Sunset Jazz in May: Full House

Friday, May 5th
Robert Rodriguez Trio
Pianist and composer Robert Rodriguez was born in 1978 in New York City and moved to Miami when he was 9 years old. Inspired by his father who is a drummer, Robert began to pursue music from a very early age, and by the age of 12, he was performing classical piano recitals at Miami Dade Community College. In 2000, Robert moved back to NYC and began to work professionally with Ray Barretto, Roy Haynes, and Charlie Haden. His piano trio debuted at the Blue Note Jazz Club in 2009, and around this time, he co-led two recordings with his brother, trumpeter Michael Rodriguez. His style incorporates the Afro-Cuban music of Miami nightclubs in a mix of traditional and modern jazz.

Saturday, May 6th
James Weidman's Aperturistic Trio 
James Weidman is one of the most versatile pianists in the world of music. He has performed with the likes of Abbey Lincoln and Joe Lovano, and plays classical and atonal music. With a player as talented as Weidman, it's no wonder the press used terms such as "unfailingly lyrical," "convivially assertive," and "exquisite" to describe him.

Friday, May 12th
Jon Davis Trio
Pianist and composer Jon Davis has been performing and touring with the world's finest jazz musicians for over 25 years, and has appeared on more than 50 recordings. Most widely known for his association with legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius, Davis has shown a rare versatility that ranges from solo to big band. He has performed with such artists as the John Handy Quartet, Johnny Coles, Buddy Montgomery, as well as jazz legends Joe Henderson, Milt Jackson, and Stan Getz.

Saturday, May 13th
George Burton Trio
A New York local for over ten years, George’s music is a staple in the scene. The George Burton Quintet fuses traditional hard bop, avant-garde, post bop, and R&B, among other genres. He has the ability to shake hands with the past while firing towards the future. This group swings hard, but is also inventive in that it allows each musician to tell his or her own story.

Monday, May 15th
Dave Demotta (Piano/Bass)
Dave DeMotta’s pianist career started while he was teenager in Maine where he played clubs and concerts with local musicians in the Portland area. Dave relocated to the New York metropolitan area in 1995, and since then has performed and recorded with Aki Yamamoto, Tetsu Yasui, Howard Britz, and his own band. Since 2009, he has performed with the Steve Slagle Quartet alongside master players such as McClenty Hunter, Bill Moring, Steve Johns, Ed Howard, and Bob Gullotti.

Friday, May 26th
Jordan Piper Trio
Jordan Piper’s mature sound and what Star Ledger calls a “melodically-rich soloing” sets him apart as a pianist and composer. He is at home in many styles of music, drawing his repertoire from standards of the American songbook and the jazz tradition. As part of the vibrant music scene in the NYC area, Jordan has performed at many well-known jazz clubs, including the Blue Note, Iridium, Smoke, Smalls, and more. 

Saturday, May 27th
Ron Affif Trio
Ron Affif is an American jazz guitarist of mixed Lebanese and Italian origin. He is the son of boxing welterweight and middleweight Charley Zivic, who, as a jazz fan, initiated Affif into music. He is also the nephew of guitarist Ron Anthony who played with George Shearing and Frank Sinatra and who gave Affif his first guitar lesson when he was 12. Based in New York, he has gained a reputation for his personal approach to jazz.

Monday, May 29th
Jon Davis Duo
Pianist and composer Jon Davis has been performing and touring with many of the finest jazz musicians from around the world for more than 25 years and has appeared on over 50 recordings. He has performed with such artists as the John Handy Quartet, Johnny Coles, Buddy Montgomery, as well as jazz legends Joe Henderson, Milt Jackson, and Stan Getz. 

Sunset Jazz at Top of The Standard
The Standard, High Line  
Monday through Saturday, 4-9pm