Asian American Arts Alliance: Vijay Iyer Trio
Three-time Grammy nominee and MacArthur 'Genius', pianist Vijay Iyer brings his renowned jazz trio and special guests Arooj Aftab and Heems.
Described by The New York Times as a “social conscience, multimedia collaborator, system builder, rhapsodist, historical thinker and multicultural gateway,” composer-pianist Vijay Iyer has earned a place as one of the leading music-makers of his generation. His honors include a MacArthur Fellowship, a Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, a United States Artist Fellowship, and the Alpert Award in the Arts. His newest album features his acclaimed trio with drummer Tyshawn Sorey and bassist Linda May Han Oh titled Compassion (ECM, 2024). His lush, expansive collaboration with Arooj Aftab and Shahzad Ismaily, Love in Exile (Verve, 2023), received two Grammy nominations and was named among the best albums of the year in Pitchfork and The New York Times. For this performance, Iyer will be joined by bassist Devon Gates and drummer Jeremy Dutton.
Arooj Aftab is a multi-award-winning singer, composer, and producer. Over the last few years, she has emerged as one of the most innovative artists of our time — her work mellifluously blends a wide array of genres, from jazz to minimalism to Pakistani semi-classical. In 2022, Aftab won a Grammy for Best Global Music Performance award for "Mohabbat," the first Pakistani artist to win a Grammy. In 2023, Aftab received another Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Performance, as well as collaborated with Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily on the Grammy-nominated album Love in Exile. Aftab released her most recent album, the critically acclaimed Night Reign, earlier this year.
Rapper, visual artist, record label owner, and Punjabi-American from Queens, NY, Himanshu "Heems" Suri launched his solo career while still a member of his former group, Das Racist. The group's 2008 single "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell" launched them into the limelight; they released multiple mixtapes and the official 2011 album, Relax, but broke up in 2013. After the split, Heems released the solo project Eat Pray Thug in 2015, and then took a hiatus from releasing music. In 2024, Heems returned with two new albums both released on his new label Veena Sounds, Lafandar and Veena, to rave reviews
The piano for this performance is provided with support by Steinway & Sons.
Additional media support for this performance is provided by WBGO.
Watch the full livestream here on Friday, August 30 at 7pm.
The Asian American Arts Alliance (A4) is a nonprofit organization and diverse alliance of artists, organizations, and art supporters, dedicated to ensuring greater representation, equity, and opportunities for Asian American artists and cultural organizations.
Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America is a free outdoor festival that welcomes all New Yorkers to experience the city’s vibrant arts and culture. The series provides a platform for extraordinary artists and serves as a vital outdoor venue for a wide array of New York’s cultural institutions.
Bring your own picnic or purchase food and drinks from tents on the east side of the lawn. Attendees can enjoy cuisine from the five boroughs with a rotating line-up of artisanal vendors curated by Hester Street Fair.
Stout NYC also offers giant pretzels, gourmet popcorn and other light bites as well as a selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase.
Featured Vendors:
Thursday, September 5:
- Panda Eats World - Street food of Northern China
- Chaat Dog - Desi American street food
- Chocolate on Tap - Belgian Chocolate and strawberries
- Tacos El Guero - Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more
- Stop Drop N Roll - Gourmet egg rolls
- Bel-Fries - Artisan fries and sauces
Friday, September 6:
- Chic Treatz - Confectionary delights
- Chocolate on Tap - Belgian Chocolate and strawberries
- Tacos El Guero - Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more
- Enfes - Handmade Turkish food
- Bel-Fries - Artisan fries and sauces
Thursday, September 12:
- Charles Pan-Fried Chicken - Harlem's finest fried chicken
- Chocolate on Tap - Belgian Chocolate and strawberries
- Stop Drop N Roll - Gourmet egg rolls
- Pinche Vegana - Modern, vegan Mexican
Friday, September 13:
- Chocolate on Tap: Belgian Chocolate and strawberries
- Tacos El Guero: Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more
Bryant Park lends out hundreds of free blankets on a first-come, first-served basis, or bring your own cotton or fleece blanket. To protect the lawn, please do not sit on waterproof materials such as plastic tarps, yoga mats, or inflatable chairs.
Take a seat in one of the pre-set chairs on the lawn or grab a chair from the gravel. You can use a chair anywhere in the park except for the center lawn "blanket zone".
Find jugglers, hula hoops, giant Jenga, and more fun on the east side of the lawn at select events.
We love dogs, but dog urine can leave the lawn with bald spots. Dogs are welcome on the gravel and bluestone, but please do not bring dogs on the lawn.
Performances are cancelled when it is unsafe to be outdoors. In some cases, the lawn may be too wet to open but the performance may continue. Follow @bryantparknyc on Twitter and Instagram for day-of event updates. You can also check the lawn status on the bryantpark.org homepage.