ABOUT THE TRIO

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Possessing a wide color palette, the Joshua Espinoza Trio explores shimmering harmonies and shifting orchestral contours with the aesthetic of a chamber ensemble as much as a jazz trio. Influenced by artists as disparate as Herbie Hancock, bassist Avishai Cohen, Gerald Clayton, and composer Maurice Ravel, the Joshua Espinoza Trio takes listeners on a journey for the ears and mind alike. With a style that is tastefully modern yet firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, the Trio blends and bends genres into original compositions and arrangements that are immediately relatable, yet hard to define. As a dynamic and creative group, they collectively and individually have performed on national stages including The Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Barns at Wolftrap.

 

According to Joshua, "The audience is the single most important consideration for me and my trio. Our concerts and shows will ALWAYS feature recognizable music from the past 50 years, including songs by the Beatles, Burt Bacharach, the Eagles, and folk music that transcends generations. Listeners deserve to hear songs and melodies they love, and we play them with sophistication and creativity. We will guide our audience to a place of greater appreciation for instrumental music and improvisation by way of music they can relate to, whether in style or melody. In keeping with this goal, our original material is highly melodic and accessible, capturing the ear and imagination of our listeners. We are convinced this model will grow jazz audiences beyond their current confines, gaining new patrons for ourselves and venues alike." 

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Joshua Espinoza | Piano

With a style that is tastefully modern yet firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, Baltimore pianist Joshua Espinoza blends and bends genres into original compositions and arrangements that are immediately relatable, yet hard to define. Recently, Joshua has performed alongside such notable artists as Warren Wolf, Dezron Douglas, Jerome Jennings, Paul Bollenback, Miho Hazama, Alex Norris, John D’earth, Mike Pope, Kris Funn, Brian Settles, Todd Marcus, and Chuck Redd. A finalist in the 2018 Ellis Marsalis International Jazz Piano Competition and current faculty member of the renowned Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, his playing has been heard on stages large and small including the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, The Kennedy Center, the Barns at Wolftrap, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the DC Jazz Festival.

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Mikel Combs | Bass

A versatile acoustic and electric bassist, Mikel Combs has performed extensively in New York, Los Angeles, the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. An in-demand artist currently based in the Washington, D.C. metro area, Mikel has performed and recorded with many local, national and international jazz artists. He holds a B.M. and M.M. from the University of North Texas, recently completed a D.M.A. at the University of Illinois-Champaign, and has studied extensively with Lynn Seaton, Larry Gray, and Jeff Bradetich.

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Jaron Lamar Davis | Drums

Multi-faceted drummer Jaron Lamar Davis has quickly become a genre-defying voice in the rapidly changing music industry. In high demand on the jazz, funk, neo-soul, and gospel scenes, Jaron has recorded and performed with countless high profile musicians. Initially self-taught, he has gone on to perform and record with notable artists such as Jay Daversa, Bill Reeder, Dave Napier, Dontae Winslow, Immanual Wilkins, Ameen Saleem, Mark Meadows, and Rochelle Rice. A composer and leader in his own right, he recently released his debut album "My View Through the Lens of Music" to critical acclaim, and his next project is slated for release in late 2019.

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ESPINOZA TRIO WEBSITE

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EVENT TIMELINE:

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6:30-6:55 - Arrive and mingle

     Door will close at 6:55

7:00 - Welcome and performer introduction

7:05 - Concert begins

8:15-9:00 - Performer meet & greet

     

A wine reception with light hors d'oeuvres will be provided after the concert