Erica Seguine - composer/conductor
Ben Kono, Zac Zinger, John Lowery, Evan Harris, Andrew Hadro - reeds
Tony Kadleck, Michael Dudley, Dave Smith, Alex Norris - trumpets
Tim Shneier, Nick Grinder, Bob Bennett, Becca Patterson - trombones
Tammy Scheffer - voice
Meg Okura - violin
Martha Kato - piano
Olli Hirvonen - guitar
Evan Gregor - bass
Paolo Cantarella - drums
“For me, finding the essential energy of what I want to express, and attuning carefully to the means to create it, is the most important thing I can do as a composer. In a way, it’s an act of connecting deeply within self through this sound energy, and then sharing it out with the world. I also strive for honesty and openness in my music, expressing feelings and experiences that are sometimes seen as taboo and scary to share.”
Erica's music explores the imaginative and psychological worlds, immersing the listener through sonic landscapes and storytelling. Winner of the 2013 BMI Foundation Charlie Parker Prize/2014 Manny Albam Commission, the 2014 ASCAP Johnny Mandel Prize, a 2021 NJ Composers Guild grant, a 2020 ISJAC COVID-19 Relief Commssion Grant, and several ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composers Awards, Erica has written musical stories ranging from a ravine flowing through Central Park, to a spiral through depression, to a Irish reel morphing into a big band blowout. In addition to her own orchestra, her compositions and arrangements have been performed by ensembles such as the Metropole Orchestra, the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra, the Danish Radio Big Band, New York Youth Symphony Jazz, and many others.
In 2011, Seguine co-founded, with composer Shon Baker, their 20-musician ensemble, the Erica Seguine/Shon Baker Orchestra (ESSBO), which has performed all around NYC, including Birdland Jazz Club, the Jazz Gallery, Lunar Faire (a witchy/weird night market/festival), Culture Lab LIC, ShapeShifter Lab, Tea Lounge/Slope Lounge, Grace Church, and in 2023, released their debut album, "The New Day Bends Light", which was produced by Darcy James Argue. Giovanni Russonello of the New York Times has described the music as “Vast, multifaceted, semi-abstract compositions that deal in dissonance and overload but often resolve into major-key resplendence", and in 2017, New York Music Daily has said “In terms of majestic sweep, cinematic scope, and clever outside-of-the-box humor, it’s hard to think of a more interesting group in big band jazz...” Erica has also conducted with many large ensembles NYC, including Meg Okura's Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, Joel Harrison Big Band, Ron Wilkins/Becca Patterson Big Band, The D.O.M.E. Experience, Sam Blakeslee's Large Group, the Makrokosmos Orchestra, and others. Deciding to take an independent direction, this will be the debut of Erica leading her orchestra solo.
As a courtesy to audience members who reside in different time zones, as well as to our artists, the live stream link will remain alive for 24 hours from the time of original broadcast. It will be taken down at that point. We want many people to enjoy the music, which ultimately belongs to the artists who created it. We thank you for your support and understanding!
SPONSORSHIP
The Jazz Gallery is a not-for-profit arts organization presenting emerging artists who challenge convention, take creative risks, and lead their field as performers, composers and thinkers. We provide a platform for artists to discover their unique voice and a home for established musicians to continue to experiment and grow. At The Jazz Gallery, artists and audiences come together from around the world to explore new creative ideas, collaborate and celebrate jazz as a dynamic art form that reflects our ever-changing world.
We rely on the generosity of our members and community to keep the music playing, thank you for your continued and much appreciated support! If you would like to sponsor a Livestream Concert, please use the links above or be in touch with our Executive Director, Janet Luhrs, here.