More weekday jazz is coming on May 20th via “Is This Jazz?”

 at AS220.

Opening the night we have a rare opportunity to see multi generational excellence at play. Dave Zinno is a Rhode Island landmark of a player if there ever was one and has cemented himself as one of the best bassists gigging on the East coast today, playing with a carefully honed purity of sound and language that has helped him cement his champion status on stages the world over. Carrying on the virtuosic Zinno legacy is his son Amato Zinno who has been making waves around New England in his own way, playing with several great bands in high profile situations and crafting an approach that musicians increasingly seek to fuse with their own performance. Together they form the dynamic duo known simply as “Bass Off”, playing duets in a harmony only achievable through a shared bloodline and love for the music. Headlining the night is Mmere Dané, a group that will probably end up melting the stage with their explosive and compelling sound. The name comes from a Ghanaian adinkra symbol that literally means “time changes.” It symbolizes life’s dynamics and inevitable change. The symbol reminds us to flow with life’s movements. Time is one of the most powerful forces in the world as well as an important factor in all music, and these gentlemen love to play with the time. The music can be described as soulful jazz touched by textures of world music. The feeling taken from funk is always there, and the time flows like the hourglass that symbolizes “Mmere Dane”.