In Fall 2009, West Side Presbyterian Church in Englewood launched a monthly concert series, which was a great musical success. This Spring, the series continues with three concerts in April, May and June 2010. The West Side congregation invites everyone to come and enjoy the excellent concerts that we offer to the community, with local and  world-class musicians, and support and build this cultural initiative.

The three concerts scheduled for spring 2010 are:

April 17, 7:30pm: Nicki Denner Latin Jazz Trio

Pianist/composer/arranger Nicki Denner has been a part of the New York Latin and jazz music scene since 1999. She has performed with Sheila E., Savion Glover, Candido, Doc Severinsen, and other jazz and salsa artists in the United States and Europe. Nicki has been a pianist for Lincoln Center's "Meet the Artist" program, Chicago City Limits, and "Broadway Underground". She has also composed music for award-winning films, and was commissioned by the New Jersey Tap Ensemble in 2004 to compose music for a piece choreographed by Savion Glover.
Since 2001, Nicki has led her own trio, featuring Jennifer Vincent on bass, and Willie Martinez on drums. In 2006, the trio released their debut recording, "Moliendo Café", which was named one of the "Top Ten Picks of 2006" in Latin Beat Magazine.
Nicki. Denner has released two other Latin jazz CD’s as a leader, “Don’t Just Stand There” and “El Médico de Coquí” featuring vocalist Julian Llanos. “El Médico…” spent six months in Latin Beat magazine's Top 20 Hit Parade.
Along with performing, Nicki is also a devoted educator with her own private teaching studio. She has served on the piano faculties of the Stanford University Summer Jazz Workshop, the Montclair State University Jazz Prep Summer Program, and the New York City Tap Festival.
"In my humble opinion, Denner's new release belongs on every Latin music lover's shelf, whether such aficionados lean toward Latin jazz or salsa!"
Vicki Sola - Latin Beat Magazine

Nicki Denner's piano playing gets pretty *** caliente, whether she's extrapolating a Latin standard or taking listeners on jazzy jaunts into her lively originals.                                         ‘
Frank DeBlase - Rochester International Jazz Festival

May 22, 7:30pm:  Eric Clark, solo recital (classical)

Eric Clark, now 24 years old, has been heard throughout much of the United States and Europe. Eric has performed in many cities including New York, Pittsburgh, Newark, Cleveland, Charleston, Palm Springs, San Jose, and in Perugia and Montecastello di Vibio, Italy.   An avid chamber musician, he has performed chamber music at the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh and at Severance Hall, Cleveland. Eric is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied with Sergey Schepkin and Enrique Graf.  He graduated in 2007 with college and university honors, receiving a full scholarship to complete his master’s degree. Having won first prize in the 2009 All-Instrumental Concerto Competition at Carnegie Mellon University, Eric will make his American orchestral debut at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Music Hall next March, playing the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic. In 2006, Eric performed the Haydn Concerto in D with Sinfonia Perugina, in Perugia, Italy.
A recipient of numerous awards, Eric achieved  first place in the 2007 and 2008 MTNA Pennsylvania State competitions, He was a finalist at the 2008 Eastern Connecticut Symphony Concerto Competition, and received a full-tuition assistantship to study at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. A native of River Vale, NJ, Eric currently lives in Fort Lee. For his recital at West Side Presbyterian Church, Eric has put together a program featuring Ravel’s beautiful Valses Nobles et Sentimentales, and other masterpieces of the classical piano repertoire.

June 19, 7:30pm: Marcus Strickland Trio  (Jazz)

Marcus Strickland's third release on Strick MuzikIdiosyncrasies finds the world-renowned saxophonist in the setting of his exhilarating trio (with bassist Ben Williams and drummer E.J. Strickland). From the start of the record it is truly apparent that you will not be able to sit still with the poppin' groove of Strickland's opening original "Cuspy's Delight", written for the drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. The catchy melody soaring above the rhythmic playground of bass and drums immediately dives into Strickland's sax solo, which will make you consider whether the horn is a percussion or woodwind instrument. Then just when an idea of the album's direction starts to formulate Strickland's second
original "Rebirth", a song about the healing powers of love, tantalizes the listener's chakras with his sax whispering the chant-like melody through the interweaving bass harmony. "Idiosyncrasies" takes you on an acoustic journey that is rare to find these days.

Marcus Strickland (born 1979) is a jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist originally from Miami, Florida who currently lives in New York.He considers his father an early inspiration as he had been a drummer in jazz and rhythm and blues, but at present he
works as a lawyer. Marcus's identical twin brother E. J. Strickland became a drummer, like their father, and is currently a member of Marcus's quartet. Although Marcus works with Jeff "Tain" Watts, Dave Douglas and Will Calhoun, he is perhaps best known,
however, for his quartet.

Marcus Strickland, who was named 'Rising Star, Soprano Saxophone' in Downbeat Magazine's Critic's Poll '08 and 'Best New Artist' in JazzTimes Magazine's Reader's Poll '06; has two releases on Fresh Sound New Talent Records as a leader ("At Last" and "Brotherhood"); and currently plays with Dave Douglas, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, and Will Calhoun. Strickland also recently ended a five-year stint with legendary drummer Roy Haynes. The aspiring saxophonist has been on two Grammy-nominated recordings ("Fountain of Youth" - Roy Haynes & "Keystone" - Dave Douglas). His own record label, Strick Muzik, was launched in 2006 with an adventurous double CD project featuring two bands of his, and appropriately titled with a play on words "Twi- Life".

Strickland has gained professional & artistic integrity through experiences with Roy Haynes, Mos Def, Dave Douglas, Nicholas Payton, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Christian McBride, Charles Tolliver Big Band, Tom Harrell, Will Calhoun, Lonnie Plaxico, The Carnegie
Hall Big Band, The Mingus Band, the Village Vanguard Band, Milt Jackson Big Band, and The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, just to name a few.