Atlantic Jazz Nights, now in its third season, is an international jazz series presented by the Arts and Culture Centre. The series is hosted and curated by celebrated St. John’s-based pianist Florian Hoefner and bassist, Jim Vivian. Now in its third season the series will include 4 concerts featuring invited guest artists from the United States, the UK, Germany, and Canada who will perform with Hoefner and Vivian

Aubrey Johnson
Aubrey Johnson is a New York-based vocalist, composer, and educator. Her debut record, Unraveled, featuring her original music and arrangements and produced by Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group), was released on Outside In Music in 2020. Play Favorites, her duo album with the pianist Randy Ingram was released on Sunnyside Records in 2022. Among the 40+ albums Aubrey has appeared on as a sideperson are Bobby McFerrin’s Grammy-nominated release, VOCAbuLaries, Arturo O'Farrill's Grammy Award-winning album Four Questions, and Lyle Mays’ Grammy Award-winning Eberhard. Aubrey holds faculty positions at Montclair State University and Queens College. Most recently, Aubrey completed an artistic residency in composition at the prestigious MacDowell Colony where she composed new music for her next album, coming late 2024.

Tomoko Omura
Tomoko Omura is a composer and violinist, born and raised in Shizuoka, Japan. She was named #1 Rising Star Violinist by Downbeat Magazine’s Critics Poll in 2021. Her fifth album, “Branches Vol. 2” (Outside In Music) was named Bandcamp’s “Best Jazz of 2021”. She has played at internationally renowned venues including the Village Vanguard, Lincoln Center, The Jazz Gallery, Jazz Standard, Smalls, Mezzrow, SF Jazz, Newport Jazz Festival, Blue Note, among others. 

In 2004, she relocated to the United States to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. She has studied with teachers, such as Hal Crook, Ed Tomassi, George Garzone, Jamey Haddad, Rob Thomas, Matt Glaser. After Berklee, she had been core members and toured with The Guy Mendilow Ensemble, the Contemporary Celtic band, RUNA and Carte Blanche. Omura now lives in Brooklyn, NY and is a New York Faculty member of Jazz House kids.

Jay Sawyer 
Born in Grand Rapids, MI, Jay Sawyer is one of the most in-demand rising star drummers in New York City. He has shared the stage with artists such as Freddy Cole, John McNeil, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stefon Harris, Donny McCaslin, Benito Gonzalez, and Shai Maestro among others. Jay is also a first call drummer for many up-and-coming musicians in New York including Itamar Borochov, Caroline Davis, Tomoko Omura, John Raymond and many more. He has toured extensively in the USA and Europe, including performances at the Montreal, Detroit and Chicago Jazz Festivals, Festival Eclats d’Email in Limoges, France and more. 

While attending Western Michigan University and the University of Illinois, respectively, Jay studied with some of the most well-respected jazz drummers including Billy Hart, Tim Froncek, Keith Hall and Dana Hall. Each nurtured his passion and skill for the art of jazz drums. As a result, Jay has become a passionate and gifted educator, both as a private lesson teacher as well as in a group setting.
 

Details

TICKETS: 

$40 All Seats
(HST & Service Charge Included)

DATES/ LOCATION/ BOX OFFICE NUMBERS:
Click a date below to buy tickets to that location.

April 25, 2025
ST. JOHN'S, Arts & Culture Centre
709-729-3900
sjboxoffice@artsandculturecentre.com

April 26, 2025
GANDER, Joseph R Smallwood Arts & Culture Centre
709-256-1081
gaboxoffice@artsandculturecentre.com

April 27, 2025
GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, Arts & Culture Centre
709-292-4518
gfwboxoffice@artsandculturecentre.com 

April 28, 2025
CORNER BROOK, Arts & Culture Centre
709-637-2580
cbboxoffice@artsandculturecentre.com  

April 29, 2025
STEPHENVILLE, Arts & Culture Centre
709-643-4553
svboxoffice@artsandculturecentre.com

SHOW TIME: 8:00 pm

SHOW LENGTH:  120 minutes

INTERMISSION: Yes

RECOMMENDED AUDIENCE AGE: All Ages