Takuya Kuroda
February 9th

Trumpeter Takuya Kuroda is an inventive, boundary-pushing musician known for his cross-pollinated mix of post-bop, soul-jazz, and hip-hop. Born in 1980 in Kobe, Japan, Kuroda followed his older trombonist brother into the local music scene. He later relocated to NYC (via Boston and Berklee) and has been a fixture in the jazz scene ever since. 

Rebirth Brass Band
February 22nd

Whether seen on HBO’s Treme or at their legendary Tuesday night gig at The Maple Leaf, Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band is a true New Orleans institution.

The band has evolved from playing the streets of the French Quarter to playing festivals and stages all over the world. While committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands, they’ve also extended themselves into the realms of funk and hip-hop to create their signature sound. Experience the music of Rebirth Brass Band on February 22nd at Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre.

The Bad Plus & Marc Ribot: The Jazz-Bins
Saturday, February 25th

Avant-garde jazz group The Bad Plus are the ultimate originals. After playing together for more than 20 years, founding members Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (drums) embark on a new, piano-less incarnation of the band with Ben Monder (guitar) and Chris Speed (tenor saxophone) to bridge genres and techniques with exceptional musicians working in perfect sync.

Marc Ribot has solidified his position as “the go-to guitar guy for all kinds of roots-music adventurers: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Elvis Costello, John Mellencamp” (Rolling Stone). With The Jazz-Bins, Ribot uses deep grooves and over the top improvisation with support from Greg Lewis (Hammond B3 organ) and Chad Taylor (drums).

Mark Erelli
Friday, March 24th

During a performance in summer 2020, Mark Erelli looked down at his guitar neck and couldn’t believe what he saw. Or rather, what he couldn’t see: his fingers on the frets. Soon after, a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a degenerative eye disease, would bring some answers, but it also yielded new questions. Does diminished eyesight correlate with lesser insight? Does your songwriting change when your perception of the world around you changes? These questions, and Erelli’s hunt for creative agency, are at the heart of his new album Lay Your Darkness Down which is out today. Erelli performs at Crystal Ballroom on March 24th.

Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre is a live music and events venue in the historic Hobbs Building in the heart of Somerville’s Davis Square. Learn more at crystalballroomboston.com.