Jazz Piano Mini Festival, Orlinski, Bronfman, and More From La Jolla Music Society in April

April is an exciting month for La Jolla Music Society as they present musical icon Herbie Hancock, star countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński, piano master Yefim Bronfman, and their first Jazz Piano Mini Festival, among other not-to-be-missed offerings throughout the month!

Jakub Józef Orlinski With Il Pomo D’Oro | Beyond

Sunday, April 7, 2024, at 7:30 PM
The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Revelle Chamber Music Series

La Jolla Music Society April Performances

Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński has established himself as one of the world’s leading artists, triumphing on stage, in concert, and in recordings.

Following the release of his latest album, Beyond, the popular countertenor makes his LJMS debut highlighting rarely performed early music repertoire with the acclaimed chamber orchestra Il Pomo d’Oro, in a program that includes works by Monteverdi, Frescobaldi, Cavalli, Sartorio, and many more.

Quator Ébène

Friday, April 12, 2024, at 7:30 PM
The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Revelle Chamber Music Series

Quatuor Ébène’s rise to fame began after studies with the Quatuor Ysaÿe in Paris, as well as with Gábor Takács, Eberhard Feltz, and György Kurtág.

Their unprecedented and outstanding success at the 2004 ARD Music Competition was followed by numerous other prizes and awards: The Belmont Prize of the Forberg-Schneider Foundation (2005), prizewinner of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust (2007), and in 2019, they became the first ensemble ever honored with the Frankfurt Music Prize.

Now, these exciting young artists make their San Diego debuts.

Abel Selaocoe & Manchester Collective | Sirocco

Sunday, April 14, 2024, at 7 p.m.
The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
ProtoStar Innovative Series

South African cellist Abel Selaocoe is a rapidly rising star who is redefining the parameters of the cello.

Sirocco is a celebration of folk traditions from around the world, led by the inimitable Selaocoe, a musician described as “a star in the making” (The Arts Desk) and UK-based Manchester Collective for a program that weaves between original settings of African music, Danish folk songs, and classical music as you’ve never heard it before.

When this program toured across the UK and Europe, critics described it as a “deeply moving” and “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Jazz Piano Mini Festival | In Honor of Jazz Appreciation Month

In April, the National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian celebrate Jazz History Month.

To honor the legacy and history of this music, LJMS has curated a weekend of performances by some of the most revered jazz pianists of our time, as well as masterclasses, panel discussions, and more at The Conrad and throughout San Diego.

Panel Discussion: The State of Jazz

Wednesday, April 17 • 11 AM to 12 PM
The JAI • Free

Featuring Melonie Grinnell, Kamau Kenyatta, and Charles McPherson. Hosted by Robert John Hughes

Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert

Wednesday, April 17 • 12:30 PM–1:30 PM

Featuring guitarist Christian Rodriguez and pianist Jacob Tyler Bader. This concert is FREE and part of The Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series.

San Diego Jazz Piano All Stars Concert

Wednesday, April 17 • 7 PM to 8:30 PM
The JAI

Join us for our exciting festival kick-off concert featuring local favorites Mike Wofford, Kat Shoemaker, Bobby Cressey, and Melonie Grinnell, with Justin Grinnell and Julien Cantelm providing rhythm. Tickets: $30

HERBIE HANCOCK
Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 7:30 PM
Balboa Theatre

Herbie Hancock is a true icon of modern music. Throughout his explorations, he has transcended limitations and genres while maintaining his unmistakable voice.

With an illustrious career spanning five decades and 14 GRAMMY Awards, including Album of the Year for River: The Joni Letters, he continues to amaze audiences across the globe.

Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert

Friday, April 19 at 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Featuring Ed Kornhauser on piano.

All Stars GONZÁLEZ & HABANA enTRANCé
Friday, April 19, 2024, at 7:30 PM
Concerts @ The JAI

Cuban piano phenomenon Dayramir González began his professional career as a pianist and composer with former Irakere member Chucho Valdés’ Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble Diákara at the age of 16.

Since winning Havana’s JoJazz festival in 2004 and 2005, González has gone on to win three Cubadisco awards for his 2007 debut album, Dayramir & Habana enTRANCé, and the 2013 Wayne Shorter Award for most outstanding jazz composer.

Master Class ith Dayramir González

Saturday, April 20 at 11 AM to12:30 PM
The JAI • Free

Hear rising jazz musicians under the guidance of Cuban piano phenom Dayramir González.

HIROMI’s sonicwonder
Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 7:30 PM
The Baker-Baum Concert Hall

Ever since the 2003 release of her groundbreaking debut, Another Mind, pianist Hiromi has astonished audiences with a creative energy that eclipses the boundaries of jazz, classical, and pop, taking improvisation and composition to new heights of complexity and sophistication.

Taking the stage as part of the electrified four-piece ensemble sonicwonder, Hiromi builds on the spark of collaboration to create something magnificent.

HIROMI: THE PIANO QUINTET featuring PUBLIQUARTET
Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 7 p.m.
The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
ProtoStar Innovative Series

This is a new project pairing Hiromi’s incomparable piano mastery with a string quartet featuring PUBLIQuartet. In the two decades since Hiromi released her stunning debut album, Another Mind, the Japanese pianist/composer has blazed an incandescent trail across the jazz scene.

Her fertile imagination and boundless creativity seem to ripple out of her as effortlessly as her virtuosic pianism.

Equally impressive in acoustic or electric settings, she delves into a different kind of fusion on her latest project, which encompasses and eclipses the boundaries of jazz, classical, and pop, taking improvisation and composition to new heights of complexity and sophistication.

YEFIM BRONFMAN, Piano
Friday, April 26, 2024, at 7:30 PM
The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Piano Series

La Jolla Music Society welcomes back a legend of classical piano and a dear friend of the company in a stunning program of great works.

Internationally recognized as one of today’s most acclaimed and admired pianists, Yefim Bronfman stands among a handful of artists regularly sought by festivals, orchestras, conductors, and recital series.

His commanding technique, power, and exceptional lyrical gifts are consistently acknowledged by the press and audiences alike.

Artists, concerts, dates, and venues subject to change.