World chamber jazz ensemble, Quarteto Nuevo, released its new album “2” in early fall 2023. The group comprises CSUF School of Music lecturer Damon Zick (soprano saxophone) and Kenton Youngstrom (guitar), Jacob Szekely (cello) and Felipe Frage (percussion). Combining western classical, eastern European folk, Latin and jazz, the album features three of Zick’s original compositions as well as works by Chick Corea, Astor Piazzolla, Egberto Gismonti and Mark O’Connor.
Zick is proud of the group and has described his involvement with Nuevo as “a combination of all the things I love to do in music: play classical chamber music and jazz, explore world music traditions, improvise and compose.” Says Zick, “To be able to share all of these elements of music with audiences across the United States is a true joy.”
The quartet was recently awarded a $40,000 South Arts Jazz Road Creative Residency grant in support of its CREED (Compose, Research, Execute, Engage, Document) Project, which explores the connection between jazz and geographical and cultural locations. The project resulted in a suite of works composed by the band’s members entitled “Jazz Road Suite (Western States).” Each composition was written to invoke a unique feeling of place for each of the included states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming). The long-term goal of the CREED Project is to have movements written for all 50 states. Quarteto Nuevo will perform and document “Jazz Road Suite (Western States)” with a live concert and recording at Arizona State University Kerr Cultural Center on March 9.
In February, the group will kick off the first weekend of School of Music performances with a concert in Meng Concert Hall on campus. Quarteto Nuevo will be joined by Bill Cunliffe, Grammy Award-winning artist and CSUF professor of music, on piano.
Quarteto Nuevo, With Bill Cunliffe
Saturday, Feb. 17, at 8 p.m.
Meng Concert Hall, Clayes Performing Arts Center
Learn more about the ensemble: quartetonuevo.com