Pianist Lazlo Gardony Jazz Trio
with Avery Sharpe on Bass and Yoron Israel on the Drums
Saturday, December 9, 2023 | 7:30 PM
Online ticketing is now over. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Tickets: $35 General Admission | $30 Senior | $20 Student
*A limited number of free tickets for seniors are available, courtesy of the cordelia family foundation.
Sponsored by Coastal Heritage Bank, Karen Mullaney, CPA, and Michael and Kathleen Vitale
The trio of pianist Laszlo Gardony, bassist Avery Sharpe, and drummer Yoron Israel is among the most seasoned, soulful, sensitive, and swinging groups around.
—Kevin Lowenthal, Boston Globe
Laszlo Gárdony, Piano
Internationally acclaimed Boston-based jazz pianist and composer Laszlo Gardony is one of the most expressive and technically skilled pianists working in jazz today. “A formidable improviser who lives in the moment" (JazzTimes), Gardony has performed in 27 countries and released 14 albums: ten albums on the Sunnyside label, two on Antilles, and one on Avenue Jazz during his distinguished, decades-long career. Winner of the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, Gardony has been noted for his "fluid pianism" by The New York Times. The legendary Dave Brubeck called him "a great pianist."
His 14th album as a leader, “Close Connection” was released in December, 2022 on Sunnyside Records. The album features his trio of 20 years: Yoron Israel (drums) and John Lockwood (bass.)
Laszlo’s performances convey the joy of inspired creation, audience connection, and moving spontaneous improvisations. Gardony's concerts are one-of-a-kind performances drawing from deep feeling, prodigious technique, and a playful curiosity that thrives on interpreting each unique moment. His critically acclaimed 2019 live solo piano album, “La Marseillaise” features his compositions, his arrangements of standards, a classic Italian song, a re-imagination of an iconic French revolutionary song and spontaneously created pieces. New York City Jazz Record says of the album: “‘La Marseillaise’ is a grand organic take on creating music in the moment.” JazzTimes states: “The improvised pieces are bright and majestic examples of on-the-fly creativity at its most developed.”
His previous solo album Serious Play (Sunnyside) was named one of the Best Jazz Albums of 2017 by DownBeat Magazine: "Serious Play combines spontaneity and intent. Improvised in the studio, it's a harmonious, emotionally intense whole that sounds like a concert rather than an arbitrary collection of tunes. No matter how busy Gardony becomes, there's a stillness at the center of his music, a distinctive amalgam of central European folk strains, majestic classical piano and improvisational fearlessness." Both Serious Play and Gardony's 2015 live sextet album Life In Real Time were named by the Boston Globe as one of the "10 Best Jazz Releases of the Year."
Gardony has performed and/or recorded with artists including Dave Holland, Miroslav Vitous, Bob Moses, Mick Goodrick, Yoron Israel, John Lockwood, Jamey Haddad, Bill Pierce, Don Braden, and Stan Strickland. In addition to his own recordings on Sunnyside, Antilles and Avenue, his compositions, arrangements and playing have been featured on jazz releases from Blue Note, Accurate, Rounder, and Ronja Music. Besides being an exceptionally successful band leader, Laszlo is also a sought-after sideman. Other artists who featured him on their recordings include drummer Yoron Israel, flutist, Christian Artmann, guitarist Garrison Fewell, Matt Glaser's Wayfaring Strangers, and singer Shelley Neill.
Avery Sharpe, Bass
Avery Sharpe is one of his generations greatest and most imaginative bassist. His unique and versatile style, have captured the respect and attention of musicians and critics. His influence is mimicked and embodied by those who have followed him. The Great Jazz pianist McCoy Tyner was once asked to describe Avery Sharpe in two words, his response was “Impeccable Rhythm.” Sharpe has a distinguished percussive and rhythmic approach on double bass. He incorporates the Hum-a-long (vocal scatting with the bowed bass) bass technique, popularized by Leroy “Slam” Stewart and Major “Mule” Holly, into his playing.
Sharpe was first brought to prominence by tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp and drummer Art Blakey, but is best known for his longtime association with pianist McCoy Tyner from 1980 to 2003. He recorded more than 20 records with Tyner.
Yoron Israel, Drums
Yoron Israel is a drummer, percussionist, composer, band leader, educator, and author. Formerly a faculty member at Rutgers University, William Paterson University, and Mannes New School. He is department chair and professor of percussion at Berklee College of Music.
Israel also serves as pastor of music and arts at Destiny Life Center International church in Randolph, MA. He has performed with such varied and notable artists as Otis Clay, Shirley Caesar, Sonny Rollins, Abbey Lincoln, Ahmad Jamal, Benny Golson, David "Fathead" Newman, Curtis Fuller, Art Farmer, Joe Lovano, and many more. In addition, Israel is featured on over 250 recordings with various illustrious artists as an accompanist. As a leader, Israel has recorded seven albums, including his most recent being, New Dreams, featuring his ensemble Trio Plus. Other critically acclaimed works include This Moment and Visions: The Music of Stevie Wonder with his quartet High Standards; Basic Traneing, which reached no. 3 on the National Jazz Charts; Chicago, with Israel's organ group, Organic; Live at the Blue Note and A Gift for You, featuring his quintet Connection. As a coleader of the Yoron Israel/Frank Walton Sextet, Israel has produced three recordings, including Live in Chicago, The Back Step, and Live at the Hothouse. Israel tours regularly with pianist Laszlo Gardony, the Makanda Project, vocalist Shawn Monteiro, and vibraphonist Jay Hoggard when not leading his own bands.