Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Pianist and composer Emmet Cohen has emerged as one of his generation’s leading figures in jazz. DownBeat observed that his “nimble touch, measured stride and warm harmonic vocabulary indicate he’s above any convoluted technical showmanship.” Possessing a fluid technique, an innovative tonal palette, and an extensive repertoire, Cohen plays with the command of a seasoned veteran and the passion of an artist fully devoted to his medium. In this Savannah Music Festival return, Emmet Cohen is joined by New Jazz Underground, a trio that has been described as “an innovative and ultra-creative collective striving to establish themselves as a defining voice for the genre of jazz and beyond”. Merging traditional jazz sensibilities with modern influences such as swing, hip-hop, house, Afrobeat, and Afro-Cuban music, the trio initially gained recognition through viral videos showcasing their chemistry, musicality, and raw ambition.