Concert

Salsamba Latin Jazz Quintet fuses authentic Latin-American rhythms with the harmonic and melodic sophistication of contemporary American jazz.  Based in Pittsburgh, Salsamba performs at clubs, festivals, and colleges throughout the United States.

Aimée Allen Trio: Strings and C(h)ords with Tony Romano and François Moutin
Aimée Allen brings her trademark soulful originals and lyricism to life with world-renowned bassist François Moutin and multi-dimensional guitarist Tony Romano.  They make nine strings and two vocal cords sound like much more, with rich sonic landscapes and passionate, adventurous explorations of jazz improvisation and musical storytelling.  The repertoire will include new arrangements of standards and old and new compositions.  The trio provides a warm, dynamic, rhythmic experience like no other.

The 3rd concert in a series of Geri Allen performances by Yoko Suzuki, a former student and colleague of Geri Allen. This concert features all-new arrangements of Geri's Work with unique instrumentation. These songs are rarely heard and the concert reveals Geri’s genius and the complex puzzle of her work.

This program features music written by Jewish composers as well as music that expresses the powerful human ability to move forward, and create great art, after tragedy. The program also features remarks from Rabbi Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation as well as literary readings, to honor the memory of those whose lives were taken at the Tree of Life Synagogues.

The Joe Fonda Quartet is a powerful group of musicians who have collectively been active within the New York Jazz community for over 40 years. The Quartet features a combination of  Bassoon and Saxophone—a unique and compelling sound, rarely heard in the world of Jazz. 

Pittsburgh-based chamber ensemble Kamratōn presents a genre-blurring program curated by flutist, composer, and band leader Nicole Mitchell, including the premiere of a newly commissioned work. Kamratōn will be joined by guest bassist Jeffrey Grubbs of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and vocalist Anqwenique Wingfield for works by Nicole Mitchell, Yvette Jackson, Brittany J. Green, and others.

Merrell is a composer of illustrious works in gospel jazz and regularly performs with local and nationally known Gospel/Christian artists such as Kim Burrell, Donnie McClurkin, David and Nicole Binion. He also has been featured several times on the nationally televised Bobby Jones Gospel Show. For his Kente engagement, he will perform with his own Jazz/Gospel group, IMPACT. 

Thoth Trio has previously appeared at City of Asylum in September 2020 to premiere a new collection of works by Ben Opie, Meditations on Quarantine. The suite was an intuitive and creative response to the initial pandemic lockdown. This performance will see the premiere of the followup, Reflections on Pandemic, a collection of seven new pieces inspired by both global and local circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With flexible instrumentation, guest musicians and eclectic programming, the Bell’Art Ensemble commits to breaking down preconceived ideas about classical music in order to connect chamber music with a new audience. They produce the Living Room Chamber Music Project, a decade-long series of concerts designed to bring classical music out of the concert hall and into intimate spaces.

This event is virtual only.
The first Off-Minor Jazz series of the 2022 season is a celebration of Kenny Clarkes’ birthday and his contributions to jazz history, led by another great drummer Kenny Washington who travels from New York to join the Off Minor musicians on stage.

A J Johnson's Love Unlimited Trio features cellist Akua Dixon, multi-instrumentalist Salim Washington (oboe, flute, bass clarinet), and multi-instrumentalist and leader A J Johnson (trombone, tuba, bass clarinet). In sharing and rotating the musical responsibilities, Love Unlimited is a model for collaborative work and play. The trio's music extends from funk to jazz to the church. Where there is Love Unlimited, joy follows.

Mostly Other People Do the Killing is a group founded on the idea that jazz should be enormous fun. They de-construct jazz standards and weave the remnants into new compositions that the quartet rips into with zest. 

In person tickets for this concert are sold out. You can still tune into the livestream by clicking the "Free Online Tickets" button.

Joined by bassist Eli Namay, the trio is inspired by sounds of Near Eastern music, free-jazz, and world roots. They create sounds that cross genres and do not exist in typical musical spaces. Their goal is to share rich audience experiences that reach deeper into the nuance of life and listening in the 21st century global culture. 

The Mendelssohn Choir invites you to Alphabet City to explore the rich traditions of global choral music with local artists. Participants will learn about specific cultural song traditions, and have the opportunity to sing songs from within those traditions. It’s an interactive concert like no other! And no singing experience required. 

Join the musicians of the Off Minor Jazz Series as they showcase some of Gryce's best known pieces along with some rare gems. 

They visit Pittsburgh to play their newest album, Were We Where We Were (March 2022) featuring primarily original compositions from Michael Formanek. This is an evening of jazz masters at work.

In person tickets for this concert are sold out. You can still register to watch the live-streamed concert via City of Asylum @ Home.  

Founded by Violinist/Composer Gwen Laster in 2015, New MUSE 4tet is an improvising string quartet offering 20th and 21st century new works and original compositions as a vehicle for social activism. Their "Black Lives Matter Suite" continues to draw great audiences and critical acclaim.
The concert celebrates the release of their newest album "Blue Lotus".

Michael Weiss is one of the great journeymen in Jazz and has played and recorded with many of the music's masters. He joins the Off Minor Jazz series to present a program of original music along with original arrangements from his latest album, Persistence.

Pittsburgh Opera and City of Asylum are partnering together to explore the rich traditions of global operatic music and present an evening of Spanish-language poetry + song. 

Kinetic celebrates multiculturalism, wisdom, and unity, blending global folk traditions and contemporary jazz. 
Listen, sing, and dance with the group as they perform music blending Ghanaian folk songs with original music from their new release 'Dances of Lake Volta'. This special concert will highlight the genius of folk songs from Ghana, and also premiere some brand new songs.

The collaborative trio of Jason Stein, Damon Smith, and Adam Shead feature a fluid music making process of spontaneous composition that is as rhythmically driving as it is melodically complex. 
This is a must-see evening for contemporary jazz fans and anyone curious in the improvisation process. 

This session of Global Choral Traditions is postponed. New date to be announced soon.

Kinship celebrates tribal and familial connections between different cultures and individuals, and shares messages of global unity. The music combines folkloric traditions from all four artists’ homes, while simultaneously feeling out the spaces between various traditions. All with a jazzy and improvised twist.
Featuring collaborations with poets Vasyl Makhno (Ukraine), Gazmend Kapllani (Albania), Madhu Raghavendra (India), and Pamela Sánchez (Venezuela)

The world at large has been inundated with news from the recent Russian incursion into the country of Ukraine. While the storms of war gather, pianist and composer Vadim Neselovskyi chooses to remind people of the country’s important cultural legacy. Neselovskyi has created a full-length solo piano piece inspired by his hometown on the Black Sea—and a Unesco World Heritage City of Literature—Odesa.  

We are thrilled Claudio returns to Pittsburgh live for JPM 2022 for two stellar performances. 
The first evening features the US premiere of Claudio’s 2021 album “Orphans.” The album is inspired by the tragedies and triumphs of global migration. It is infused with world music sounds, influenced by the Balkan folk music of Claudio’s Serbian grandfather, as well as Claudio’s mastery of the blues. The album is lyrical and concise with delicate melodies, and is sure to be an excellent evening of music. 

As we celebrate the return of a fully in person Jazz Poetry, we welcome Oliver back to Pittsburgh and honor his friendship and his contributions to City of Asylum’s history. 
Oliver will play alongside pianist Claudio Cojaniz, together performing Oliver’s original compositions from his renowned Trio 3. Claudio, long an admirer of Oliver’s, will share the stage with him for the first time. This is a very special evening of true international and cross-cultural exchange.