Martin Hayes Quartet

He’s "one of the best fiddlers on the planet." (NPR) Last seen on our stage 10 years ago as part of his supergroup, The Gloaming, Martin Hayes’ soulful interpretations of traditional Irish music are rooted in the slow, lyrical East County Clare fiddling style. Joined by his exquisite quartet, Hayes has “an insatiable appetite for adventure,” putting “beguiling new angles on the tradition,” further cementing his place as one of the most influential talents of the Irish music scene. (The Irish Times)

Hill International Student Dinner

DakhaBrakha Concert

Met with an exuberant crowd and thunderous applause as part of our Ukraine series in 2024, Kyiv’s DakhaBrakha returns with its powerful, sonic feast and visual spectacle. The quartet’s “ethno-chaos” sound plumbs the depths of Ukrainian roots and contemporary rhythms, fusing ancient folk melodies with everything from indie rock and pop to hip hop and the avant-garde. Intimate then riotous, this soulful tapestry of the unexpected creates “live shows that take DakhaBrakha beyond mere curiosity to utter brilliance.” (NPR)

Cécile McLorin Salvant Concert

“One of the greatest jazz singers of her generation,” (Rolling Stone) multi-Grammy® Award-winner Cécile McLorin Salvant returns to our stage with her velvety vocals and captivating musical storytelling. This recent MacArthur Fellow “possesses not only one of the most original imaginations in modern jazz but also succeeds in reaching emotional depths that few other vocalists reach.” (Jazzwise) With vivid theatricality and a rich tapestry of jazz standards and original compositions, a live concert by Cécile McLorin Salvant is quite simply a must-see.

KCECH attends Aakash Odedra Company

Join Faculty Director Victor Preciado for the Aakash Odedra Company performance at the Annenberg Center, a show to remember that will leave you feeling inspired and give you a break from the academic week. In a highly anticipated Philadelphia debut, international dance star Aakash Odedra performs Songs of the Bulbul, a full-length work inspired by the ancient Sufi myth of a bulbul, or nightingale, held in captivity that sings a final, heartbreaking tune before perishing from despair. Serving as a haunting metaphor for the fleeting nature of dance and life itself, “Odedra perfects the art of dramatic storytelling with such emotion and flowing, freespirited, balletic grace.” (Edinburgh Guide) Winner of the prestigious Best Show of the Edinburgh International Festival and celebrated with an array of five-star reviews abroad, this physically ambitious solo is rooted in the rich traditions of Sufi music, poetry and movement. “A work of exquisite beauty and sadness,” this “is the kind of theatrical moment that stays with you forever.” (The Scotsman)

KCECH goes to University City Block Party

Branford Marsalis Quartet concert