NYC’s unique jazz prayer service, Sundays at 5 since 1965. People of all faith traditions (or no faith tradition) are welcome. Free to attend!

ABOUT ERI YAMAMOTO

Since moving from Japan to the United States in 1995, Eri Yamamoto has established herself as one of jazz’s most original and compelling pianists and composers. Jazz legend Herbie Hancock has said, “My hat’s off to her…already she’s found her own voice.” Eri has been sharing her uniquely lyrical and evocative music with listeners in New York City and throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Africa, Jamaica, and Australia with appearances in concerts and clubs and at major festivals. In 2018 Eri premiered the “Goshu Ondo Suite,” an extended work for chorus and her trio. The suite is based on a traditional circle dance song from Shiga, Japan, and draws on the music of many cultures, including Japanese folk music, American jazz, gospel, and blues, and even Congolese drum rhythms. The Suite’s live record won popular and critical acclaim, receiving 4-star reviews and being chosen among the top recordings of 2019. Eri has also been collaborating with such creative and celebrated musicians as William Parker, Daniel Carter, Hamid Drake, Federico Ughi, Yves Leveille, and Paul McCandless. She has performed in the U.S. and throughout the world with groups of Parker’s, and has appeared on several of his recordings, including being featured on a solo piano CD of his compositions.

ABOUT DAVID AMBROSIO

David Ambrosio is one of New York City’s finest freelance musicians and educators for the past 20 years. He is the co-leader of two collaborative bands, Grupo Los Santos and 40Twenty, as well as being a part of many groups including George Schuller’s Circle Wide, the Matt Renzi Trio, Eri Yamamoto Trio and the BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra led by Jim McNeely. He has also performed with such jazz greats as pianist Kenny Werner, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, George Garzone, Joseph Jarmon and Ralph Alessi. David recently released his second recording as leader entitled “MOMENTS IN TIME“ available on the SteepleChase Label. With degrees in Classical composition and Jazz performance, David has a broad musical palate that has become intensified by some unique travel experiences. In 2001 he had the opportunity to perform in Cuba with Grupo Los Santos, Max Pollack’s Rumbatap and local Afro/Cuban folkloric music and dance ensembles. Soon after that he began what has become an 12-year period of intense study of Afro/Cuban Bata drumming with master drummers Miguel Bernal, Carlos Gomez and Carlos Aldama. He has frequently toured in Central and South East Asia on behalf of the US State Department as a performer and clinician. David is currently on faculty of both the New York Jazz Academy and the Queens College Center for Preparatory Studies in Music.

ABOUT IKUO TAKEUCHI

Ikuo Takeuchi, born in Japan, is a drummer, composer and has lived in New York City since 1988. He has been regularly performing in New York city and touring to Europe and Japan. Experience to play with many musicians such as Ron McClure, Cecil McBee, Richie Beirach, Eddie Henderson, George Gazone, Bruce Saunders, Jacob Sacks, the late Mr. Arnie Lawrence and so on. Takeuchi earned BFA from the New School university for Jazz & contemporary music in NYC. He studied composition ( especially 20C. music) with Dr. Henry Martin. Also studied drumming with Charli Persip, Michael Carvin, Andrew Cyrill, Kenwood Dennard, Joe Chambers and learned free style of jazz performing with Reggie Workman. He has been the regular drummer of Eri Yamamoto trio for twenty years.