Adam Birnbaum Trio to Perform April 26 at UW

The University of Wyoming Department of Music will host the Adam Birnbaum Trio for an evening of jazz at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts recital hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

Performing with New York-based guest jazz pianist Adam Birnbaum will be UW Department of Music faculty members Andy Wheelock, an assistant professor, drums, and Lecturer Seth Lewis, bass.

Birnbaum is emerging as one of the top young performers in jazz piano.

Since receiving his degree in jazz studies from The Juilliard School in 2003, Birnbaum has become a presence on the New York City scene as a leader and sideman, performing in such venues as the Village Vanguard, the Blue Note, Birdland, the Jazz Standard and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. He also has performed on many national and world stages, including the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, the Kennedy Center, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Spoleto Festival, the Red Sea Jazz Festival, the Rockport Chamber Festival, NPR’s Jazz Christmas and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

He currently is an assistant professor of jazz at SUNY Purchase and a Steinway Artist.

Wheelock has performed with such artists as Ernie Watts, Jorge Glem, Bobby Shew, Chuchito Valdés, Joel Frahm, Henry Linarez, Bob Bowman, Ivan Trevino and William Moersch. He is an active performer and can be heard performing with the Live Edge Trio, Gonzalo Teppa Quintet, UW faculty member Ben Markley, New Stream Brass Ensemble, the Cheyenne Symphony and his own projects.

As a composer and arranger, Wheelock writes regularly for his own recording projects as well as big bands and percussion ensembles. His debut record, “View From Here,” featuring Watts, has received good reviews and airtime around the country.

Lewis has traveled the world performing and teaching, and he has performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, as well as on Broadway and in Las Vegas shows. During his time in New York, Lewis regularly appeared at well-known jazz clubs, including Smalls, Smoke, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Cleopatra’s Needle and The Iridium.

He has collaborated with many artists, including Mulgrew Miller, Louis Hayes, Eric Alexander, David Hazeltine, Jerry Dodgion, Randy Brecker, Sheila Jordan, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Greg Gisbert, Dave Liebman, Eric McPherson, Abraham Burton, Josh Evans, Stacey Dillard, Dawn Clement, Alexis Cole, Benny Golson, Jeff Hamilton, Evan Sherman, Jonathan Barber and Emmet Cohen.

Lewis also is an active researcher who has presented at many conferences, and Allegro magazine has published some of his work.

For more information, call Kathy Kirkaldie, UW Fine Arts coordinator, at (307) 766-2160 or email kirisk@uwyo.edu.