Evento

Merrimans' Playhouse Jazz Performance Series presents Kat Calvosa Quartet

Vocalist Kat Calvosa writes songs that bring a refreshing sense of true innovation to the intertwining worlds of jazz and popular music. With honesty and insight, she writes and interprets lyrics with a wisdom beyond her years, creating beautiful, haunting, and charming stories that move past any limitaion of the idioms to which they are originally attached. Kat is a wonderful new talent with a great band featuring some of New York's finest jazz musicians, including Perry Smith on guitar, Ross Pederson on drums, and Christopher Nolte (from Chicago) on bass.

Kat has established herself as a force in the jazz scene and has been hailed as "one to watch" by critics and fans alike. Her unique yet classic jazz sound and masterful lyrics have helped her build a strong fan-base in New York City and beyond, which has assisted her in the production and release of two independently released albums in 2001 and 2009.

Kat's voice has been described by fans and fellow jazz musicians as rich, sterling, and filled with joy. Her songwriting has been highlighted as a perfect blend of Jazz, Folk, and Pop, with a sound evoking modern and traditional influences. Aside from her original tunes, her ability to take what are commonly referred to as new standards (popular songs written in the 1960s and 1970s) and translate them into a believable Jazz context is one of her most endearing qualities.

Passionately driven to create new music, guitarist Perry Smith combines his love for jazz with broad influences from rock and folk to create his signature style. Based in New York City, Perry performs and records with the Kathleen Grace Band and is a founding member of the critically acclaimed New West Guitar Group, which performed at Merrimans' Playhouse through ArtsEverywhere in 2012. In addition, he has performed and worked under legendary artists such as Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall, Nancy Wilson, Pat Metheny, Harry Belafonte, and Bobby McFerrin. Perry's extensive performance resume includes notable venues such as the Montreal Jazz Festival, the World Expo on Japan, Yoshi's Jazz Club in San Franscisco and Hoffest in Berlin, Germany.

An explosive, dynamic, and compelling voice on the drum set, Ross Pederson has quickly emerged as an in-demand drummer in New York City. Ross has shared the stage with such musicians as Kenny Werner, Chris Potter, Lew Soloff, Jean-Michel Pilc, Rufus Reid, John Ellis, Marc Johnson, Patricia Barber, Jon Hendricks, John Ambercrombie, Rich Perry, Wycliffe Gordon, Gilad Hekselman, Ralph LaLama, among many others. He is a current member of former Blood Sweat and Tears trumpeter Lew Soloff's Quartet, a frequent member of the Kenny Werner Trio, and tours with Blue Note recording artist Patricia Barber. He has also toured with the Eddie Gomez Quartet throughout the world.