The duo of cellist Eugene Friesen and pianist Henrique Eisenmann brings the concept of chamber music into the world of jazz and world music. Friesen, a 4-time Grammy Award winner, is known for expanding the role of the cello into jazz and world music styles, while Brazilian-born Henrique Eisenmann is both a classical virtuoso and a stunning jazz improvisational artist. In this program of originals and Brazilian bossa nova, West-African grooves, and innovative arrangements of well known songs, Friesen and Eisenmann redefine their instruments as they liberate the classical genre.
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Eugene Friesen is active internationally as a cellist, composer, recording artist, and teacher. He has performed on six continents as a soloist and with the Grammy Award-winning Paul Winter Consort. Eugene is an artist-in-residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, and on faculty at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. More information on Eugene can be found online at www.celloman.com
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Henrique Eisenmann has always been intrigued with the idea of translating different musical sonorities to the piano. Eisenmann focuses on unique collaborations with artists from all different fields: dancers, poets, and actors. Among his latest releases, the 2022 album "Nação" (Circus Label) has drawn unanimous praise from critics across the world. Eisenmann has performed in numerous international jazz festivals and has worked with dozens of outstanding musicians such as Gunther Schuller, Luciana Souza, George Garzone, Matti Caspi and Tom Zé. Henrique is a faculty member at The Juilliard School (NYC) and the New England Conservatory in Boston. www.henriquepiano.com