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William Paterson University Jazz Room Series to Feature “City Of Poets” with Cedric Hanriot, Jason Palmer and Donny McCaslin on April 23

French pianist and composer Cedric Hanriot joins forces with American trumpeter Jason Palmer and an all-star cast of musicians, including saxophonist Donny McCaslin, bassist Michael Janisch and drummer Clarence Penn, in a musical homage to the work of science fiction writer Dan Simmons as part of the spring 2016 Jazz Room series at William Paterson University in Wayne on Saturday, April 23, 2016. The performance begins at 8 p.m. in the Shea Center for Performing Arts on campus.

Prior to the concert, “Sittin’ In,” an informal discussion about jazz with the performers, will be held at 7 p.m. in Shea Center. Admission is free to all Jazz Room ticketholders. Tickets are available at the Shea Center Box Office in advance at 973.720.2371 or wp-presents.org or on the day of the performance at $15 general admission, $12 senior citizens and William Paterson community, and $8 for non-William Paterson students.  William Paterson students are admitted free with a valid I.D. There is a $3 fee for tickets purchased on the day of the show.

The event, titled “City of Poets,” is a French-American Jazz Exchange Program, in association with the French-American Cultural Exchange. Hanriot and Palmer have composed a suite of three movements using seven distinct melodies based on the famed “7 modes of limited transportation” created by influential French composer Olivier Messiaen to translate Simmons’ stories into original and improvisational music.

Hanriot is a pianist, composer, sound designer, and  producer. He received a 2015 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album for his work on the Dianne Reeves recording Beautiful Life, and is the recipient of a Fulbright award.  He has collaborated for studio/performance work with artists including Herbie Hancock, John Patitucci, Terri Lyne Carrington, Christian McBride, and Me’shell Ndegeocello.

Palmer has performed with a variety of influential musicians including Roy Haynes, Benny Golson, Gregy Osby, Ravi Coltrane, and Kurt Osenwinkel, among others.

McCaslin, is well-known as a featured soloist with the renowned Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, as well as other stints with Steps Ahead, Gil Evans, Danilo Perez and Germany’s George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band. McCaslin’s quartet is heavily featured on David Bowie’s new album, Blackstar.

For more information, please call the Shea Center Box Office at 973.720.2371 or visit wp-presents.org.