DION PARSON & 21ST CENTURY BAND

DIZZY'S CLUB, JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER / JUNE 4-7

For more than two decades, drummer Dion Parson has led his 21st Century Band with a clear vision: place Caribbean rhythms at the center rather than the periphery of modern jazz. Born in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, Dion draws from the quelbe, quadrille and calypso traditions of his upbringing while embracing jazz's improvisational possibilities. This engagement features a stellar rotating lineup. Trumpeter Sean Jones and saxophonist Ron Blake appear on select nights, with Abraham Burton joining on saxophone and flute for one evening. Pianist Carlton Holmes and bassist Reuben Rogers anchor the harmony, while the percussion section – featuring Victor Provost on steel pan and Alioune Faye on sabar drums – creates the layered polyrhythmic foundation that defines the band's character. Victor's steel pan work deserves particular attention. The instrument rarely occupies such a prominent role in jazz contexts, and his virtuosity demonstrates its expressive range beyond carnival associations.