Piano summit this weekend

[pamw...@rcn.com]

Hi all,

 

One of my favorite spring events, the Newton Piano Summitt, is the next two weekends from 3-5 pm in Second Church, West Newton.  Great acoustics, come and go as you please and best of all it’s FREE!   I plan to attend both weekends and hope to see you there.

 

This weekend’s lineup:

 

Sat, March 14 — 3:00 PM
Maxim Lubarsky Trio
The Summit kicks off with Maxim Lubarsky—a stylistic powerhouse who moves fluidly from classical foundations to straight-ahead jazz, Latin grooves, and beyond. Backed by an all-star trio, this set is built for momentum: deep swing, sharp listening, and the kind of musical range that keeps the room leaning forward. Max's website.
Featuring bassist John Lockwood and drummer Rafael Barata.

 

Sat, March 14 — 4:00 PM
Hidemi Akaiwa
If you like your piano music fearless, future-leaning, and impossible to categorize, this is your set. Hidemi Akaiwa returns after a jaw-dropping Summit appearance in 2023—bringing a Zen-informed center to contemporary keys, microtonal color, and improvisation that pushes the edges without losing the thread. Hedemi's FB

 

Sun, March 15 — 3:00 PM
Jesse Taitt
Bold, fresh, and built for lift-off—Jesse Taitt brings “new horizons” energy to the Summit: a pianist/composer/educator with serious classical discipline and modern jazz drive. From the bandstand to the classroom, his playing is about taking chances and making the music move. Jesse's FB

 

Sun, March 15 — 4:00 PM
Liz Sinn Trio
Fearless groove. Deep harmony. Boston-made. Liz Sinn has been turning heads across the region with a jazz core and a wide stylistic palette—classical, Latin, musical theater, pop—always delivered with clarity and rhythmic bite. She hits the Summit stage ready to light up the room. Liz's FB
bassist Jack Davies, saxophonist Nicholas Brust and drummer Lee Fish round out her trio.

 

 

[pamw...@rcn.com]

This is the last weekend for the piano summit from 3-5 pm in Second Church, West Newton. Wonderful music last weekend. Great acoustics, come and go as you please and best of all it’s FREE!

 

This weekend’s lineup:

Sat, March 21 — 3:00 PM
Hélio Alves Trio
The Summit lands a true legend: Hélio Alves is a Brazilian jazz pianist with New York authority—an artist whose career lives right at the intersection of modern Brazilian repertoire and contemporary jazz. Expect deep groove, fearless interplay, and that unmistakable Brazilian pulse—delivered at the highest level. Helio's website
His trio is rounded out by drummer Rafael Barata and bassist Gili Lopes, making this one of those sets where the band chemistry is as much the headline as the pianist.

Sat, March 21 — 4:00 PM
Lee Fish & Friends
Lee Fish brings an “all killer, no filler” set: a distilled blend of jazz, soul, and folk—tight, songful, and alive with personality. Boston roots, NYC edge, and the kind of band chemistry that turns an afternoon concert into a moment. Lee's website
Friends include pianist Jiří Nedoma and saxophonist Edmar Colon.

Sun, March 22 — 3:00–5:00 PM
David Kikoski + Alexei Tsiganov
The Summit finale brings a rare, high-voltage pairing: David Kikoski joined by Alexei Tsiganov—with a special twist that makes this night genuinely unmissable.
Known as a Grammy-winning New York piano force—blistering swing, fearless harmony, and a touch that can pivot from fire to finesse in a heartbeat—Kikoski closes the Summit at full intensity. But this set goes beyond “great pianist with a great band”: Tsiganov returns to his first love—the vibraphone—bringing that shimmering, percussive glow that turns a jazz room electric. Expect a conversation between piano and vibes that’s equal parts virtuosity and vibe: hard swing, quick turns, luminous textures, and interplay you can feel being invented in real time. David's website Alexei's website

More in-depth information and videos of the previous seasons at next-arts.org