Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet – Two Sydney Gigs

In huge news for Sydney’s jazz lovers, we are being visited by the extraordinary American trumpet virtuoso Ambrose Akinmusire and his musicians. Billed by the Festival as “the future of jazz”, Akinmusire has a background of exceptional training at the Manhattan School of Music, the University of Southern California and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles.

After winning the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition in 2007, Akinmusire topped end-of-year lists globally when he released his 2011 album When the Heart Emerges Glistening.

At last he is coming to Australia, with the chance to listen in two venues of different character: either in the concert setting of the City Recital Hall, or the carnival atmosphere of the Spiegeltent. Playing alongside his quintet members, musicians of equal pedigree, tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III, pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Harish Raghavan and drummer Justin Brown, this is a unique chance to hear what the trumpet can do in the hands of a developing master.

Akinmusire’s 2011 album

When/Where: Saturday 11 January at City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sunday 12 January in the Spiegeltent.

Bookings through Sydney Festival website or Box Office on 1300 856 876

Live at Jazz à Vienne 2012