This sounds like a wonderful way to end a year: Award-winning saxophonist and composer Michael Thomas; bassist Clovis Nicolas; pianist, composer, and arranger Christopher Ziemba; and guitarist Alex Wintz will perform on New Year’s Eve at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée’s restaurant Arabelle. The evening will also include a six-course dinner.
Coming from all over the world, the musicians will bring an international flair to an evening of farewell to 2012 and of celebration for the New Year.
Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas has studied music from an early age, starting piano at five years old and saxophone at ten. Thomas’ career has taken him to venues throughout North and Central, and South America, as well as Europe and Australia. In 2010 he was recognized by DownBeat Magazine in the 33rd Annual Student Music Awards as the winner of “Best Original Song” for his composition Refract. From 2009-2011, Thomas performed weekly at Wally’s Jazz Café in Boston with trumpeter Jason Palmer, and he is featured on Jason’s SteepleChase release, Nothing to Hide. In April 2011, Thomas independently released his debut album The Long Way, featuring eight of his original compositions.
Clovis Nicolas
Nicolas has shared the stage in numerous venues (Jazz Standard, Smalls Jazz Club, Blue Note, 55 Bar, Kennedy Center, Smoke, Jazz Gallery, Birdland, Alice Tully Hall, Dizzy’s Club...) with some of today's most prominent jazz musicians, such as Grant Stewart, Harry Allen, Branford Marsalis, Curtis Fuller, Benny Powell, James Williams, Peter Bernstein, Joe Magnarelli, Sacha Perry, Sachal Vasandani, Simon Shaheen, Carl Allen, Jane Monheit, and Dan Nimmer.
Christopher Ziemba
The winner of the 2011 Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, 25-year-old pianist, composer, and arranger Christopher Ziemba made his debut in March 2009 as a guest artist on Marian McPartland’s famed radio broadcast, Piano Jazz, David Lyon of National Public Radio reported: “Knowledgeable beyond his years, Ziemba has developed the keen sensibilities and musical awareness of a great musician.” Most recently, in March 2011, Chris was chosen to participate in the Advancing Jazz Improvisation Master Classes with jazz icon Brad Mehldau. Zembia is currently a member of the Juilliard Jazz Artist Diploma Ensemble, participating in performance and educational outreach tours world-wide.
Alex Wintz
Wintz can be heard performing at jazz clubs and festivals throughout the city and elsewhere including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Small’s, the Jazz Standard, Cornelia Street Cafe, and the Blue Note.
New Year’s Eve “Jazz From Lincoln Center”
• When: December 31, seating starts at 8:00 pm and last seating is at 10:00 pm.
• Where: Arabelle at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée, 37 East 64th Street, New York, NY 10065
• For reservations, please call 212-606-4647.
• Six-course menu with Chaampagne and toast; Jazz Trio and Dancing. Price: $295 per person, taxes and gratuities are not included