Indiana Wesleyan University’s Todd Williams, assistant professor of Music Education, will perform alongside prominent jazz drummer Herlin Riley in several shows on April 6 and April 7 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. The show, titled Crescent City Monk with Herlin Riley & Friends, is a 30th anniversary landmark event at Lincoln Center because it combines three of Lincoln Center’s foundational elements: the city of New Orleans, the music of Thelonious Monk, and the legendary original Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra drummer, New Orleans native Herlin Riley.
Williams will play the saxophone alongside the following musicians:
- Herlin Riley – drums
- Ellis Marsalis – piano
- Eric Lewis – piano
- Isaiah J. Thompson – piano
- Joel Ross – vibes
- Reginald Veal – bass
- Pedrito Martinez – percussion
- Melanie Charles – vocals
The show will include a series of solo, duo and trio performances of essential Thelonious Monk tunes, highlighting each musician’s unique gifts. It will also include Riley leading a quartet through additional Monk classics, welcoming extra piano and percussion on various tunes.
Shows will take place at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on both April 6 and April 7 in the Appel Room. The performances will be live-streamed and recorded for a Sirius XM broadcast.
“I’m so enthusiastic about my upcoming performance in NYC in Lincoln Center’s Appel Room,” said Williams. “This venue is one of the most scenic venues to perform as it has an all glass back stage wall facing Columbus Circle. It should be a blast!”
For more information, visit www.jazz.org/events/t-6326/Crescent-City-Monk-with-Herlin-Riley-and-Friends/.
For more information on the IWU Division of Music, visit www.indwes.edu/undergraduate/division-of-music/.