FREE TICKETS for students pursuing jazz studies thanks to community sponsors. 50% DISCOUNT for working musicians and music educators. Learn about our Great Experience Guarantee and No Barriers policy. Sign-up to stay informed on tickets.
Jazz Coterie live music concert series welcomes Miguel Zenón to our pop-up jazz club in Appleton, Wisconsin — with Luis Perdomo on piano, Hans Glawischnig on bass, and Henry Cole on drums.
Multiple Grammy Nominee Miguel Zenón represents a select group of musicians who have masterfully balanced and blended the often contradictory poles of innovation and tradition. Widely considered as one of the most groundbreaking and influential saxophonists and composers of his generation, he has also developed a unique voice as a conceptualist, concentrating his efforts on perfecting a fine mix between Jazz and his many musical influences.
“One of the most esteemed and singular-voiced alto saxophonists in jazz. ”
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenón has released fifteen recordings as a leader, including his latest, Música De Las Américas and the Grammy Nominated El Arte Del Bolero (2021), Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera (2019) and Yo Soy La Tradición (2018). As a sideman he has worked with luminaries such as The SFJAZZ Collective, Charlie Haden, Fred Hersch, Kenny Werner, David Sánchez, Danilo Perez, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, Kurt Elling, Guillermo Klein & Los Guachos, The Jeff Ballard Trio, Antonio Sanchez, Brian Lynch, Joey Calderazzo, Steve Coleman, Ray Barreto, Andy Montañez, Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band, The Mingus Big Band and Bobby Hutcherson.
“This young musician and composer is at once reestablishing the artistic, cultural, and social tradition of jazz while creating an entirely new jazz language for the 21st century.”
Zenón has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe and The Chicago Tribune. In addition, he topped both the Jazz Artist of the Year and Alto Saxophonist categories on the 2014 Jazz Times Critics Poll and was selected as the Alto Saxophonist of the Year by the Jazz Journalist Association in 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2020 (when he was also recognized as Arranger of The Year).
“Zenon and his musical partners have the DNA/spirit of Charlie Parker in their blood. Open a vein and the indigenous, Spanish and African souls flow freely.”
As a composer he has been commissioned by SFJAZZ, NYO Jazz, The New York State Council for the Arts, Chamber Music America, Logan Center for The Arts, The Hyde Park Jazz Festival, The John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, MIT, Spektral Quartet, The Hewlett Foundation, Peak Performances, PRISM Quartet and many of his peers. Zenón has given hundreds of lectures and master classes at institutions all over the world and is a permanent faculty member at New England Conservatory and The Manhattan School of Music.
“Miguel Zenón is best known for combining innovation with the folkloric and traditional music of his native Puerto Rico. Lest there be any lingering doubt, Miguel Zenón is one of the most influential and innovative musicians of these times.”
In April 2008 Zenón received a fellowship from the prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Foundation. Later that year he was one of 25 distinguished individuals chosen to receive the coveted MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the “Genius Grant”. In 2011 he founded Caravana Cultural, a program which presents free-of-charge Jazz concerts in rural areas of Puerto Rico. In 2022 he received an Honorary Doctorate from La Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San
Juan, Puerto Rico, the highest honor bestowed by the institution.
Zenón lives in New York City with his wife Elga and their daughter.
“Quality of tone and acuity of rhythm might be enough to recommend the jazz alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón for the rest of his life.”