Jazz in the Basement is a monthly concert series featuring local jazz artists, organized by the DC Public Library and curated by Bertrand Uberall and John Cook. The concerts are intended to highlight young artists, new composers, or unique jazz sounds to broaden the listening landscape of our Washington, DC audiences. DC Public Library is a proud supporter of our local music community and looks forward to expanding valuable resources to assist musicians in their creative and professional endeavors.
This July, we are excited to present Drummer Kelton Norris and his quartet, featuring a rare trombone/guitar front line, performing original compositions as well as new arrangements of jazz standards.
Admission for the concert is free; limited seating is available on a first come, first served basis.
RSVP
Kelton Norris: Drums
Jerrick Matthews: Trombone
Francisco Quintero: Guitar
Romeir Mendez: Bass
Kelton Norris
Originally from Raleigh, Mississippi, DC-based drummer Kelton Norris is known across the DC jazz scene for his fiery and collaborative playing. Kelton currently teaches at several locations across the tri-state area as well as maintains a full-time performance schedule along the east coast and deep south. He has performed with such artists and ensembles as Joan Rivers, Sharon Clark, Jose Andre Montano, Jessica Boykin-Settles, Hamiet Bluiett, Cyrus Chestnut, Vincent Gardner, Allyn Johnson, Afro-Blue, Levon Mikaelian, Rodney Whitaker, Thad Wilson, Cristian Perez, Herman Burney Jr., Ron Blake, Victor Provost, Elijah Jamal Balbed, Shannon Gunn, and many others. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and his Masters in Music from Northern Illinois University.
Jerrick Matthews
Jerrick Matthews is a trained professional trombonist and educator located in New York City, NY. He is an internationally noted musician with experience working with artists such as Rodney Whitaker, Damien Sneed, Igmar Thomas, Michael Dease, and many others. He received his bachelor's degree in music/jazz studies at the University of Southern Mississippi and his master's degree in music/jazz studies at Michigan State University. He also has extensive experience in teaching, arranging, composing.
Romeir Mendez
Bassist Romeir Mendez is a native of Baltimore, MD, and over the years has become one of the most sought-after musicians in the Washington DC/Maryland area. Having studied with legendary bassist Steve Novosel at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), Romeir continues a legacy of great bassists from the DC area. Throughout his growing popularity, Romeir has also had the privilege of gracing the stage of some of the world’s most revered venues, including Carnegie Hall and The Walt Disney Theatre. In addition to performing with some of the top local musicians, he is currently working and touring with the Grammy-nominated group Sweet Honey in the Rock and has had the pleasure of and continues to perform with world-renowned artists Donald Harrison, Warren Wolf, Tim Warfield, Terell Stafford, Russell Gunn, Duane Eubanks, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Regina Carter, Dionne Farris and Terence Blanchard, to name a few. He has traveled and toured Doha, Qatar, Osaka, Japan, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Australia, South Africa, Swaziland, Peru, Jamaica, and many other countries. Currently back in the states, he continues to perform both regionally, nationally, and abroad. He occasionally leads his own bands at various venues in the Washington, DC and Baltimore area.
Francisco Quintero
Francisco Quintero is a guitarist, composer, arranger and producer born and raised in Venezuela. He attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in 2009, where he obtained a degree in instrumental performance, and also holds a master's degree in jazz studies from Northern Illinois University. He has studied with artists such as Richie Hart, Ed Tomassi, Lin Biviano, Alain Mallet, Mike Stern, Adam Rogers, Peter Bernstein, Fareed Haque, and more. He has played with an impressive list of artists, including Andres Briceno, Gustavo Caruci, Derrick Gardner, Carl Allen, Victor Provost, Paul Carr, Geof Bradfield, Reggie Thomas, Ari Brown, and more.
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