Kinetic, provocative pianist Marc Cary brings his acoustic Focus Trio to Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola.
Marc Cary, piano; David Ewell, bass; Sameer Gupta, drums.

Dynamic pianist, multi-keyboardist, and composer Marc Cary has emerged on the cutting-edge NY scene as one of the most exciting and innovative players around. The Washington, DC native moved to New York after graduating from the Duke Ellington school at a promising age of 21. Soon thereafter, Cary found himself in-demand for his agile playing, both in stylistic mastery and personal expression.

A highly versatile musician, Cary has been compared to the likes of Herbie Hancock, Duke Ellington, and Randy Weston. Alternately percussive and suave, animated and introspective, Cary balances energy and lyricism with a depth of expression unmatched by his peers. His extensive credits include jazz legends Art Taylor, Betty Carter, and Abbey Lincoln, with whom he has received Grammy nominations. He has recently been working with Stephon Harris' Blackout.

Cary has an uncompromising drive for cross-cultural expression, especially evident on his fourth album as a leader, Indigenous People’s Live in Brazil (Jazzateria). As The New York Times writes, Cary is “going his own way and ready to lead”. Cary has always been one to return to his roots. His latest release, Focus brings him back to the acoustic piano setting, with new fresh new material and an explosive rhythm section, David Ewell (acoustic bass), and Sameer Gupta (drums, tabla).
http://www.myspace.com/focustrio

Marc Cary has had a penchant for cross-cultural musical fertilization.

He has fronted several ensembles, each one different musical directions. Indigenous People, which mixes acoustic, electric and is heavily percussive, is a group that Cary constructed in 1998 and he refers to it as the blueprint of his signature sound. Indigenous People recorded a live album in Brazil in 1999 which was positively received. Cary also leads the XR Project (Crossroads Project) which he explains as an extension of Indigenous People but with more of an underground and hip hop flavor. Crossing over additional musical territories, Cary produces house music and electronica under the handle, Marco Polo and has recently worked with Louie Vega.

Cary has been an architect of the zeitgeist that championed the organic, acoustic sound during the late 80s, early 90s. He was part of the Young Lions collective that included trumpeter Roy Hargrove, on which Cary was part of the personnel on albums like The Vibe and Hardgroove, staples in Hargrove's catalog. Cary's own discography list solo records such as 1995's Cary On, 1997's Listen and 1998's The Antidote, have been each received with critical acclaim.

Cary foray into music began with playing drums and trumpet. As a youth in Washington, D.C. he paid dues as a member of the Hi Integrity Band and Show, one of the many Go-Go bands that defined the DC musical scene. His family carries a musical tradition: his great-grandmother played piano at local movie houses, her partner was Eubie Blake; his mother is a visual artist and father played trumpet.

Cary received a formal education from Duke Ellington School of Art. As an emerging artist, his circle of mentors included John Malachi, Mary Jefferson, Nat Turner. By age 18, he found himself playing with the Dizzy Gillespie Youth Ensemble at Wolf Trap.

In the spirited style of DC jazz pianists like Duke Ellington, Shirley Horn, John Malachi, Cary continues in that tradition of innovation composition. Cary has played and recorded with an impressive roster of musicians: Me'Shell NdegeOcello, Dizzy Gillespie, Betty Carter, Arthur Taylor, Abby Lincoln, Erykah Badu, Jackie McClain, Clifford Jordan, Carmen McCray, Milt Jackson, Curtis Fuller, Eddie Henderson, Arthur Taylor, Frank Foster, Wynton Marsalis, Max Roach, Shirley Horn, Ani Difranco, among a host of other talents.

As Marc Cary evolves as an artist, is it clear that his body of work will continue to expand with cerebral compositions and impressive projects. It is evident that Cary lives as a true jazz musician would, composing from the heart, approaching the music with an evident freedom in his vision. -Laylah Amatullah Barrayn
http://www.myspace.com/marccarymusic

"Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola is designed to entertain people in the spirit that Dizzy had...very welcoming," Mr. Marsalis explains. "We just want people to have a good time. We want the musicians to feel comfortable to play.   We want people to come in and have a memorable experience. This whole facility is designed for international participation. This is a hall of integration...to bring everything together."

You can expect a spicy variety of musicians to grace the stage. As Jazz at Lincoln Center continues to perpetuate the art form, Monday nights are dedicated to young, upcoming musicians who will showcase their talent. On the other nights, you never know who will show up for a surprise appearance at one of our late-night hang sets. We welcome all to come, enjoy the great music, the great view and the great food.

Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, is located in the Time Warner Center, Broadway at 60th Street. Frederick P. Rose Hall can be accessed using the JAZZ elevators located on the ground floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle across from Hugo Boss.

By Car: From Long Island
Take Long Island Expressway to Midtown Tunnel. Follow signs to Uptown/West Side and go cross-town at 34th Street to 8th Avenue. Turn right onto 8th Avenue and proceed to 59th Street. Turn right onto Columbus Circle, making another right onto Broadway. Make a quick left onto West 60th Street. Parking garages can be found on West 60th Street.

From Southern New Jersey
Take the Lincoln or Holland Tunnels.
From Lincoln Tunnel take the exit on the left towards 40th Street and North. Turn left onto West 42nd Street. Turn right onto 10th Avenue, continuing all the way to 58th Street. Turn right onto West 58th Street. Turn right onto 8th Avenue and proceed to 59th Street. Turn right onto Columbus Circle, making another right onto Broadway. Make a quick left onto West 60th Street. Parking garages can be found on West 60th Street. From Holland Tunnel follow signs to Exit 1 (Uptown and Canal Street) into Laight Street. Follow Laight Street to West Side Highway (Joe DiMaggio Highway). Follow to 56th Street, staying to the right after 42nd Street. Turn right onto West 56th Street. Turn left onto 8th Avenue and proceed to 59th Street. Turn right onto Columbus Circle, making another right onto Broadway. Make a quick left onto West 60th Street. Parking garages can be found on West 60th Street.

From Northern New Jersey
Take I-95 North/US-9 North/US 1 North. This becomes I-95 North/Upper Level George Washington Bridge/US-9. Take the Henry Hudson Parkway/178th Street exit. Follow signs to Henry Hudson Parkway South/West Side Highway (Joe DiMaggio Highway). Merge onto Henry Hudson Parkway South. Take the West 79th Street (Boat Basin) exit. Follow the circle and exit onto 79th street. Turn right onto West End Avenue, heading south. Turn left onto West 56th Street. Turn left onto 8th Avenue and proceed to 59th Street. Turn right onto Columbus Circle, making another right onto Broadway. Make a quick left onto West 60th Street. Parking garages can be found on West 60th Street.

From Southern Connecticut
Take I-95 South to Cross Bronx Expressway, taking the last Manhattan exit (leading towards George Washington Bridge). Follow the Henry Hudson Parkway South. Take the West 79th Street (Boat Basin) exit. Follow the circle and exit onto 79th street. Turn right onto West End Avenue, heading south. Turn left onto West 56th Street. Turn left onto 8th Avenue and proceed to 59th Street. Turn right onto Columbus Circle, making another right onto Broadway. Make a quick left onto West 60th Street. Parking garages can be found on West 60th Street.

From Westchester County
Travel south to get onto Route 9 South (from Saw Mill Parkway). Route 9 becomes Henry Hudson Parkway South/West Side Highway (Joe DiMaggio Highway). Take Henry Hudson Parkway South to the West 79th Street (Boat Basin) exit. Follow the circle and exit onto 79th street. Turn right onto West End Avenue, heading south. Turn left onto West 56th Street. Turn left onto 8th Avenue and proceed to 59th Street. Turn right onto Columbus Circle, making another right onto Broadway. Make a quick left onto West 60th Street. Parking garages can be found on West 60th Street.

From Rockland County/Upstate New York
Take New York State Thruway south to Palisades Parkway south to the George Washington Bridge. Cross the bridge and follow signs to Henry Hudson Parkway South/West Side Highway (Joe DiMaggio Highway). Merge onto Henry Hudson Parkway South. Take the West 79th Street (Boat Basin) exit. Follow the circle and exit onto 79th street. Turn right onto West End Avenue, heading south. Turn left onto West 56th Street. Turn left onto 8th Avenue and proceed to 59th Street. Turn right onto Columbus Circle, making another right onto Broadway. Make a quick left onto West 60th Street. Parking garages can be found on West 60th Street.

By Subway:
Take the A, B, C, D, #1 trains to 59th Street/Columbus Circle.

By Bus:
The M5, M7, M10, M11 and M104 bus lines all stop within one block of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

For additional bus and subway information and directions, call the Travel Information Bureau at 718-330-1234, 24 hours a day.