James Carney Sextet

“Mr. Carney is a sharp pianist and a broadly imaginative conceptualist and composer.” – Nate Chinen, The New York Times

Pianist, composer, and improviser James Carney has garnered critical praise for his stirring recordings of original compositions featuring some of New York’s finest jazz musicians. Raised in Syracuse, NY, Carney studied with the legendary bassist Charlie Haden at California Institute of the Arts, graduating with a B.F.A. in jazz piano performance. In 1999 Carney won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composer’s award; other awards and commissions have come from Chamber Music America, The California Arts Council, The Puffin Cultural Foundation, and the LA Weekly Music Awards. James Carney has cultivated a reputation for developing an original, poly-stylistic approach to making music – a philosophy that respects and explores both tradition and the avant garde. For the engagement at the Rubin on October 25, Carney will premiere a set of new compositions written for this specific lineup of improvisers.

Ravi Coltrane, saxophone
John Hébert, bass
Oscar Noriega, woodwinds
Tom Rainey, drums
Stephanie Richards, trumpet
James Carney, piano + compositions

Presented with Harrice Miller and community partner Heidi Bayer.