Music of the Americas: Duo, Trio, and Quartet

Wednesday, October 5, 10 am

The music of guitarist Eric Kurimski has been lauded as “a groundbreaking fusion of jazz and Afro-Peruvian forms” by the Boston Globe and a “brilliant co-mingling of traditions” by Guitar Player Magazine. A native of upstate New York educated first in jazz and then steeped in Afro-Peruvian tradition through years of apprenticeship with the celebrated guitarist Carlos Hayre, Kurimski has performed with great practitioners of Afro-Peruvian music, including Manuel Donayre, Juan Medrano Cotito, Marco Campos, Freddy “Huevito” Lobatón, Julie Freundt, and many more. His guitar can be heard alongside Peru’s most beloved singer, Eva Ayllón, on the Latin-Grammy nominated album Mujeres Con Cajones, and his first solo release, Réplica, which was chosen as album of the year by Latin Jazz Corner. His many New York-based collaborations include recordings with Sofia Rei and Lara Bello, as well as another Latin Grammy-nominated record with Sonia de los Santos. He has performed on some of the world's most significant stages, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Gran Teatro Nacional de Lima, South by Southwest, and WOMEX.

From home in Queens, Kurimski and his Quartet (Kurimski, Carlos Henderson, Jhair Sala, and Yayo Serka), sent us his own "Ya."

Thursday, October 6, 10 am

Suspenso Del Norte is a Mexican norteño father-son duo based in Queens. Oscar and PabIo Javier perform songs and corridos with lyrics that often deal with socially relevant topics about the immigrant experience in the US.

From their home in Queens, they sent us this version of "Sonora y sus ojos negros," made famous by Miguel y Miguel.

Friday, October 7, 10 am

Argentine pianist and composer Abel Rogantini has been on En Casa a few times. He has performed at jazz festivals around the world, including ORF in Austria, Padova suona Jazz in Italy, LaPataia and Jazz a la calle in Uruguay, Jazz al Parque and Ajazzgo in Colombia, and many others. He has released over 60 albums. Música anfibia, which he released with his quartet in 2016, was nominated for the Premio Carlos Gardel. He recorded his own "Milonguinha" with Paquito D'Rivera at Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2010. Rogantini studied with Manolo Juárez, Santiago Giaccobe, Aldo Antognazzi, Danilo Pérez, Renato Chicco, Marc Copland, Fred Hersch, Bruce Barth, and Mulgrew Miller.

The Abel Rogantini Trio (which also includes bassist Diego Wainer and drummer Bruno Varela) explores an eclectic repertoire in which jazz is combined with Argentine folk music, tango, and the rhythmic soul of the music of the River Plate.

From their home in Buenos Aires, the trio sent us this version of "Nunca tuvo novio."

The MetLife Foundation Music of the Americas concert series is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor MetLife Foundation.

The Fall 2022 Music program is also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and by the Howard Gilman Foundation. 

Additional support comes from the Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, The Amphion Foundation, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, New Music USA’s Organizational Development Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Association of Performing Arts Professionals’ ArtsForward program, made possible through support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and The Augustine Foundation.