Alex Kautz; photo credit: Promo

Thursday, January 16, 2025

7:30 PM

The fall series concludes Thursday, January 16, with the Athenaeum debut of the Alex Kautz Quartet, featuring Kautz on drums, Chico Pinheiro on guitar, John Ellis on saxophone, and Hamish Smith on bass. Renowned for his musicality, groove, and knowledge of various genres, Kautz stands out as a distinguished percussionist, educator, and composer. With an unwavering passion for jazz and world music, he has crafted a captivating and distinct musical voice. A Brazilian artist based in New York City, Kautz has been an important part of the city’s music scene for the last decade and has played and/or recorded with some of the top artists in the industry today, including Tim Ries, Magos Herrera, Nilson Matta, Chico Pinheiro, Steve Wilson, Lenny Andrade, Fabio Gouvea, Helio Alves, Victor Prieto, and Lionel Loueke.

In addition to his work with various artists, Kautz has taken the lead in various projects in which he fuses the sounds of Brazilian music with jazz, most recently with his 2024 release, Where We Begin. He is joined by Chico Pinheiro, known to Athenaeum audiences from appearances with guitarists Romero Lubambo and Anthony Wilson and as the leader of his own quintet with saxophonist Bob Mintzer. Guitar giant Pat Metheny wrote, “There are many incredible guitarists out there. On the top of that list, I’d include Chico Pinheiro.” The Boston Globe called him “one of the brightest lights on today’s Brazilian jazz scene.”

The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert.