Jazz pianist and Memphis native Eli Ibrahim leads a special trio at Rudy’s Jazz Room this Labor Day, featuring acclaimed drummer Henry Conerway III and bassist Ethan Assad for an evening bringing together musicians with roots in the Memphis and Nashville jazz scenes.
Pianist and composer Eli Ibrahim grew up immersed in Memphis’ rich musical heritage, studying piano under acclaimed Memphis pianist Stephen Lee before continuing his musical development in Nashville at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. An emerging voice on the Nashville jazz scene, Ibrahim continues to develop his sound as both an improviser and composer, drawing from the deep musical traditions of Memphis while exploring the modern language of jazz.
Detroit native Henry Conerway III has established himself as a leading drummer on the modern jazz scene. As a young musician he studied under legendary Detroit trumpeter Marcus Belgrave before earning a degree in Music Composition from Morehouse College, where he co-founded the Atlanta-based group Jaspects. Since moving to New York City in 2015, Conerway has performed and toured with artists including Freddy Cole, Marcus Printup, Jazzmeia Horn and Russell Gunn, along with residencies with Jazz at Lincoln Center in Doha, Qatar. His performances have taken him to the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, Smalls, the Atlanta Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival and other major stages around the world. Conerway is also a composer and bandleader whose work includes his own recording, With Pride for Dignity.
For this special Labor Day performance, Ibrahim, Conerway and Assad will explore a mix of jazz standards and modern repertoire, bringing together three musicians from different generations and musical backgrounds for an evening rooted in improvisation, interplay and the jazz tradition.
Eli Ibrahim – piano
Ethan Assad – bass
Henry Conerway III – drums
