Joshua Espinoza, piano | Kris Monson, double bass | Jaron Lamar Davis, drums
Possessing a wide color palette, the Joshua Espinoza Trio explores shimmering harmonies and shifting orchestral contours with the aesthetic of a chamber ensemble as much as a jazz trio. Influenced by artists as disparate as Herbie Hancock, bassist Avishai Cohen, Gerald Clayton, and composer Maurice Ravel, the Joshua Espinoza Trio takes listeners on a journey for the ears and mind alike. Through their genre-bending approach to songwriting, they’ve built a cross-generational audience of diverse backgrounds bound together by their love of good music. Their debut album “Journey Into Night” was released in June 2019. Joshua Espinoza Trio is Joshua Espinoza, Kris Monson (bass), and Jaron Lamar Davis (drums). For more information, visit www.joshuaespinoza.com.
‟Espinoza has an elegant touch…exquisitely done…” – All About Jazz
‟A strong classical impression…with an explosion of freedom that jazz offers.” – Jazz in Family (Italy)
‟…one of the most exciting up-coming pianists…” – Jazz in Europe
‟Espinoza is a powerful storyteller on his instrument.” – CapitalBop
‟…a lively journey into a surreal world of imagination.” – Cambridge Chronicle
Navigating a fine line between two cultures is nothing new for American pianist and composer Joshua Espinoza. As the son of a Mexican immigrant father and rural Appalachian mother, the pull of multiple distinct identities has always been a reality for him. “Growing up Latino in the American South,” says Espinoza, “I felt like I had to navigate social situations carefully, even within my own family.” He recounts moments when someone would make derogatory generalizations about Mexicans, then qualify it with ‘but, you’re not really a Mexican.’ “Let’s just say I learned how to swerve in and out of various identities quickly, so I wouldn’t feel ostracized.” In this day of heightened divisiveness, Espinoza believes creating art is one important way of bridging the gap.
In his music, one can hear Espinoza swerving between identities. “I feel like my playing inhabits the space between jazz and classical music. I’m enamored with composers like Debussy, Ravel, Chopin, but crave the freedom of Art Tatum and Bill Evans.” As a pianist, Espinoza is particularly adept at switching seamlessly from shimmering impressionism to virtuosic outbursts akin to Chick Corea or Keith Jarrett, whom he cites as major influences. In sound, as in life, Espinoza has learned to adapt to situations on the fly, making for enthralling music on the bandstand. What’s the place of an artist in this increasingly chaotic social landscape? According to Espinoza, “music is one of the few things that can bring people together, despite our differences. If my songs can quiet a listener’s mind for just a moment, and allow these perceived distinctions to drip away, then I’ve achieved my goal as an artist.”
This performance is made possible with the support of Jazz Road, a national initiative of South Arts, which is funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with additional support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Tickets: $5 students, $15 Seniors, $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
Doors at 7:00pm, Show at 7:30pm
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