5th Mediterranean Jazz Festival

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we are excited to announce the 5th edition of MJF on May 21st and 22nd at Drom NYC. Over the years the festival has grown and become a highlight among New York music festivals.

Sunday May 22

5TH MEDITERRANEAN JAZZ FESTIVAL NYC (2nd night)

After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic, we are excited to announce the 5th edition of the Mediterranean Jazz Fest on May 21st and 22nd at Drom NYC. Over the years the festival has grown and become a highlight among New York music festivals. Besides featuring artists that present their latest projects and albums, the festival has always aimed at curating and presenting unique collaborations. This year will be no different with an exciting lineup of groups from around the Mediterranean.

6:30pm Yvonnick Prene/Adam Moezinia Duo

French chromatic harmonica virtuoso Yvonnick Prene was already playing the harmonica professionally at the age of 17 in the Parisian club scene. He earned a masters degree from the Sorbonne University in Paris and while still enrolled, he moved to New-York City to receive multiple full-tuition scholarships at the City College of New York, Columbia University and at The New School. Ever since moving to New-York City from his hometown Paris, Yvonnick has fast become one of the rising stars in the harmonica world. His style is inspired by traditional jazz, bebop and swing. He has played all major jazz clubs in New York City including the Blue Note, The Iridium, Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, The Jazz Gallery and toured the USA, Europe and Africa. Prené is an endorser of Hohner harmonicas. His recordings and performances have earned him critical acclaim, both nationally and internationally. He has been featured in Jazz Hot, Jazz Magazine, Downbeat, Jazz Times, FIP, France Musique, Jazzwise, WBGO  among other media.

Guitarist Adam Moezinia is a native of Los Angeles. He’s an in demand sideman and has also been performing regularly with his band the “Folk Element” trio since 2017. The trio is rooted in the jazz tradition but is influenced by folk music from all over the world including West Africa, South Africa, the Caribbean, the UK and Appalachia. Moving forward, Adam continues to explore the unique relationship between jazz and folk music, sharing those discoveries with audiences across the globe.

Yvonnick Prene – chromatic harmonica Adam Moezinia - guitar

https://youtu.be/MEHnHmmWYmQ?t=55

7:30pm Tania Mesa “The Mediterranean Soul”

Tania Mesa (Musician) is a crossover-style violinist, singer and composer from the Canary Islands (Spain). In her latest project “The Mediterranean Soul” she magically fuses Flamenco with Jazz, Latin and Pop sounds. Mesa studied classical violin at ESMUC- Barcelona and contemporary music at Berklee, Boston.

She has performed with the World Orchestra (UNESCO), Terence Blanchard, Jacob Collier, Manolo García, Joan Manuel Serrat, Dream Theater and Alejandro Sanz as well as many renowned flamenco artists such as Josemi Carmona, Antonio Serrano or José Mercé.

Tania Mesa – vocals, violin Andreas Arnold – flamenco guitar Jeremy Smith – percussion

https://youtu.be/RUTqdN6kT1E

8:30pm Marwan Allam - Bab Bhar

Bab Bhar is the gate that connects the old and new city of Tunis, capital of Tunisia. Behind every door in the medina are stories to be found and the heritage is so rich due to all the cultures that passed through North Africa, among them Berber, Arab, Roman, Turkish, and Andalusian civilizations. Growing up with this background made Marwan Allam dream about traveling the world and finding new inspirations and influences to grow artistically. This search has eventually led him to New York City where he is realizing his vision Arabic North African music heritage combined with jazz harmony and Afro-American music styles.

Marwan Allam grew up in Tunesia and studied Jazz at the Prins Claus Conservatory in Netherlands. His unique personal approach of playing, de-tuning and exploring the double bass is informed by the instrument “Gombri” from the Stambali music and sub-Saharan traditions. He is a prolific composer and bandleader and has performed at venues and festivals such as Cairo Jazz (Egypt), Hammamet Tabarka Jazz Festival Carthage (Tunisia), Pleven music Festival (Bulgaria), Jazz station Brussel (Belgium and National theater of Seoul (Korea).

Marwan Allam - Bass Chris McCarthy - Piano Yacine Boulares - Sax Samvel Sarkisyan – Drums

https://youtu.be/XT7-5YlHgPg?t=110