GBH Music and Jazz Boston welcome pianist Ethan Iverson to Fraser Performance Studio for a solo set focused on two giants of the genre. The show will celebrate the music of early Harlem Stride pianist James P. Johnson, who contributed to the evolution of jazz from ragtime in the 1920s, contrasted by music from the iconic saxophonist John Coltrane, whose modal jazz and “sheets of sound” revolutionized the art form in later decades. Iverson was a founding member of The Bad Plus, a revolutionary and wildly successful avant-garde trio that The New York Times said was “Better than anyone at melding the sensibilities of post-60’s jazz and indie rock.”Since leaving TBP, Iverson has released critically-acclaimed jazz albums on ECM and Blue Note, often accompanied by bonafide jazz stars such as Tom Harrell or Jack DeJohnette. Downbeat has called Iverson “A master of melody” while Hot House recently raved, "Known for his intellectual depth and adventurous musical spirit, Ethan Iverson has traversed the boundaries of jazz tradition while leaving an indelible mark on its evolution.” After witnessing a 2024 concert of jazz standards spontaneously chosen by the audience, Stereophile wrote, “Iverson is a natural, consistent crowd-pleaser. For his entire career, he has been finding ways to be accessible while pushing the envelope.” On top of his activities as a pianist and composer, Iverson has an active career as a writer, publishing significant criticism in The Nation, JazzTimes, The New York Times, and the Culture Desk of The New Yorker, in addition to posting frequently on his Substack, Transitional Technology; he also has a steady Boston connection through his professorship at New England Conservatory. The concert takes place at 8pm in Fraser Performance Studio with a pre-concert reception at 7:15pm. Paris Alston, of GBH News Rooted, will host the performance, which will be filmed for broadcast on GBH2. This event is made possible by the Goldstein Family Fund.
7:15-7:50pm Pre-reception
7:50pm Guest are seated in Fraser Performance Studio
8:00-9:00pm Live performance in Fraser Performance Studio
