Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM – 2 set(s) of music
Line-up:
Nir Felder – Guitars
Michael Janisch – Double Bass
Gary Novak – Drums
About
Nir Felder has been called “the next big jazz guitarist” (NPR) and a “whiz kid” (The New York Times), fusing jazz, rock, and beyond with a sound that’s both sophisticated and explosive. A Berklee graduate and Jimi Hendrix Award winner, he has collaborated with a staggering range of artists, from jazz icons like Diana Krall and Brad Mehldau to crossover stars like John Mayer, Snarky Puppy, and Snoop Dogg. His albums—Golden Age (Sony), II (Ropeadope), and III (La Reserve, 2024)—have cemented him as a fearless innovator.
Joining Felder is first-call American bassist Michael Janisch (Joe Lovano, Kurt Rosenwinkel), a MOBO-nominated solo artist, producer, and founder of Whirlwind Recordings, now based in London. On drums, Dan Weiss (Craig Taborn, David Binney, Starebaby), a preeminent all-around drummer and percussionist, brings a genre-defying mastery that blends jazz, metal, and Indian classical music. Together, this powerhouse trio delivers high-energy, boundary-pushing music that connects jazz purists and new audiences alike.
Called “the next big jazz guitarist” by NPR, hailed by the New York Times as a “whiz kid”, and dubbed “incredible” by the Montreal Gazette, Nir Felder is a new voice in jazz and rock guitar. Growing up right outside New York City, Felder spent his youth playing in rock bands while learning about jazz at the local record store, inspired by icons from John Coltrane to voodoo chile Jimi Hendrix. After attending Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, Felder moved to New York City in 2006 and quickly became one of the city’s most highly sought after sideman, performing and recording with an eclectic group of luminaries in jazz and other genres including Diana Krall, Brad Mehldau, John Mayer, Snoop Dogg, Sam Smith, Ben Platt (with whom he recorded the Netflix special “Live at Radio City Music Hall”), Meghan Trainor, Kristen Bell, Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Common, Vulfpeck, Anderson Paak, Marcus Miller, Kacey Musgraves, Benson Boone, Dave Chapelle, Rina Sawayama, Dave Matthews Band, Tori Kelly, Jennifer Hudson, Terri Lyne Carrington (with whom he recorded the Grammy-winning “Money Jungle”, one of three Grammy nominated albums he has worked on), Terrace Martin, Cautious Clay, Kamasi Washington, Blood Sweat and Tears, Robert Glasper, Amy Schumer, Victor Wooten, Meshell Ndegeocello, Dianne Reeves, the New York City Opera, and many others on tour throughout six continents and at venues including Radio City Music Hall, Austin City Limits and the Village Vanguard and national television stations NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, and Fox (Good Morning America, the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night with Seth Myers, Maya and Marty, the US Open, the Today Show, the View, NPR’s Tiny Desk series and many more). Seeking a more personal creative outlet, Felder first formed his own quartet in 2010, recording the critically acclaimed major label debut “Golden Age” (Sony/OKeh), called “lyrical and lofty” by The New York Times, “mesmerizing” by The Boston Globe, “a melodic triumph” by the New York City Jazz Record, “mind-boggling” by All About Jazz and “a great record” by Downbeat. Six years after the release of Golden Age, Felder’s latest project is a set of two trio recordings featuring bassist Matt Penman and drummer Jimmy Macbride. Using the studio as an instrument and the latest in sound design technology the result is a layered music that blends jazz improvisation with other genres in new ways and stretches the boundaries of what a jazz record is and can be. He is the winner of both the 2021 and 2023 Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll for “Rising Star Guitarist” and currently teaches at both Berklee College of Music and The New School in New York City.
Michael Janisch has established himself as a tireless creative force across the developing international spheres of contemporary improvised and experimental music. Based in London (originally from the USA), he successfully traverses this creative topography as a first-call electric & double bassist, MOBO-Award nominated solo artist, composer, prolific producer, and owner of Whirlwind Recordings, which has become one of the world’s premiere indie labels of the last decade. Janisch’s previous solo albums have been nominated for multiple industry awards, while getting radio spins on Gilles Peterson, NPR, WDR, BBC, JazzFM shows as well as coverage in Jazzwise, Jazz Thing, Downbeat & Concerto Magazines, The NY Times & Guardian to international acclaim. Some of Janisch’s playing credits include George Garzone, Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, Phil Robson, Mark Turner, John Taylor, Joe Lovano, Ingrid Jenson, Jaleel Shaw, Kenny Wheeler, Melissa Aldana, Lee Konitz, Donny McCaslin, ESKA, Walter Smith III.
Gary Novak is an American session drummer widely respected for his contributions to jazz, rock, fusion and many other genres. Novak’s versatility and deep groove have made him a go-to drummer across genres. He has worked with fusion giants Bob Berg and Allan Holdsworth, rock and pop stars such as Alanis Morissette and Rob Zombie, and R&B icons like Chaka Khan and Eros Ramazzotti. His ability to effortlessly shift between jazz intricacy and rock power has earned him a place among the elite drummers in the industry. Described by critics as “powerful and highly interactive,” Novak’s playing combines precision, feel, and a deep understanding of ensemble dynamics. Fellow musicians praise his “pocket” and musicality, with many citing him as one of the most reliable and creative drummers working today. Whether in the studio or on stage, Gary Novak brings a distinctive voice to every project, cementing his reputation as a world-class drummer with an extraordinary career in modern music.