Jonathan Finlayson's Sicilian Defense

Brooklyn Conservatory of Music presents Jonathan Finlayson's Sicilian Defense. 

Sicilian Defense is made up of some of the most accomplished musicians on the jazz scene. Pianist David Virelles is a member of bands led by such great saxophonists as Chris Potter, Ravi Coltrane and Mark Turner. His 2012 recording Continuum was released to wide critical acclaim. Guitarist Miles Okazaki’s own album Generations was named to the best of 2012 list by The New York Times. Bassist Keith Witty, also a bandleader, has a new release with the collective trio Thiefs. Drummer Damion Reid has played on highly regarded albums with the likes of Rudresh Mahanthappa, Steve Lehman and Robert Glasper. It’'s an outfit that is superbly suited to helping Finlayson carry out his complex, ever-shifting compositional strategies.

Trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson is widely admired for his ability to tackle cutting-edge musical concepts with aplomb. In just the last four years, his playing has been featured on an astonishing three albums that were named #1 album of the year by The New York Times: alto saxophonist Steve Lehman’s Travail, Transformation and Flow (Pi 2009), Steve Coleman and Five Elements’ Harvesting Semblances and Affinities (Pi 2010) and David Virelles’s Continuum (Pi 2012).

The ensemble's Moment and the Message was released by Pi Recordings in May 2013.

Support for this performance is provided by Chamber Music America.