Esthesis Quartet

ESTHESIS QUARTET is made up of four accomplished musicians and educators who met at various festivals, conventions, and sessions around the country. Flutist ELSA NILSSON hails from Gothenburg, Sweden, but has been living in Brooklyn, NYC, for over a decade. She actively works as a bandleader and side woman in a myriad of creative music projects. She has released seven albums as a leader and is currently an adjunct professor at The New School College of Performing Arts. Pianist, vocalist, and composer DAWN CLEMENT is one of the most sought-after musicians working today. She has recorded six albums as a leader and is the recipient of the CMA Performance Plus grant to compose for Esthesis Quartet. Clement is the Area Coordinator of the Jazz and American Improvised Music Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver, a program founded by the late Ron Miles. EMMA DAYHUFF is the most recent bassist to graduate from the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance in Los Angeles. She is only the fifth woman ever to participate in the prestigious program and has performed around the world with many top jazz artists like Herbie Hancock, Victor Goines, David Murray, among others. Currently residing in Chicago, she has conducted master classes in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Cuba, and Australia. Los Angeles-based TINA RAYMOND is an accomplished drummer, composer, bandleader, and educator. The Director of Jazz Studies at California State University Northridge, Raymond received DownBeat Magazine’s Educator Achievement Award in 2020. She is president- elect of California Alliance for Jazz and has toured the US, Europe and Asia as a leader and side woman. The concept for the quartet, rooted in mutual respect for each other's musicianship and creativity, began during the first Covid lockdown. Geographically dispersed, they met via Zoom to share their compositions. From there, they experimented with recording pieces and free improvisations by remotely layering parts. As Covid waned and people began travelling again, Nilsson, Clement, and Dayhuff joined Raymond in Los Angeles to perform and record their music. From their first shared note, it was clear that they were a band. The use of the word ESTHESIS in their name is poignant, as it means the elementary sensation of touch, which was something sorely lacking during the lockdown.

This show dates just before the release of their second record, Time Zones (ears&eyes). The album

playfully explores the experience of four musicians working together while each living in different time zones.

All shows at Sam First are 21+ (no one under the age of 21 will be permitted)

Show Times: 7:30pm & 9:00pm, and a separate ticket is required for each show.

Notice of Recording: Sam First live streams and records all concerts. By entering Sam First, you understand that your image and/or voice might be included in those recordings. Sam First reserves the right to use any photography, video or audio recording taken at this event, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video.