THE MERCER QUARTET
SATURDAY, February 3rd, 2024 | 6 PM
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“I think the main thing a musician would like to do is give a picture to the listener of the many wonderful things he knows of and senses in the universe,” says John Coltrane, one of Mercer Shavelson’s many musical influences. Join us for an intimate performance with the Mercer Quartet, a collaborative modern jazz ensemble comprised of Mercer Shavelson, Adam Cordero, Gary Jones III, and Nick Panoutsos.
Drawing from a multitude of influences including Hip-hop, Avant-garde Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, and Folk music from around the globe, the Mercer Quartet invites the audience to enjoy a preview of newly developed pieces inspired by known experiences and curiosity of the unknown.
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Mercer Shavelson 
Mercer Shavelson is an up-and-coming Keyboardist/Composer based in Queens. Shavelson grew up in Sea Cliff, NY, a small town in Long Island, and has been around music all his life. This has led him to a flourishing music career, which so far has been characterized by unique explorations into instrumentation, groove, and harmony. The son of a jazz singer, Mercer attributes much of his musical inspiration to jazz icons such as Bill Evans and John Coltrane, though he has also been influenced by a wide array of different musical traditions and artists, ranging from the Armenian Folk-Infused music of Tigran Hamasyan to Hip-hop groups such as The Roots.
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Adam Cordero
New York native Adam Cordero is a saxophonist, clarinetist, bassoonist, composer, and educator, based in Queens, New York. His dedication to music has led him to play at the most established jazz venues in the NYC area such as The Jazz Gallery, Smalls Jazz Club, Roulette Intermedium, and Williamsburg Music Center. In 2022, Adam’s career as a bassoonist led him to collaborate with avant-garde jazz legend & Pulitzer Prize winner, Henry Threadgill for his multimedia project “The Other One” which was performed live at Roulette Intermedium and released as an album in 2023. Adam teaches his own studio of students privately and is an adjunct faculty member at The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music. As well as establishing a career as an artist & educator, Adam is invested in bringing the modern Jazz Community together – He is a leading founder of the music venue Julian’s NYC & the record label, Tidebloom Records.
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GARY JONES III
Gary Jones III is a 23-year-old percussionist and composer based in Manhattan, New York. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Gary has drawn a tremendous influence from Gospel and Hip Hop music growing up. Over the past few years, while attending the New School College of the Performing Arts, Gary has been studying traditional, avant-garde, and contemporary jazz with a notable list of artists, including Buster Williams, Dave Glasser, and Matt Wilson. Gary has worked and performed with many prestigious artists such as Terence Blanchard, Reggie Workman, Dominick Farinacci, and Cisco Swank among others. Gary has a deep passion for art and cherishes every moment serving as a creative vessel. His mission is to bring the community together through his music.
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NICK PANOUTSOS
Bassist Nick Panoutsos has become an increasingly prominent voice in the New York City jazz community since moving from the Sang Francisco Bay Area in 2016. HE has earned a reputation as a versatile collaborartor and leader on both upright and electric bass. His debut album, Monos, features solo bass arrangements of his own compositions and Greek Folk songs.
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(View the events calendar here) The Church was established in 2019 by artists Eric Fischl and April Gornik. Housed in a deconsecrated 19th-century church, its doors were opened in April 2021. Our mission is to foster creativity and to honor the living history of Sag Harbor as a maker village. The East End represents an exceptional artistic legacy, spanning the practices of Indigenous art of several centuries ago, Abstract Expressionists of the mid 20th Century, and the many celebrated writers, makers, musicians, and visual artists of the recent past and current moment. Core programming includes visual art exhibitions, concerts and events, educational programming, workshops, lectures, and an artist’s residency.
The Church
48 Madison Street
Sag Harbor, NY 11963
www.thechurchsagharbor.org
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AAQ / Resource
Araiys Design Landscape Architects
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