Unit B is thrilled to present the Andy Kingston Quartet for a fabulous evening of eclectic jazz that ranges from Saint Louis Blues, to Blackbird by the Beatles and even their amazing take on Billie Jean. Join “The Professor” Andy Kingston and his quartet for a journey through the clave infused music of the "blues idiom". Author Albert Murray described jazz as a highly stylized version of “the blues idiom”—improvised music born in the Americas that enacts a heroic affirmation of life in the face of adversity. Animating the blues idiom is the omnipresent rhythm known as the clave in its many variations and tonight’s performance will showcase those fascinating rhythms.
The Andy Kingston quartet consists of pianist Andy Kingston, drummer Loren Bienvenu, bassist Michael Burt, and percussionist Nicolas Lebron.
Andy Kingston was born in Chicago and came up in Boston and Northern Virginia. Andy began graduate work in philosophy and music at Boston University in 1996 and became a fixture in the New England jazz and blues scene, performing regularly at the House of Blues, Ryles, and Bob’s Southern Bistro with groups such as the Herman Johnson Quartet and the Zeke Martin Quartet. Andy appeared with Enrico Crivellaro, Ronnie Earl, Bruce Gertz, Nikki Glaspie, Sam Kininger, Nicole Nelson, Toni Lynn Washington and many others in the Boston area. Andy moved to Santa Fe in 2005 to teach at St. John’s College and has performed in groups led by Peter Amaral, Lorenzo Antonio, Tiho Dimitrov, Myrrhine Faller, Brian Hardgroove, Nacha Mendez, and Jimmy Russell.
Loren Bienvenu grew up in Santa Fe, first studying jazz drumming with John Trentacosta and later with Peter Erskine in Los Angeles. Since returning to town in 2010, he counts his musical highlights as playing in Tootie Heath’s Whole Drum Truth (from 2015 to Heath’s passing in 2024), being in the band John Francis and the Poor Clares, and performing numerous gigs with the area’s finest jazz musicians.
Michael Burt grew up and attended conservatory in Virginia, moving to New Mexico in 2018 after decades touring the world with accomplished musicians and musical theater groups. Michael has worked with numerous projects since arriving in New Mexico, including the Sol y Soul Band and the Andy Kingston Quartet. Michael also performs solo piano and sings and is a celebrated music educator in Santa Fe.
Nicolas Lebron, from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, grew up learning from masters like Giovanni Hidalgo, who is family, and Anthony Carroll, among others. Nicolas is the founder of Grupo Carabalí, a folkloric group in Puerto Rico dedicated to Cuban Rumba, Bomba, and Plena, which are native rhythms of the island. He has worked with Los Majaderos de Cachete Maldonado, who was one of his mentors. He moved to Santa Fe three years ago, and in New Mexico has worked with saxophonist Doug Lawrence, Cuban pianist Marcos Crego, Calle 66 and Cafe Mocha with Ivon Ulibarri, and the group Nosotros. Currently, he plays with the Sol y Soul Band and the Andy Kingston Quartet.
Join us for dinner and cocktails starting at 5:30 pm. No ticket is required for dinner, but reservations are recommended. Showtime is 7:00 pm, with tickets required.
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