Ray Barretto, Angela Bofil, Jon Lucien, Phyllis Hyman, Carmen Lundy, Tania Maria, and Grady Tate.*
Buy Tickets/Reserve Seats

Apr 27, Fri | 7:30 pm: The Next Generation of Jazz - Manhattan School of Music Jazz Arts Students
Jonathan Ragonese, sax; Christian Sands, piano
Sax sensation Jonathan Ragonese, currently pursuing a Masters of Music degree at MSM, has already per-formed with some of the top jazz musicians in the world including Dave Liebman, James Moody, Patti Aus-tin, Bob Mintzer, Steve Wilson, and many others. Piano wizard Christian Sands, also currently pursuing a masters degree at MSM, has performed with Christian McBride, Lou Donaldson, Rufus Reid, Phil Woods, and Wycliffe Gordon, to name a few. Winner of many awards and competitions, Christian has also made two appearances at the 2006 and 2007 Grammy Awards, including a highly publicized duet with legendary pianist Oscar Peterson.*
Buy Tickets/Reserve Seats

*Presented by Rockland Jazz & Blues Society - www.rcjbs.org