Marc Cary, Marcus Shelby & Sameer Gupta
Experience an extraordinary evening of spontaneous creation and rhythmic dialogue with visionary masters: pianist and keyboard player Marc Cary, basssist Marcus Shelby and tabla/percussion maestro Sameer Gupta.
For years, Cary and Gupta have forged a deep musical synergy—most notably as the core engine of the Marc Cary Focus Trio—blending modern jazz, Indian classical ragas, D.C. go-go, and pan-ethnic grooves into a seamless, boundary-pushing sound. In this rare duo setting, Cary's expressive piano textures meet Gupta's intricate, cyclical tabla rhythms for an intimate conversation that bridges cultures and musical traditions.
Rounding out the trio is Marcus Shelby, a renowned San Francisco Bay Area bassist, composer, bandleader, and educator. Over his distinguished career, he has led the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, served as Artistic Director for Healdsburg Jazz, and collaborated with a wide range of artists spanning from Tom Waits to film and theater productions, bringing a grounded, powerful resonance to every ensemble he joins.
“The main thing is the intention behind what you say musically; that’s the beauty. If you’re thinking something and you hit that note, the resonance of what you’re thinking actually goes through that note… That’s the power.” — Marc Cary