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Adam Moezinia Folk Element Trio

Join the Adam Moezinia Folk Element Trio at Piedmont Center for the Arts for an evening of innovative and soulful music. Rooted in the rich traditions of jazz, the trio explores new musical horizons by incorporating different styles of folk music from around the world, including West Africa, the Caribbean, the UK and Appalachia. Experience original compositions alongside reimagined classics such as "Tennessee Waltz," Robert Johnson's "Come On In My Kitchen," and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee." As of April 2021, the trio officially released their debut album "Folk Element Trio," available in the store section of their website! Moving forward, they will continue to explore the unique relationship between jazz and folk music, sharing those discoveries with audiences across the globe. Don't miss this unique musical journey that promises to captivate and inspire, with Juilliard-trained guitarist Adam Moezinia joined by Will Lyle on bass and Piedmont's own Ben Ring on drums.

The Adam Moezinia Folk Element Trio started their 2024 Summer West Coast tour in early July at Campus Jax in Newport Beach, the Jazz Lounge in San Diego, The Grape in Ventura and Kulak's Woodshed in N. Hollywood. Performing next in San Luis Obispo and Monterey, then the Torch Club in Sacramento, they found themselves wowing audiences at Mr. Tipples in San Francisco and doing a master class at the California Jazz Conservancy in Berkeley, then appearing at Yoshi's in Oakland. On their way north from the Bay Area, they did shows in Arcata and in Lincoln City, Salem, and Portland, OR, then performed in Bellingham and across the border at Frankie's Jazz Club in Vancouver, BC. Back in the US, they played the Bad Bar in Seattle and at Rhythms Coffee House in Olympia, then The 1905 in Portland and a Festival and a winery in Oregon on their way to shows in Lakeport and Davis. After a show at the Black Cat in SF on the last day of July, they will perform in Chico, Redding, and Fort Bragg before appearing at Piedmont Center for the Arts on Sunday, completing their 35-day tour with two or three more shows on their way home to the southland.

Guitarist Adam Moezinia is a native of Los Angeles, where he studied at the LA County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) under the mentorship of Jason Goldman, Walter Smith III, and Kenny Dennis. Within his first year at LACHSA, Adam was selected as a representative for the Thelonious Monk Institute's nationwide peer-to-peer tours. There he performed and co-taught on four tours with established jazz musicians: Bobby Watson, Antonio Hart, and Lisa Henry. In 2008, he performed at the former Kodak Theatre (now Dolby Theatre) for the Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition w/ the Thelonious Monk High School All-Star Jazz Septet featuring Antonio Hart. In 2010, he moved to New York City to study at the Juilliard School under a full tuition scholarship. Since then, he's worked with many greats such as Freddy Cole, Mike LeDonne, Cecile McLorin Salvant, George Coleman, and Kenny Washington, at venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Blue Note, Birdland, Smoke, Scullers, and Bird's Basement. Adam has also been performing regularly with his band, the "Folk Element Trio," since 2017.

Benjamin Ring is a dynamic drummer, percussionist, and composer from Piedmont, CA, now making waves in Los Angeles. He earned a BA degree in Music from USC and refined his skills at the Herbie Hancock Institute at UCLA. Recently, he composed "Mental Gymnastics," an award-winning piece that premiered at the Ravinia Festival. Benjamin has also shared the stage with jazz greats like David Binney, Patrice Rushen, Billy Childs, and Herbie Hancock, performing at iconic venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Monterey Jazz Festival. His debut album, "With Every Step," highlights his innovative approach to contemporary jazz.

Will Lyle (born 1994) is an upright and electric bassist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and producer from Orange County, CA, and based in New York City. He previously worked as a freelance musician from 2016 to 2021 in LA. A year after graduating from Berklee College of Music, he toured with GRAMMY award-winning drummer Billy Kilson's quartet to Japan in 2017. Also in 2017, he became a member of the hard bop pianist Jon Mayer's trio (alumnus of John Coltrane, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, and others) with Roy McCurdy (of Cannonball Adderley's group) on drums. He has since also performed with Bill Cunliffe, Dave Kikoski, Ralph Peterson, J.D. Allen, Mike LeDonne, David Hazeltine, Bob Sheppard, Kendrick Scott, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Anthony Wonsey, Philip Harper, Jerry Weldon, John Colianni, Sal The Voice Valentinetti, Pasquale Grasso, Ralph Moore, Barbara Morrison, and Sumerian Records artist Bones UK. He keeps an active performing and recording schedule. He studied with Ron Carter at Manhattan School of Music, where he finished his master's degree studies in May, 2022.