Jazz Vespers: Yotam Ishay Quartet

NYC's unique Jazz Prayer Service.Sundays at 5 since 1965. All are welcome. Free to attend!This week, we welcome... Yotam Ishay (piano)Harshitha Krishnan (vocals)Keita Ogawa (percussion)Youngchae Jeong (bass) About YOTAM ISHAY GRAMMY®-nominated Interdisciplinary composer, pianist, bandleader, and educator. With over 1 million streams on Spotify, music from his debut album "Opus 1" was placed in Netflix shows, and his solo piano album "SEED" was praised by the Japanese magazine "JAZZ LIFE" and the French magazine "Djolo". His compositions express a unique dialect by blending Western classical music, Middle-Eastern music, and Jazz influences. ​Yotam graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, earning a composition degree with a full scholarship. He collaborated with renowned and Grammy-winning artists such as Zakir Hussain, Michael League & Bill Laurence of Snarky Puppy, Javier Limón, Berklee Indian Ensemble, Shankar Mahadevan, and Jamey Haddad. Yotam has also been active in the classical composition field and is a thrice finalist of the International Antonin Dvorak Composition Competition in Prague, the Czech Republic. About HARSHITHA KIRSHNAN Harshitha Krishnan is a Grammy-nominated performing and recording artist, music educator and social justic advocate of Indian Origin from Lagos, Nigeria. Hailing from a strong background in western classical music, she embraced soul, R&B, alternative, jazz, Indian folk and other world music styles, creating her own distinctive and eclectic sound: a fusion of Indian and contemporary western elements. Performing her original music as well as her arrangements of popular Indian tunes, Harshitha creates a singular musical experience that takes listeners on a journey of unfiltered emotions, exploring sounds and textures from around the world. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Harshitha has already worked with an impressive roster of renowned musicians including A.R.Rahman, Ilayaraaja, Gary Burton, Vijay Prakash, Michael McDonald, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, Pablo Ziegler, Bill Whelan, Alejandro Sanz, Clinton Cerejo, Javed Ali, Sivamani, and Javier Limone to name a few, on various film, studio and live projects. An artist with a vision to affect positive change in attitudes towards women, mental health, LGBTQIA+ and race, Harshitha aligns her social, philosophical and political views with the nature of the music she performs. About KEITA OGAWA Hailing originally from Sasebo city, Nagasaki, Japan, Keita Ogawa is 5 time Grammy nominee and 3 time Grammy Award winner and one of the most versatile and sought-after percussionists and drummers in New York City. He started his music career on drum set at the age of 15. After performing regularly in Tokyo for several years, Keita decided to pursue his musical studies overseas. He was accepted into the prestigious Berklee College of Music in fall of 2005 where he studied with legendary musicians and educators Manuel “Egui” Castrillo, Jamey Haddad, Tito De Gracia, David Rosado, and Mark Walker. Seeking full immersion into the world of Brazilian percussion, Keita relocated to Rio de Janeiro for 3 months and studied with the some of the country’s most respected musicians- Jorginho do Pandeiro, Celsinho Silva, Kiko Freitas, and Marcio Bahia among others. Since his arrival in America, Keita has worked with some of the biggest names in modern music including Yo-yo-ma, Assad Brothers, Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, Romero Lubambo, Clarice Assad, Jaques Morelenbaum, Osvaldo Golijov, Les Nubians, Charlie Hunter, Benny Green, Eric Harland, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and more. Currently he works several projects like, Snarky Puppy, Bokanté, Banda Magda, Bokantè, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Charlie Hunter, JSquad, Camila Meza and the Nectar Orchestra, Clarice Assad and more. About YOUNGCHAE JEONG Youngchae Jeong is a dynamic jazz bassist from Seoul, South Korea, currently based in Boston, Massachusetts. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Jeong has quickly established himself as a versatile and innovative musician in the jazz scene. His playing blends technical precision with deep emotional resonance, drawing from influences like Jaco Pastorius and Charles Mingus. Known for his rhythmic complexity and melodic sensibility, Jeong has performed with notable artists, including trumpeter Darren Barrett, and contributed to projects like the award-winning track “The Sight of Mud & Concrete.” His work often explores themes of cultural identity and conflict, as seen in collaborations reflecting global musical traditions. Jeong’s senior recital at Berklee showcased his leadership and compositional skill. As an active performer and educator, he continues to push boundaries, captivating audiences with his bold, expressive sound and commitment to jazz’s evolving legacy. More Info below.