Sunset Jazz in June: Blue After Dark

Join us for Sunset Jazz at Top of The Standard. Our curator, bassist Rob Duguay, brings the best of the New York scene to the skyline.
Wednesday, June 1st
The George Burton Duo (Piano/Bass)
As a New York local for over ten years, George’s music is a staple in the scene. The George Burton Duo 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 toward the future. This group swings hard, and is also inventive in that it allows each musician to tell his or her own story.
Friday, June 3rd
The David Gibson Trio (Trombone/Piano/Bass)
Trombonist David Gibson has enjoyed a varied music career that is deeply rooted in the genres of jazz and funk. While reared in Oklahoma, Gibson’s musical journey steered him to New York City. Jazz luminary Curtis Fuller once said about Gibson: “Out of all the young players I hear in music today, David is one of the very few who speaks the language of jazz.”
The David Gibson Quartet's "What's New" (2002, Nagel Heyer)
Saturday, June 4th & Wednesday, June 29th
Curtis Lundy (Bass/Piano/Drums)
Curtis Lundy  is an American double bass player, composer, producer, choir director, and arranger. Lundy is best known for his work as part of jazz vocalist Betty Carter's band. His arrangement of "Walk With Me," recorded by the ARC Gospel Choir, was sampled by rapper Kanye West and became the Grammy Award-winning hit "Jesus Walks."

Tuesday, June 7th
Rick Germanson (Piano/Bass)
Rick Germanson has been a highly in-demand pianist on the New York City jazz scene for well over a decade. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he relocated to New York City in 1998. Germanson won Grand Prize at The American Pianists' Association Jazz Piano Competition in 1996, and the awards keep coming.
Saturday, June 11th
The Christos Rafalides Trio (Vibraphone/Bass/Piano)
Christos Rafalides is a force of nature on the world music circuit. His approach to his instrument, the vibraphone, is one of strength and story-telling. His 2002 album Manhattan Vibes was reviewed as one of the top ten jazz albums of the year.
Christos Rafalides & Manhattan Vibes' "Woodside Blues"

Tuesday, June 14th & Saturday, June 25th
Jon Davis (Piano/Bass)
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.
Wednesday, June 15th & Monday, June 27th
The Justin Kauflin Duo (Piano/Bass)
Born in Silver Spring, MD, Justin Kauflin began music at age 4 with Suzuki violin, and added piano a few years later. He began performing jazz professionally at the age of 15, and performed most notably with The Jae Sinnett Trio. Justin's relationship with his mentor, Clark Terry, was chronicled by friend and fellow musician Al Hicks in the documentary Keep On Keepin' On, which won numerous awards and made the Oscar's Short List. In addition to promoting Keep On Keepin' On across the country, Justin worked with Quincy Jones on his debut album for Jazz Village.
"Keep On Keepin' On" Official Trailer (2014) 
Saturday, June 18th
James Weidman's Aperturistic Trio (Piano/Bass/Drums)
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, June 24th
Tadataka Unno (Piano/Bass)
Tadataka Unno, or "Tada" as he's called on the NY scene, is a brilliant Japanese-born pianist who is considered among the best of today's up-and-coming jazz musicians. Having already played with jazz greats like Frank Wess and Curtis Fuller, the young pianist is off to a surging start!

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

Header photo by Neil Aline

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