The Newton Piano Summit kicks off on the weekend of May 6 & 7 with free concerts each day, 1PM-3PM, at Second Church in Newton (60 Highland Street, West Newton).
- May 6: Hidemi Akaiwa & Kevin Harris
- May 7: Harold Charon & Leo Blanco
Hidemi Akaiwa – May 6th, 1-2pm
Get ready for a musical experience unlike any other as keyboardist and composer Hidemi Akaiwa brings her unique fusion of Japanese Zen principles, jazz, and microtonal contemporary classical music to the stage with her quartet.
Akaiwa made a bold decision to leave a successful corporate career at the age of 30 to pursue her passion for music. Her dedication to her craft was recognized with a full scholarship to Berklee College, where she honed her skills through participation in many prestigious programs including the Global Jazz Institute, Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, Planet MicroJam Institute, and Interdisciplinary Arts Institute. Under the guidance of world-class musicians Danilo Pérez, Kenny Werner, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Billy Childs, David Fiuczynski, and others, Akaiwa has cultivated a style that is truly her own. Recently, she completed a residency in Guatemala with the Screaming Headless Torsos, but that’s a story for another time! Click here to see Hidemi’s Quartet.
Kevin Harris – May 6th, 2-3pm
We are thrilled to welcome Kevin Harris, a veteran of the first Newton Piano Summit, back to our stage. Harris has been described as a “creative volcano of talent ” and promises to deliver a unique multimedia experience featuring spoken word, poetry, and innovative electronic sounds. Veteran drummer Fabio Rojas will be joining Kevin.
Jazz Master Fred Hersch lauds Harris as a musician who “plays and writes with flair and real soul,” while DownBeat Magazine notes that Harris’ compositions explore themes of strength, love, courage, and self-awareness. Harris has performed in prestigious international and national venues, including the Blue Note in New York City, Beijing, Milan; Smalls and Mezzrow in New York; JazzHus Montmartre in Copenhagen; Perugia Jazz Festival in Italy; Lima Jazz Festival in Peru; Wally’s Jazz Club in Boston; Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba; and Catania Jazz in Italy, to name a few. Click here to see Kevin’s performance in Israel.
Harold Charon – May 7th, 1-2 pm
Originally from Havana, Harold began playing the piano at the young age of five. Harold’s music is a fusion of various genres including Latin, Salsa, Jazz, and Timba. Timba is a Cuban music style that draws influence from Cuban son, salsa, American funk/R&B, and Afro-Cuban folkloric music. One of the founders of this style is Chucho Valdez, the bandleader of Irakere.
Charon’s exceptional musicianship belies his age. He has toured Canada and performed at the Halifax Jazz Festival, and trained with renowned musicians such as Fred Hersh and Taylor Eigsty. Click here to see Harold’s performance at last year’s Summit.
Leo Blanco – May 7th, 2-3 pm
Pianist and composer Leo Blanco’s music is a captivating blend of global rhythms which draws influence from both European classical traditions and his South American roots.
Blanco was born in the Venezuelan Andes, where he immersed himself in a rich tapestry of folk music genres that combined Afro-Caribbean, North American, and European musical styles. His talent as a violinist earned him a place in the Merida Youth Symphony Orchestra at the tender age of eleven. In 1996, Blanco’s passion for world music and jazz led him to enroll in Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, where he honed his craft. Later, he went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Composition from the esteemed New England Conservatory. In recognition of his exceptional talent, Blanco was awarded the highly coveted Boston Jazz Society Award in 1997, becoming the first Latin American to receive this honor. A year later, he was awarded the Billboard Grant Award, a testament to his outstanding commitment, achievement, and contribution to society through his music.
Throughout his illustrious career, Blanco has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the international jazz scene (including Terence Blanchard, Pat Metheny, Chucho Valdez (Irakere), and Joao Bosco), and performed at the world’s most renowned music festivals, including the Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, and the Latino Festival. Blanco has produced and composed four critically acclaimed albums under his name. Click here to see Leo’s performance at the Kennedy Center.
