"Carney's compositions range far beyond standard jazz fare, drawing from genres as disparate as Indian ragas and New Orleans piano, Brazilian afoxe and Jarrett-esque lyricism. His playing is exquisite, and he gets the most out of the beautiful sound of his piano."
- Ernie Rideout, KEYBOARD

"Not only the real deal, but flat-out one of the most imaginative composers and players around."
- Brandt Reiter, LA Weekly

Since moving to NYC in November 2004, keyboardist & composer James Carney has performed with the likes of Ralph Alessi, Ravi Coltrane, and Tony Malaby. Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Carney moved to California in 1986 to study jazz at CalArts with Charlie Haden and James Newton.

Carney received the 1999 Thelonious Monk International Composers Award, and he also received "Best Jazz Artist" honors at the 2002 LA Weekly Music Awards. He has released three well-received albums: "Fables from the Aqueduct" (1994); "Offset Rhapsody" (1997); and "Thread" (2002). Carney's music might be described as inclusive jazz; he favors assymetrical forms and complex harmonic models influenced as much by classical, rock, pop, world and the avant-garde as by the jazz tradition. He also composes chamber music and was recently commissioned by the Extension Ensemble to create a ten-minute brass quintet for this adventurous group.

Now residing in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter, Carney also curates the tuesday night jazz & improvised music series "konceptions@koze" at the Koze lounge in Park Slope.
 Cover $10   www.jamescarney.net

“Brilliantly performed…very impressive.”
- Ahmad Jamal, jazz piano legend, of ‘100 Dreams Ago.’

"In the era of concept records, this startling young pianist has flipped the script: the message behind One Hundred Dreams Ago is ‘let's just play.’ Accordingly the trio gets its bustle on. Ellington's small groups are in the air here, and the pleasure Waltzer generates is bountiful.”
- Jim Macnie, the Village Voice
 Cover $10   www.benwaltzer.com

Nick Bisesi has performed with such notables as Ray Charles, Nancy Wilson, David Liebman, and Ramsey Lewis,. His compositions range from gritty downtown industrial sounds to folkish melodies to East Indian scales. This is the NYC debut performance of Nick's new CD Gemini.

Gemini exudes a sense of energy and freshness. Nick's knowledge and respect for the tradition of jazz is evident; but he clearly wants to chart his own path.
-Mark F. Turner, All about Jazz

Bisesi can't help but infuse the music with throaty emotion.
-Neil Tesser, Miles Ahead, Listen Here, & Chicago Reader's Critics Choice

A talented and highly individual tenor-saxophonist.
-Scott Yanow, Author of nine books including Jazz On Film, Trumpet Kings, Bebop and Jazz On Record 1917-76

Nick's polished sound and technique, combined with a fine ear and a lively imagination, make him a formidable player...
-David Franklin - Jazz Times

Half price when you show your IAJE credentials
 Cover $10   www.nickbisesi.com

9:45 - Vocalist/violinist/dancer Jen Shyu & actor/performance artist Soomi Kim present an excerpt from Kim's "Lee/gendary", a multidisciplinary piece inspired by Bruce Lee. Shyu will also collaborate with dancer Lenora Lee and cellist Rubin Kodelhi in spontaneous text/movement/music composition.

”Big Bang”, a new music and mixed media series every third Monday of the month is the creative collision of musicians with artists in spoken word, dance, visual art, video art, found words, theatre, etc. presenting works in progress. The evenings will include two featured groups followed by a brief talk back with the audience after each set. Every evening ends by inviting audience members to join in an informal jam session for about 10 minutes.

Electronics player Brian Moran began his performance career in experimental dance, whose working methods he later adapted to music and sound design. A one-time collaborator with artists as diverse as Lydia Lunch, Ikue Mori, the live video group NNeng, and the Yoshiko Chuma and Stephanie Skura dance companies, his approach to musical performance employs a variety of circuit-bent electronics, analog synthesizers, field recordings, and processing devices. Brian is currently attending his final semester in the nursing program at Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Trained in Persian classical percussion and other near-eastern styles, Matt Hannafin has performed at venues as diverse as the United Nations General Assembly Hall, the New England Conservatory of Music, and CBGBs. His collaborators have included a similarly wide range of artists, from Turkish multi-instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Ukrainian bandura virtuoso Julian Kytasty to Borbetomagus guitarist Donald Miller and legendary industrial percussionist Z'ev. For improvisation, his approach blends the techniques and timbres of eastern and western percussion with sonorities and ideas borrowed from nature, electronic music, and the urban-industrial soundscape.

Cynthia Spencer works with contemplative arts, both traditional and contemporary forms, as a way of integrating the view of meditation into all aspects of life. This exploration began with movement improvisation with Barbara Dilley and has since extended to include such forms as kado (the way of flowers), brush calligraphy, and qigong. She has performed at downtown arts community venues such as PS 122 and with the Dan Tao school at the Interfaith Center of NY.

contact Big Bang: inthesoupproductions@yahoo.com
 Cover $10   www.jenshyu.com ,  /www.sachimayrecords.com

Now in its 6th year, The Songwriter's Beat is New York’s most popular acoustic songwriter’s series, where songwriters are encouraged to perform new material in a supportive and intimate atmosphere.

Curated / hosted by multiple ASCAP Pop Award winner Valerie Ghent, The Songwriter’s Beat features top up-and-coming songwriters. Each month four songwriters of varying musical styles perform original songs and are encouraged to try out their newest material and arrangements.

Founded in 2000 by Valerie Ghent, The Songwriter's Beat has presented over 200 (hailing from all over the globe: from the US, UK, Australia, South Africa and Japan!) and keeps growing!

The Songwriter's Beat welcomes songwriters from around the world, so if you are planning your trip to New York, allow time for The Songwriter's Beat!
 Cover $5   songwritersbeat.com ,  valghent.com

Kim Bock Quartet plays modern jazz with an edge, incorporating clever arrangements and a hard swinging beat. The music, inspired by 1960’s jazz legends Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane, showcases the deep musical sensibility and instrumental expertise of Kim Bock and his band mates.

David Smith, trumpet – An exceedingly sought-after trumpetist on the New York scene. David has plays with Alan Ferber Nonet, Delphian Orchestra (Fresh Sound artists) and Bill Mobley amongst many other.

Adam Armstrong, bass - appears on more that 60 albums and has performed with Billy Cobham, Kenny Wheeler, Kenny Kirkland and Maria Schneider

Peter Retzlaff, drums - a highly regarded veteran on the scene. Peter has played with Kenny Werner, Greg Osby, Diane Schuur, Gary Versace and many more. Furthermore, Peter is a very experienced clinician and on the faculty at The Drummers Collective – New York
 Cover $8   www.kimbock.com

Under the Greek Moon: Lina Orfanos sings Manos Hadjidakis

with guest vocalists Corey James Crawford and Barbara Waxenberg

An evening of sublime songs based on the cinema and theater music of Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis. Featuring selections from City Blues, Great Eros, Lorca’s Blood Wedding, Mythologia, Never on Sunday and the Romaic Agora.

 Cover $15   linaorfanos.com