Ask Me About Jazz!

An interactive concert for young people investigating the roots, history, and distinctive sounds of Jazz. Featuring some of the area’s most vibrant players - Richie Barshay (drums), Zaccai Curtis (piano), Evan Arntzen (clarinet/sax) and Wes Brown (bass) on stage at the Iron Horse.

From his multi-percussion work with Herbie Hancock in the 2000s, to tours and recordings with Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding, The Klezmatics, Fred Hersch, and Kenny Werner, he's been dubbed "a major rhythm voice on the rise" by Downbeat magazine, and “a major innovator who also knows how to have fun” by The Guardian (UK). He’s also performed with Natalie Merchant, Bobby McFerrin, Joe Lovano, Pete Seeger, among many others, and the Tony Award winning musical The Band’s Visit on Broadway. Since 2004 he’s traveled across 5 continents teaching and performing as an American Musical Envoy with the U.S. State Department, and can be heard on over 90 recordings including two self-produced albums: Sanctuary featuring Chick Corea (2014), and Homework featuring Herbie Hancock (2004). Based in Northampton, Massachusetts and New York City, he is an AmSAT certified Alexander Technique teacher helping performing artists and others regain more body-mind coordination and ease of movement.

Evan Arntzen is a 3rd generation musician who learned the sounds of New Orleans from his grandfather. He started his career as a clarinetist in his hometown, Vancouver British Columbia, and then took up tenor saxophone at age 16, expanding his jazz vocabulary. He moved to NYC in 2014 and soon was performing at the city’s best venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center and Birdland. He held the lead saxophone chair of Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks from 2017-2021. In 2021, he and his wife, Scout Opatut, moved to Northampton and started a family. Evan regularly performs with Catherine Russell and Bria Skonberg. He is also a passionate educator and recently completed his Masters in Music from Manhattan School of Music.

He and his brother, Luques, a bassist have played together as “The Curtis Brothers” for many years. Both were born in Hartford CT to a musical family and they co-own Truth Revolution Records with five releases under their name. Zaccai graduated from the New England Conservatory in 2005 and performs regularly with Donald Harrison, Christian Scott, Brian Lynch and Ray Vega as well as many others.

Wes toured the world with legendary pianist Earl “Fatha” Hines, and has played with such iconoclasts as Wadada Leo Smith, Anthony Braxton, and Anthony Davis. His versatile work on bass, keyboard, and African flute is documented on numerous recordings.