Kinan Azmeh's CityBand
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About
Formed in 2006 in New York City, Kinan Azmeh’s CityBand immediately gained recognition for their virtuosic and high energy performance, receiving praise from such sources as the New York Times' Vivien Schweitzer, who deemed the segment, "the highlight of the evening." Azmeh's impressive resume includes performances in Paris, London, Berlin, New York, Moscow, and Damascus, both as a soloist and composer. With this New York ensemble, he strives to reach a balance between classical music, jazz, and the music of his homeland, Syria. Azmeh's expressive clarinet meets Kyle Sanna's rustic guitar, soaring at times over the dynamic and volatile backdrop of John Hadfield's percussion and Josh Myers' double bass. Each band member has come from varied backgrounds to add their personal flair to this ensemble, resulting in a thoroughly exciting and rewarding listening experience.
Musicians:
Kinan Azmeh, Clarinet
Described as a “virtuoso" by the New York Times, "unique sound” by the Daily Star and “Engagingly flamboyant” by the L.A Times, Kinan Azmeh was Born in Damascus, Syria 1976, he is the first Arab to win the first prize at the Nicolay Rubinstein international competition in Moscow 1977, a graduate of the Juilliard school in New York and the High Institute of Music and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Damascus. He is currently working towards his music doctoral degree at the City University of New York. Kinan has appeared as soloist, composer and improviser worldwide including The Kennedy Center, Opera Bastille, Mozarteum, Carnegie Hall and the Damascus Opera for its opening concert. He has shared the stage with artists such as Marcel Khalife, Francois Rabbath and Daniel Barenboim.
Kyle Sanna, Guitar:
Kyle Sanna’s music eludes simple categorization. From his introduction to the guitar through rock music to his formal study of jazz and composition to his immersion in the traditional music of Ireland and the Balkans, Kyle is continually forging his compositional language and playing style out of these and other diverse interests. Kyle has arranged music for such diverse artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Kaki King, and Martin Hayes, and has recorded and performed with some of acoustic music's greatest virtuosos, including, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile. Kyle holds a degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Oregon and has studied composition at the Université Lumière in Lyon, France. He currently lives in Manhattan where he is recording a solo album.
John Hadfield, Percussion:
Percussionist John Hadfield’s dedication to bending genres has taken him from the jungles of Indonesia and India to concert halls and clubs across the world. This diversity has allowed him to perform with a broad variety of ensembles including Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road ensemble, The Saturday Night Live Band on NBC, Bang on a Can, The Michael Gordon Band, the rock bands Amandla and Dead Heart Bloom, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Combo Nuvo, MAYA, Phil Kline, The Bassam Saba Ensemble, Ethos Percussion Group and Gamelan Dharma Swara. While performing with jazz groups John has worked alongside Kenny Werner, Lenny Pickett, George Garzone, Gil Goldstein, Andrew D'Angelo, Bobby Watson, Dominique Eade, Ben Monder, Satoshi Takeshi, Brad Shepik, Mike Richmond and Erik Friedlander. Currently, John lives in NYC and is on Jazz faculty of New York University. www.jhadfield.com
Josh Myers, Bass:
Josh Myers is an acoustic and electric bassist, composer, leader of BIG WORDS and the Josh Myers Quintet, and cofounder of Smoothe Moose Laboratories and Recordings, a Brooklyn-based artist collective and record label. Myers has quickly cultivated a reputation for his original approach to his instrument and to composition – a philosophy that blends traditional and modern styles with an open ear and an open mind, allowing him to play as a sideman in several groups of various genres and still maintain a personal sound on the bass. He has collaborated with Kenny Werner, Wayne Krantz, Gerald Cleaver, Ben Monder, and Andrew D’Angelo, among many other fantastic musicians.
Artist Website
Musicians:
Kinan Azmeh, Clarinet
Described as a “virtuoso" by the New York Times, "unique sound” by the Daily Star and “Engagingly flamboyant” by the L.A Times, Kinan Azmeh was Born in Damascus, Syria 1976, he is the first Arab to win the first prize at the Nicolay Rubinstein international competition in Moscow 1977, a graduate of the Juilliard school in New York and the High Institute of Music and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Damascus. He is currently working towards his music doctoral degree at the City University of New York. Kinan has appeared as soloist, composer and improviser worldwide including The Kennedy Center, Opera Bastille, Mozarteum, Carnegie Hall and the Damascus Opera for its opening concert. He has shared the stage with artists such as Marcel Khalife, Francois Rabbath and Daniel Barenboim.
Kyle Sanna, Guitar:
Kyle Sanna’s music eludes simple categorization. From his introduction to the guitar through rock music to his formal study of jazz and composition to his immersion in the traditional music of Ireland and the Balkans, Kyle is continually forging his compositional language and playing style out of these and other diverse interests. Kyle has arranged music for such diverse artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Kaki King, and Martin Hayes, and has recorded and performed with some of acoustic music's greatest virtuosos, including, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile. Kyle holds a degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Oregon and has studied composition at the Université Lumière in Lyon, France. He currently lives in Manhattan where he is recording a solo album.
John Hadfield, Percussion:
Percussionist John Hadfield’s dedication to bending genres has taken him from the jungles of Indonesia and India to concert halls and clubs across the world. This diversity has allowed him to perform with a broad variety of ensembles including Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road ensemble, The Saturday Night Live Band on NBC, Bang on a Can, The Michael Gordon Band, the rock bands Amandla and Dead Heart Bloom, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Combo Nuvo, MAYA, Phil Kline, The Bassam Saba Ensemble, Ethos Percussion Group and Gamelan Dharma Swara. While performing with jazz groups John has worked alongside Kenny Werner, Lenny Pickett, George Garzone, Gil Goldstein, Andrew D'Angelo, Bobby Watson, Dominique Eade, Ben Monder, Satoshi Takeshi, Brad Shepik, Mike Richmond and Erik Friedlander. Currently, John lives in NYC and is on Jazz faculty of New York University. www.jhadfield.com
Josh Myers, Bass:
Josh Myers is an acoustic and electric bassist, composer, leader of BIG WORDS and the Josh Myers Quintet, and cofounder of Smoothe Moose Laboratories and Recordings, a Brooklyn-based artist collective and record label. Myers has quickly cultivated a reputation for his original approach to his instrument and to composition – a philosophy that blends traditional and modern styles with an open ear and an open mind, allowing him to play as a sideman in several groups of various genres and still maintain a personal sound on the bass. He has collaborated with Kenny Werner, Wayne Krantz, Gerald Cleaver, Ben Monder, and Andrew D’Angelo, among many other fantastic musicians.