HEAR, EAT, HOME
Advent Calendar Musicians
2025 Edition
Welcome to the Advent Calendar artist profiles. Here you can explore each musician’s mini-playlist and learn about their creative voices.
Kinan Azmeh
Hailed as a “virtuoso, intensely soulful" by the New York Times and "spellbinding" by the New Yorker. Syrian-born, Brooklyn-based genre-bending composer, clarinetist, and improvisor Kinan Azmeh has been touring the globe with great acclaim. He has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, Daniel Barenboim, John McLaughlin, The New York Philharmonic, among others.
Kinan is the winner of Germany’s OpusKlassik Award in 2019 for his solo album Uneven Sky, and is featured on the Grammy-winning album Sing Me Home by the Silk Road Ensemble in 2017.
He is a graduate of The Juilliard School, the Damascus High Institute of Music, and Damascus University’s School of Electrical Engineering. Kinan holds a doctorate in music from the City University of New York.
His opera, Songs For Days To Come, fully sung in Arabic, was premiered in Germany in June 2022 to great success. Kinan serves on the United States National Council for the Arts.
www.kinanazmeh.com
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Kinan's mini playlist
Kinan Azmeh, Eric Vloeimans & Jeroen van Vliet - Kinan Azmeh - Daraa | Podium Klassiek
Kinan Azmeh & Morgenland Chamber Orchestra - November 22nd
Kinan Azmeh - Color of the Sun
Simply music that I am proud of , and collaborations I admire.
-Kinan Azmeh
Upasak Mukherjee
Upasak Mukherjee is a film composer and tabla player passionate about embracing musical cultures from different parts of the world. Upa started his journey early on by taking taalim by the hands of his Guruji, Pt. Subhen Chatterjee. After that, he went on to study film scoring and audio engineering at Berklee College of Music. Making friends with people and the culture they bring with them is a big part of Upa’s musical curiosity.
He has been blending the world of Indian rhythms with jazz, djent, metal, rock, orchestral, and ambient music through his film scoring journey. He has also been collaborating with musicians who play bluegrass, fiddle music, orchestral music, and folk music from all over the world, including China, Iran, Estonia, Algeria, Morocco, Spain, Chile, Mexico, to name a few. His concerts with the Silk Road Ensemble’s GMW have left a big impact on him, and he seeks to recreate that magic as often as he finds an opportunity!
Upa's mini playlist
Upasak Mukherjee: Berklee Two Track I Resolution
Why this playlist- The two tracks in the video strongly reflect Upa’s musical inclinations. The first video brings together Indian musical traditions through the voices of musicians from Chile and Singapore. The strong correlation between a baião with an Indian chalan has found its way into this track, along with Brazilian instruments, beatbox, J Dilla-inspired grooves, along with tihais in the traditional style of Indian Classical music, often syncopating with a clave on top. The second track is the performance of a traditional composition Upa learned from his Guruji, but with the inclusion of a Harp doing the job of a Nagma player instead of the usual Harmonium or Sarangi.
-Upasak Mukherjee
Yuhan Su
‘Like the best fiction, it’s entirely enveloping’ - New York based Taiwanese vibraphonist Yuhan Su’s five records release as a leader including OVER the MOONs(2025, Endectomorph), Liberated Gesture(2023, Sunnyside), City Animals(2018, Sunnyside), A Room of One’s Own(2015, Inner Circle Music) and Flying Alone(2012, Inner Circle Music) have received widespread approval and numerous music awards, including ‘Best Instrumental Composer Award’ at the Golden Melody Award in 2024 and ‘Best Album of the Year’, ‘Best New Artist’, ’ Best Jazz Single’, ‘Best Instrumentalist Award’ from the Golden Indie Music Award in Taiwan, and ‘Best Release of the Year’ by All about Jazz and Downbeat.
Yuhan's mini playlist
I'm sharing three songs from my new album OVER the MOONs inspired by my double consciousness experience exists like two Moons inside of my brain after living in the US for over 16 years as a Taiwanese. In the same way that each moon draws its own tides and shines in its own time, I constantly perceive things in different languages and through the framework of multiple cultures.
-Yuhan Su
Anaïs Tekerian
Anaïs Tekerian is a singer and writer who has been singing and touring with Zulal Armenian a cappella trio for over 20 years, as well as with guitarist Anna Garano. With both projects she has put out five albums and has produced several original songs, all available on platforms worldwide.
Anaïs's mini playlist
Tsune em is a lovely winter song, one of Zulal’s holiday offerings. Lucky Girl is one of my favorites in my collaboration with Anna Garano, and includes Kinan Azmeh’s gorgeous clarinet. Mianal is a composition of mine, commissioned for a video by Kevork Mourad, and features the beautiful, young voice of Cirène Mourad, and the wonderful bassist, Pawel Knapik; it speaks to what unites as all--in spite of the forces that try to separate us—the connection of our hearts.
-Anaïs Tekerian
Michael Hearst
Michael Hearst is a composer and writer. His books include the Unusual Creatures series, and his albums include Songs For Ice Cream Trucks and Songs For Fearful Flyers. His current project is called 80 From The 80s, and features 80 covers of songs from the 1980s with 80 guest vocalists.
Michael's mini playlist
The Kinks “Come Dancing”
I’m currently working on a cover of this song with guest vocals by Justin Roberts. The song has been stuck in my head for days. Actually sort of sad; apparently Ray Davies' sister died of a heart attack while on a dance floor. The song is somewhat about her.
I've Got a Secret
I love unusual instruments, including electronic instruments. Before Bob Moog was electronic music pioneer Jean-Jacques Perrey. Here he is on "I've Got a Secret" in 1966.
Lucy Dacus “Night Shift”
Yes, I’m trying to keep up! Here’s a song that I adore by Lucy Dacus. She’s from my hometown, Richmond, VA. That said, I’m pretty sure she wasn’t born when I last lived there. Fun fact, one of my best friends when on a few dates with her mom.
-Michael Hearst
Gio Moretti
Gio Moretti is a multi-disciplinary artist who creates music, images, videos, and soundtracks. She is an experimental vocalist, using her natural voice to create sound effects, haunting vocals, harmonies, and percussive sounds.
Originally from northern Italy, she lived in Brazil for a couple years and her most notable recordings and performances have been with Brazilian singer and composer Ivan Lins and band Batacotô. She is currently resides in New York City where her popularity continues to grow with the audience and musicians alike.
She has performed with such New York jazz fixtures as guitarist Mike Stern, pianist Dave Kikoski, saxman John Stubblefield, as well as pianist Jason Lindner, bassist Matt Garrison and cellist Dave Eggar, just to name a few.
Gio is also a member (vocal soloist, oboe and percussion ) of 2004 Bessie award-winning vocalist/composer Philip Hamilton's Ensemble, which performs music for theater, dance, and film.
https://giomoretti.reverbnation.com
Michael's mini playlist
This is a beautiful duet in Italian and the lyrics talks about forgiveness and hope to find the warm sun that color the soul.” Featuring Ivan Lins and Dave Eggar on cello.
This is a love song that was recorded at the healing frequency at 432hz.
AFAR…FROM ME
'A song about getting distant, loosing and finding faith."
Soundtracks
where I composed and recorded music for images, videos, digital art installations...
-Gio Moretti
Lisa Maxwell
Lisa Maxwell is a composer, arranger, orchestrater, producer, conductor, and performer. Her most recent recording project, “Shiny! Lisa Maxwell’s Jazz Orchestra” received a 4-star review by DownBeat Magazine. She has been part of the Emmy Award-winning music team for Warner Bros., an orchestrator on all 52 episodes of Histeria! and Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish, and a Netflix and Paramount+ contributor. As a sax player, Lisa not only led the horn sections on tour with Guns 'n' Roses and Spinal Tap and has also performed with Bruce Willis, Carole King, Steven Tyler, Lenny Kravitz, Machito Big Band, Gil Evans Orchestra, Charlie Haden, Hiram Bullock, Will Lee, Chuck Berry, Smokey Hormel, and The Joni Mitchell Project.
Lisa's mini playlist
Shiny!
My writing is often influenced by TV themes of the 1970’s that I grew up with, and Shiny is one of them, with a “car chase” boogaloo groove. It features Smokey Hormel and Oz Noy on guitars, Randy Brecker on wah-wah trumpet, and Dave Taylor on bass trombone.
Ludie is a jazz waltz that was inspired by Lalo Schifrin's theme from "Mannix”, and features Randy Brecker on flugelhorn and Carmen Staaf on piano. It’s a feel-good tune!
Son of Creeper
Written by my friend Hiram Bullock, Son of Creeper is a blues he used to play with his power trio (Jaco Pastorius and Kenwood Dennard). I wanted to write an arrangement for big band that captured Jaco’s arpeggiated bass intro and the unpredicatability of where the tune might go during the solos,reflected in the New Orleans detour. It features Mike Stern on guitar, Alex Foster (SNL) on alto, Paul Shaffer on Organ.
-Lisa Maxwell
This listening project and the documentary HEAR, EAT, HOME share common themes and creative roots.
Learn more about the film
Fung Chern Hwei
Entering his 22nd year in NYC, Fung Chern Hwei has been one of the most versatile and sought after violinists in town. As a current member of Sirius Quartet and SEVEN)SUNS, two string quartets focusing on non-classical repertoire, Chern Hwei has also been an active composer and arranger for various contexts. He is fresh off a month-long tour in two continents, including a week in Australia with Japanese piano super star, Hiromi.
Chern Hwei's mini playlist
Tigran Hamasyan - Levitation 21
Between Impulses
BlankFor.ms - A Fleet of Celebrants
One track from friends that I'm proud to call old friends (BlankFor.ms and Remy Le Boeuf), one track from me that I'm proud of (Sirius Quartet), and one from a musician that I admire and respect (Tigran Hamasyan).
-Fung Chern Hwei
Rachael Sage
NYC-based folk-pop artist Rachael Sage has steadily released a slew of vibrant, dynamic albums. She has toured with an eclectic list of artists including Rufus Wainwright, Ani DiFranco, Beth Hart, Howard Jones, and Grammy® winners Shawn Colvin and Judy Collins – with whom she also recorded a critically-acclaimed duet of Neil Young’s "Helpless." In addition to being a six-time Independent Music Award-winning musician and producer, Sage is also a John Lennon Contest Grand Prize winner who has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, SXSW, and toured globally from Japan to Berlin. Sage is also a visual artist and former ballet dancer who performed with the New York City Ballet. A self-described "cancer thriver," she is a philanthropic advocate who has raised money for a wide range of causes, including Foundation For Women's Cancer, WHY Hunger, American Refugee Committee/Alight, National Network For Youth (NN4Y), The Trevor Project, and Rainbow Mind (UK).
Rachael's mini playlist
I selected these three songs because they reflect aspects of unconditional love, which is what I think the holiday season – including the emphasis on togetherness, gathering and reflection – is all about. "Belong To You" is a gospel-ballad that expresses devotion and loyalty, whether it be to one's family, friends or even to oneself.
"Home" is an anthem about the concept of home and the comfort and groundedness that being in a place (or among people) one truly loves provides. "Live It Up", likewise, expresses the unconditional love that necessarily defines the desire for equality and inclusivity, and the ability to come together and celebrate our collective humanity in spite of our differences. All of these songs certainly express the type of warm and welcoming home–in the broadest sense–that I want to live in, now and every season!
-Rachael Sage
Max ZT
Max ZT, hailed by NPR as “The Jimi Hendrix of the Hammered Dulcimer,” has redefined the instrument through a lifetime of global study and innovation. From Chicago to Brooklyn, he has absorbed diverse traditions, apprenticing with Senegal’s revered Cissoko Griot family and studying under the legendary Pandit Shivkumar Sharma in India. A founding member of House of Waters, Max has scored an Emmy-winning ESPN documentary and released eight albums on Snarky Puppy’s GroundUP Music label. His latest album, On Becoming, was nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards. Described by New Sounds as “Cloud-bursting, ear-opening hammered dulcimer,” Max’s artistry expands the horizons of modern creative music.
Max's mini playlist
Manu Delago & Max ZT - Inhale (live)
House of Waters - Avaloch
Max ZT - Daybreak
I put together this playlist to show how improvisation sits at the core of my work. The duo with Manu Delago stemmed from improvisation, eventually finding its way into composition. The House of Waters piece reflects the same instinctive approach inside a larger collective setting. The final piece is a fully improvised recording shaped by my studies with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Together, these tracks show the different ways I use improvisation as a guide for my sound.
-Max ZT
Alex Pryrodny
Alex Pryrodny is a Ukraine born NYC based pianist known for his expressive sound and improvisational skills derived from lifelong study of classical, jazz, and world music. After making his debut at an international jazz festival at the age of 6, Alex has performed in concerts in Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States and has won 2nd place at the Montreux Jazz Solo Piano Competition in 2012. He has recorded several piano albums, and his work as an arranger has received nominations for Golden Melody Awards in Asia. In 2023, Alex’s life and work were featured in a short documentary, “The Other Side of the Sea.” Since 2025, Alex has been working as a jazz piano faculty member at Long Island University.
Alex's mini playlist
Ukrainian "Shchedryk" at the New York Cathedral
You probably know this tune as one of the songs usually heard around Christmastime – it sounds haunting and different from other holiday songs, almost exotic in its simplicity. But do you know the real story of this tune?
It comes from an ancient Ukrainian chant celebrating the arrival of the New Year and Spring. Why Spring, you ask? Oh yes, in pre-Christian Ukraine the New Year was celebrated in April - that's why the original Ukrainian lyrics center about the return of the swallows to their nesting place after a long winter migration; the key word "shchedryk", repeated and modified into various forms throughout the song, derives from the word "generous" to signify good news of a bountiful year ahead.
The other part of the story is much more recent – in the early 20th century, during the times of a short-lived Ukrainian People's Republic, the Ukrainian National Chorus went on a grand world tour with the aim of promoting Ukrainian culture in the West and asked composer Mykola Leontovich to create an unique version of "Shchedryk", which resulted in a classic arrangement we know today. As it happens, the choir and the music has far outlived the government that sent them - most of the musicians chose not to come back to the Soviet-occupied Ukraine and the song "Schedryk," also known as "Carol of the Bells," took life of its own.
This recording was made in the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, NY in December 2022. There is a 2nd theme that comes in the middle of my improvisation: another Ukrainian holiday song called "Dobryj vechir tobi, pane hospodaryu" ("Good evening to you, hospitable master") that draws on the same themes of generosity, goodness and hope for the future. Just like 100 years ago when "Shchedryk" was first introduced to the world, Ukraine is fighting a tragic war for its existence – but I truly believe that against all odds goodness and hope will prevail. I hope you enjoy my music and I wish peaceful holidays to you and your family!
-Alex Pryrodny
Rino Aise
Rino Aise, born and raised in Japan, is currently based in New York. She performs in theatrical pieces and music performances, particularly for peace.
Rino's mini playlist
The lyrics of this song sing about the social ties and the spirit of cherishing people in Okinawa. I chose this song because I resonated with the importance of bonds and local communities.
-Rino Aise
Hadi Eldebek
Hadi Eldebek is an oudist, singer, and composer based in New York City. Charting and exploring the world of contemporary Arabic music, Hadi has been actively collaborating with programs and projects for Yo-Yo Ma's Silkroad Ensemble, Harvard Graduate School of Education, The Kennedy Center, TED, Disney World Imagineering, and others. He is the active voice of many artists.
Hadi's mini playlist
The Brooklyn Nomads | Mayyil Ya Ghzayyel ذي بروكلين نومادز | ميّل يا غزيّل
The Brooklyn Nomads | Crosswinds ذي بروكلين نومادز | الرياح المتقاطعة
The Poet: Ibn al-Khatib Lisan al-Din ibn al-Khatib (1313–1374) was a prominent Arab Andalusian polymath, poet, writer, historian, philosopher, physician and statesman from the Emirate of Granada 1. He served as vizier (chief minister) to the sultans of Granada, and his prolific writings provide invaluable insights into the history and culture of Al-Andalus. "Jādaka al-Ghayth" is one of his most celebrated poems.
The Singer: Fairuz Nouhad Wadie Haddad (born 1934 or 1935), known professionally as Fairuz, is a Lebanese singer who is one of the most widely admired and influential vocalists in the Arab world 2. Her career began in the 1950s, and she quickly rose to prominence through her collaboration with the Rahbani Brothers.
The Composer: The Rahbani Brothers Assi and Mansour Rahbani, known as the Rahbani Brothers, were Lebanese composers, musicians, and playwrights who were instrumental in shaping modern Arabic music 3. They composed most of Fairuz's songs and were the architects of her musical style. While the poem "Jādaka al-Ghayth" was written by Ibn al-Khatib in the 14th century, the musical arrangement for Fairuz's iconic performance was composed by Mansour Rahbani 4.
The Song: "Jādaka al-Ghayth" Historical Context "Jādaka al-Ghayth" was written as a madīḥ (panegyric) in praise of Sultan Muhammad V of Granada. It is believed to have been composed around 1367-1368 CE, following the Sultan's victories over the Crown of Castile 1. The poem is filled with nostalgia for the golden age of Al-Andalus, a recurring theme in Ibn al-Khatib's work.
Musical Form and Mode The poem is a muwashshah, a strophic form of poetry that originated in Al-Andalus. Muwashshahat are characterized by their complex rhyme schemes and are often set to music. Fairuz's version of "Jādaka al-Ghayth" is performed in Maqam Huzam (a variation of Maqam Sikah), a musical mode that evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing 5.
-Hadi Eldebek
Hsinwei Chiang
Hsinwei Chiang is a Taiwanese violinist, composer, and educator in both jazz and classical. She has studied classical violin since she was six, and has toured with symphony orchestras in Malaysia, Italy, California, Hong Kong, and Berlin. After graduating from Taipei University of Art (BA), she discovered her interest in improvisation and collaborated with different artists (jazz, world music, dance, theater, fine art) in major art scenes in Taiwan. Graduated from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College in 2015, she has studied with Antonio Hart and received the Jimmy Heath Jazz Award. She has participated in the Blue Note Jazz Festival, the New York Winter Jazz Festival, and the Interlochen Summer Art Camp. Chiang has been a member of New Muse 4tet since 2018. During the years in New York, she has performed with Marc Cary (the Harlem Sessions), Mimi Jones (the DOME Project), Daniel Carter, Ingrid Jenson, Dick Oats, and Mem Nahadr. She has worked with several nonprofit organizations in the Bronx, such as Mind-Builders and Bronx Art Ensemble. She has produced a series of online workshops called Taiwan Digs Jazz, and hosted The Jazz Sideman Podcast and the U Jazz Festival. She now resides on the east coast of Taiwan.
Hsinwei's mini playlist
Glare
Melt
With global climate change and my migration to a tropical area, I have missed the winter days in NY and NJ. My album Black Stream: Winter is my memory of Snowy Winter. It was the awe of the first experience of snow season for a child, as well as the loneliness and helplessness in the middle of a blizzard for a grown-up.
-Hsinwei Chiang
John McDowell
Musician and film composer John McDowell gained international acclaim with his evocative soundtrack for the Academy Award–winning documentary Born Into Brothels, followed by celebrated scores for Salam, Higher Love, and Jimmy In Saigon.
But McDowell’s artistry reaches far beyond his 25+ film scores. A dynamic pianist, percussionist, producer, commissioned composer, and conductor, he has toured and recorded with Rusted Root and Krishna Das, and produced several albums—including his inventive solo release Speaking the Mamma Tongue. Blending formal training with global musical fluency, McDowell has become a uniquely seasoned ethnomusicologist with a truly expansive musical vision.
After earning composition degrees from DePaul and Northwestern Universities, McDowell lived and worked across Europe and Africa. He pursued musical threads that led him through Senegal, Gambia, India, and into creative partnerships with Native American drummers and singers from the Tuscarora and Oglala Nations. His dance scores have energized major European festivals such as the Brussels Dance Festival, the Holland Festival, and the Berlin–Amsterdam Festival. Over the course of his prolific career, he has composed more than 500 works—from intimate solo flute pieces to large-scale dance scores, a stirring requiem, and pieces for world music ensemble and orchestra.
As David Bowie remarked:
“John’s doing some quite brave things. It’s hard to mix cultural strains together and have continuity. He does that wonderfully.”
John's mini playlist
“Overture” — Born Into Brothels
Born Into Brothels was the first major film I scored. It went on to win the 2005 Academy Award for Best Documentary, Best Documentary at Sundance, and over 30 additional best documentary awards.
The project was one of those rare synchronistic collaborations where the right people and the right timing aligned. The film’s many montages offered space for prominent, expressive scoring. At the time, I had been working closely with several Indian classical musicians, studying ragas, and also with Krishna Das, who performed in the score.
This film also marked my first collaboration with the extraordinary vocalist Sabina Sciubba, formerly of the Brazilian Girls. Musically, my goal for the opening was to create an exciting build while staying true to Indian culture by using specific ragas and text excerpts from the Bhagavad Gita.
Orgasmic Birth is a deeply touching film with a provocative title that emphasizes how birth can be a pleasurable—and even ecstatic—experience rather than solely a painful medical event.
The track “Fluid” features solo piano and vocals by Sabina Sciubba. I composed a theme and pattern loosely inspired by J.S. Bach, shaped through a minimalist lens, with Sabina singing long, evocative melodic lines over it.
“Let the Sun Shine In” — Jimmy in Saigon
Jimmy in Saigon is a powerful documentary exploring the mysterious death and radical life of Jimmy McDowell, a 24-year-old American Vietnam veteran who died as a civilian in Saigon in 1972. Directed by my brother, Peter McDowell, the film blends personal discovery with historical investigation. https://jimmyinsaigon.com
I selected the track “Let the Sun Shine In,” a reinterpretation of the original song, because of its completely fresh and unexpected arrangement. Once again, Sabina Sciubba delivers an ethereal vocal performance.
-John McDowell
This listening project and the documentary HEAR, EAT, HOME share common themes and creative roots.
Learn more about the film
Zach Brock
Zach Brock is a Grammy Award–winning violinist, composer, and educator, and a longtime member of Snarky Puppy. His featured work with the band includes Culcha Vulcha, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, Empire Central, and Somni, the orchestral collaboration between Snarky Puppy and the Metropole Orkest with conductor Jules Buckley. A classically trained violinist, Brock earned his degree at Northwestern University and later developed his improvisational language in Chicago before relocating to New York. He has performed at Carnegie Hall at the invitation of Dave Douglas and toured internationally as a member of Stanley Clarke’s band. As a leader, he has released several albums, and he currently appears with Ahn Trio and in a range of collaborative ensembles. Brock has held teaching positions at Temple University and The New School.
https://www.zachbrock.com/
Zach's mini playlist
Exist (essential)
Ad Idem
These pieces feel like home to me in different ways. “Exist(essential)” and “Ad Idem” carry the stillness and undercurrent I return to when I need to reset. “Almost Never Was” holds that quiet pulse of both reflection and forward motion. Together they trace a space where memory, contemplation, and intimacy lean toward each other, if only for a brief moment.
-Zach Brock
Joelle Khoury
Born in Beirut, Joelle Khoury is a composer and pianist.
For almost two decades, she has composed contemporary classical music pieces and concertos for chamber and philharmonic orchestras, as well as pieces for her own jazz quintet. Her idea of composition, not restricted to specific standard styles, eras, geographical spaces, or music categories stricto sensu, led her toward contemporary music within complex jazz forms and non-traditional classical music structures. Rather than "orientalizing" her music – as a Lebanese composer – she always thought that, "A true composition is the fruit of a unique idea, developed into a concept, based on what the composer has heard, aiming at expressing an individual point of view, a certain personality. Therefore, it is neither 'western' nor 'oriental,' taking into account the fact that we have all heard numerous styles of music."
Her interest in philosophy led her, after years of musical production, to obtain a PhD. Her doctoral thesis on Gilles Deleuze is entitled Théâtralité et Désir de mort créateur chez Gilles
Joelle's mini playlist
Variations on imaginary folk dances.
I've always loved putting together text, music, theatre, visuals and music. sort of "total work of art"
Bluesberry Pie
A mix of my newer style, but still in touch with bebop. Due to the THAWRA and Covid, each musician had to record from home, then I collected the tracks and mixed them
Jokari Trailer (with live footage)
I've always loved putting together text, music, theatre, visuals and music. sort of "total work of art"
-Joelle Khoury
Chengcheng Ma
Internationally acclaimed pianist Chengcheng Ma has been praised by Fanfare Magazine for his “exemplary fashion, with a lovely, exquisitely blended sonority,” and by Anyrews (China) for his “spiritual depth and extraordinary tonal beauty.” Celebrated for performances described as “beautiful and moving” (Fanfare Magazine) and “greeted with strong applause” (The News-Gazette), Ma offers not just a recital, but a journey into the expressive soul of piano music. His artistry spans a wide spectrum, with a particular commitment to contemporary repertoire and close collaborations with living composers.
Ma has premiered and championed works by American composers including Ketty Nez and Rodney Lister, whose pieces he has performed across the United States and recently recorded on a commercially released album with Divine Art Recordings (artist page: https://divineartrecords.com/artist/chengcheng-ma/). His musical interests extend beyond classical traditions, drawing on modern improvisational languages and cross-genre influences.
Chengcheng's mini playlist
Messiaen — Regard de l'Esprit de joie
A brilliant and ecstatic movement from Vingt Regards that showcases color, rhythmic vitality, and the spiritual luminosity at the heart of Messiaen’s language.
Rodney Lister — This Time Next Year (World Premiere)
Clarinetist Amy Advocat & Chengcheng Ma
A recent world premiere highlighting my collaborations with living composers and my commitment to new music and chamber partnerships.
James P. Johnson — Carolina Shout
Performed by Jeff Sagurton & Chengcheng Ma
A vibrant stride-piano performance reflecting rhythmic imagination and my engagement with jazz-related and cross-genre traditions.
I selected these three videos because together they reflect the full spectrum of what I love to share as a musician: the radiant modernism of Messiaen, with its color, rhythm, and spiritual intensity; the contemporary voice of Rodney Lister, representing my commitment to new music, premieres, and close collaboration with living composers; and the irresistible rhythmic energy of James P. Johnson, highlighting my engagement with jazz-related traditions and cross-genre versatility. Collectively, they form a concise portrait of color, invention, and expressive freedom.
-Chengcheng Ma
Dave Eggar
5-time Grammy nominee Dave Eggar has performed throughout the world as a solo cellist, pianist, and Composer, including recent solo appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Sydney Opera House, and the Hollywood Bowl. A virtuoso in many styles, he has collaborated and arranged for artists such as Foreigner, Frank Ocean, Delasoul, Black Thought, Evanescence, Fall Out Boy, Paul Simon, and many others.
Eggar is a graduate of Harvard University and the Juilliard School.
https://www.domomusicgroup.com/daveeggar/
Dave's mini playlist
Dave Eggar - Memories Of NY
Ｍemories of NY ft Bristol Lightning chronicles my journey from NY to TN during COVID, and the collaboration that occurred with Phil Faconti and Blake Collins in this special time where so much of life as I knew it had changed.
Into The Anthropocene III: Amid the Apocalypse (feat. Dave Eggar)
Into the Anthropocene is a collaboration with composer Pascal Le Beouf, exploring the deep use of pedals and loops with the cello.
Dave Eggar / DEORO Jam at Drum Channel on 12/13/2010
Deoro is myself and Chuck Palmer's new spin on Bach and Bluegrass
-Dave Eggar
Paige Su
Paige is a Taiwanese indie singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (harp, flute, piano), composer, and producer whose artistry defies categories. Her work has earned her major recognition at the Golden Melody Awards, including the Best Style Single Award (6th), Best Live Performance Award (13th), and both Best Songwriter and Best Album (14th). She has also been nominated for Best New Artist and Best Female Singer, with a total of 13 GIMA nominations to date.
A graduate of the University of North Texas College of Music, Paige has lived many musical lives: she began in classical music as a flutist, pianist, and harpist; explored jazz as a vocalist; and spent years traveling to South India to immerse herself in traditional Carnatic music. These experiences ultimately led her to discover her true voice—one that blends all these influences into a sound uniquely her own.
Her music reflects the depth of her classical roots, her love for alternative and pop, and her curiosity for world, jazz, and experimental sounds. In every song, Paige brings together the textures, colors, and emotions of her diverse musical journey, creating work that feels both intimate and boundary-breaking.
https://paigesu.wixsite.com/paigesu
Paige's mini playlist
Beck - Morning
Great track for reflecting on the year : )
Take it One Day at a Time - Paige Su
Take it one day at a time. Enjoy life, enjoy the sunshine.
You'll Live Forever in My Songs - Paige Su
Note: Love is the only thing that breaks through time and space and it takes all the stars to line up for you and I to meet. To love, and family and friends.
-Paige Su
Robert Paterson
Robert Paterson has won numerous awards for his music in virtually every classical genre. The Classical Recording Foundation at Carnegie’s Weill Hall named Paterson Composer of the Year in 2011, and his works regularly air on APM’s Performance Today and have been included in National Public Radio’s Best of the Year lists for classical music. Paterson’s music has been commissioned and performed by over one hundred outstanding ensembles, including Nashville Opera, Opera Memphis, Minnesota Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, and the Oratorio Society of New York. Paterson’s awards include the A.I. duPont Composer’s Award from the Delaware Symphony, a three-year Music Alive grant from the League of American Orchestras and New Music USA, and awards from the American Composers Forum, including the Jerome Composers Commissioning Program award. For more information, visit robertpaterson.com.
Robert's mini playlist
Triple Concerto, "Summit"
Soar
Wound Up
These three tracks represent two musical avenues that are important to me: highlighting the beauty of the world around us by representing nature through music, and, especially, bringing attention to climate change, as in my Triple Concerto, nicknamed "Summit" because the ending represents ascending a tall mountain. The second is experimenting with instruments I don't use often, such as a trumpet in a small-group setting in Soar and a cajon added to a string quartet in Wound Up.
-Robert Paterson
Rose Tang
Rose Tang is a Tiananmen Massacre survivor, musician, multidisciplinary artivist, and event curator who leads over 30 groups in New York and Seattle. Her music, described by record labels and critics as experimental, free jazz, post-punk, noise, and "Weird Shit", blends diverse influences and unconventional sounds. A Mongol from Sichuan, Rose plays piano, electric guitar, and percussion, while also performing vocals, spoken word, and movement. Her music has been released by ESP-Disk’ and 577 Records. She has performed in music festivals in Barcelona, New York and Miami, and has curated and hosted numerous concerts and fundraisers in New York and California.
Beyond music, Tang has performed stand-up comedy at the Peek Pique Peak Festival at The Brick theater in New York. Her paintings, sculptures, photography, and performance art have been exhibited in Berlin, Los Angeles, and New York.
Previously, Rose was a decorated journalist, named Best Local Journalist by the Society of Publishers in Asia and recognized as a Champion for Freedom of Speech by the Visual Artists Guild in the U.S. She taught journalism at Princeton University and worked for CNN, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and numerous media outlets across the U.S., Australia, Hong Kong, and China.
(Photo by Paul Kennedy)
https://www.instagram.com/rosetangy/
Rose's mini playlist
jaimie branch & Rose Tang performing Rose's poem at Red Hook Record Shop
In this poem, Rose addresses the perennial existential questioning of humanity and how humans keep repeating mistakes throughout history because of a lack of love. Performed at Record Shop, Red Hook, June 15, 2022, two months before legendary musician jaimie branch passed away at age 39. Rose Tang's poem "To Love or Not to Love" is in her debut album,
And Yet We Ain't Alone, released by 577 Records, 2021.
Miami Psych Festival III - Adam Arritola/Kentucky Bass/Rose Tang
The trio performed at the Churchill’s Pub in Miami’s Little Haiti, calling out ICE and corrupt Trump and Florida governor DeSantis.
2025/11/19 Rose Tang and Alex Lozupone at Ridgewood Commons for Ukrainian Fund fundraiser
Alex Lozupone & Rose Tang perform at a fundraiser for Ukrainian Relief Fund on November 19, 2025. Rose recited poems by Ukrainian photographer and poet Maksym Kryvtsov and novelist Victoria Amelina. Both were killed by Russia:
-Rose Tang
Alex Lozupone
Alex Lozupone, based in New York City, is a musician, photographer, and a number of other things.
In the 2010s he concentrated on filming local music shows, working with Melvin Van Peebles, with whom he also put out a record. In 2014 he started his project Eighty-pound Pug, in which a selection of musicians he curates would join with him for a no-rehearsal performance - often with the musicians having never even met. Daniel Carter, with whom he first collaborated with in 2016, described it as "on the fly composition".
Recently he has also collaborated on multiple occasions with Rose Tang. He is also heavily involved in Wikimedia, particularly interested in activism/correcting biases.
(Photo by Peter Gannushkin )
https://www.instagram.com/from_the_ether/
Alex's mini playlist
Advent Playlist ( Eighty-pound Pug - When The Flowers Bloom In Baltimore , Ukrainian Benefit Shows, Darkpug)
Eighty-pound Pug - When The Flowers Bloom In Baltimore (Live at Fat Baby)
It was barely a week after the tragedy of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, and I had a gig lined up the following week, with the wonderful Bruce Mack on vocals. I sent Bruce a text, telling him I knew we were on the same page in the current political situation - so if he wanted to "go there" during the set, I was all for it. On this song, he went there. It also features David Tamura on tenor sax, who has since passed away, Ayumi Ishito on soprano sax, who I play with as often as I can, as well as Eli Chalmer, and his bandmate Nick Kirshnit, who I had just met.
Ukrainian Benefit Shows
Recently, I was asked if I could put together a line-up for a performance at a Ukrainian fundraiser. Things fell together and I actually ended up with two - the first was with Lama El Homaïssi (who I’d seen perform and had immediately wanted to collaborate with, but this was our first opportunity) and Ana Luisa Díaz de Cossío, who happened to be in the city for a few days and was available (and I’d always wanted to do a more quiet set with).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8RcmGDTDcA
The second was an intense set with Rose Tang, where she read three Ukrainian poems. I’ve known Rose for a number of years and always feel it’s a privilege to be able to give some additional sound to what she does.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9j3iWNoR-4
It was great to be able to do those two varied performances in one night.
Darkpug
I had a vision for what might be possible, straddling the free and metal realms as well as others, forming a line-up that consisted of myself, Yuko Togami on drums, Laura Feathers on synth, and Ayumi Ishito on sax/effects. The second time we played together came out so well that I released the whole thing on CD - but only a small portion of video exists.
- Alex Lozupone
Hans de Back
Hans de Back is the world pioneer to combine both sounds and vibrations of singing bowls with vocal, Eastern and Western instruments in his innovative music, helping countless people to achieve body and mind balance.
Those who seek Hans' singing bowl guidance often discover that such refined and generous quality not only comes from his 40 years of professional expertise, but also from his Wu wei spirit. He was also a rock-and-roll and jazz drummer, Grammy Award nominee, created 16 Cd's; nowadays, fusing singing bowl concerts with different musicians from different cultural background, leading workshops and individual sessions.
Hans de Back 頌缽知道
Hans's mini playlist
Hans Klank Zon Concert 2 slot YouTube
I like to share one recording of my improvisation on small singing bowls from 12 years ago
I like this impro because it shows that you can make fun and different style of music on small singing bowls
Nat king cole, Nature Boy
and a song I like very much from Nat King Cole, Nature Boy
I choose this song because of the lyrics and the melody
- Hans De Back