Jazz Vespers: Marcos Varela, Paul Bollenback, Jay Sawyer

About Marcos Varela:

Internationally celebrated bassist Marcos Varela is a true virtuoso of both acoustic and electric bass. Hailed as a "top bass player in the industry" by the legendary Ron Carter, Varela's artistry has resonated across the globe. With a career rich in accolades- including honors from YoungArts, Creative Capital, and South Arts' Jazz Road grant—he's not just a musician but a luminary composer, producer, and bandleader.

A native of Houston, Texas, and an alumnus of the famed High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Varela sharpened his craft at The New School in NYC, where he now serves as a professor. His expertise extends to coaching the esteemed Herbie Hancock Ensemble and teaching at Montclair State University.

Varela's illustrious collaborations read like a who's-who of jazz legends: Ingrid Jensen, Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson, Geri Allen, Nasheet Waits, The Mingus Big Band, Jason Moran, and even crossover icons like Leslie Odom Jr. and The Last Poets.

He's led bands that have graced iconic stages, from Jazz á Liège in Belgium, Theatro Arriaga Antzokia, Theatro Angela Peralta and to the Kennedy Center with Vincent Gardner's—Jazz Houston, where he performed at Duke Ellington's 125th birthday celebration.

As a bandleader, Varela's debut album, San Ygnacio, earned high praise, with Carter calling his work "essential to the scene." His projects continue to push boundaries, with recent releases like One Mind and Illumination showcasing his innovative spirit and versatility.

Whether leading an all-star quartet or laying down grooves for jazz giants, Varela's performances are electrifying, heartfelt, and unmissable.

About Paul Bollenback:

Paul Norris Bollenback (born June 6, 1959) is a jazz guitarist who has appeared on Entertainment Tonight, The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Joan Rivers, and Good Morning America. He has performed with Scott Ambush, Charlie Byrd, Joey DeFrancesco, Herb Ellis, Della Reese, Arturo Sandoval, and Stanley Turrentine.[1] He is cited as a guitarist who uses modern quartal harmony.

Bollenback moved to India with his family when he was 11. After three years, the family returned to the U.S. and Bollenback began listening to rock music. He put down his nylon-string guitar and picked up an electric. He cites his discovery of Miles Davis as a pivotal moment in his life. He attended the University of Miami. In 1997, he began teaching at American University.

About Jay Sawyer:

Born in Grand Rapids, MI, Jay Sawyer is one of the most in-demand drummers in New York City. After graduating from East Kentwood, he attended Western Michigan University where he got a Bachelors of the Arts in Jazz Studies. He continued his education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he obtained a Masters of Arts in Jazz Studies.

Since moving to NYC in 2012, Jay has performed in the Off-Broadway musical Lady Day featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater, been featured on over 25 recordings, and performed in over 20 countries across 5 continents. He has shared the stage with artists such as Freddy Cole, Stefon Harris, and Donny McCaslin.

Additionally, Jay has performed at several festivals including the Montreal, Detroit, and Chicago Jazz Festivals, Festival Éclats d’Email in Limoges, France, and the Leopolis Jazz Festival in Lviv, Ukraine.

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