May 11, 2018 8:00PM Yosvany Terry Afro-Cuban Sextet at The Painted Bride

Cuban-born saxophonist and composer Yosvany Terry, along with his powerhouse Afro-Cuban Sextet, blends musical influences from West Africa, Cuba, and American jazz. Their singular sound, now recognized as one of the most ambitious cross-cultural visions on the contemporary scene, is marked by Afro-Cuban poly-rhythms and exquisite post-bop angles. New York Times declares that Terry’s music has “helped redefine Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz as a complex new idiom.”

For Terry, “musicians are cultural ambassadors by default—constantly working with people from different cultures, and traveling to different places. With Today’s Opinion I had a chance to incorporate these cultural influences, while offering my own ‘op-ed’ piece on where I think music is and any analysis of where I see jazz headed.”

Terry is joined by a stellar cast of longtime collaborators. The group is built upon the commanding bass work of Yunior Terry, Yosvany’s younger brother. Haitian-American drummer Obed Calvaire, a rising force on the jazz scene, provides dazzling rhythmic currents, while Cuban pianist Osmany Paredes is a formidable bandleader and composer in his own right. Trumpeter Michael Rodriguez is a leading voice on the New York scene best known for his work with Charlie Haden (and his brother, pianist Robert Rodriguez) and Cuban percussion virtuoso Mauricio Herrera, like Terry a cultural bearer of various Afro-Cuban traditions, completes the ensemble.

The Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine St.
Philadelphia, Pa
Tickets: $20 + fee