Saxophonist Laeton Olaleye and trumpeter Omar Abdulkarim join a band of legendary Twin Cities artists in presenting two sets of new music. Come enjoy an evening of captivating mastery of a vast range of musical styles, from modern jazz to funk.

Band Members:
Laeton Olaleye - Saxophone
Omar Abdulkarim - Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Kevin Washington - Drums
Dan Carpel - Bass
Kavyesh Kaviraj - Piano

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Saxophonist Laeton Olaleye is a rising talent in the Twin Cities jazz scene. He has performed in venues including the Dakota Jazz Club, Crooners, Jazz Central Studios, MetroNOME Brewery, and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival with renowned Twin Cities artists such as Omar Abdulkarim, Tom Lewis, and Will Kjeer. He has also played in New York City, Chicago, and Louisville. He has received instruction from acclaimed jazz artists Kevin Washington, Scott Johnson, Jack Breen, and Kavyesh Kaviraj. Olaleye’s captivating style has been influenced by Patrick Bartley, Arthur Blythe, John Coltrane, and Cannonball Adderley, along with many other greats.

Minneapolis native Omar Abdulkarim has been playing trumpet since he was 14 months old, having learned from his father, Ahmed Abdulkarim. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the renowned New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. He has performed around the world with various groups at the Haitian Jazz Festival; Marians Jazzroom in Bern, Switzerland; and the Blue Note, Smalls, and Birdland in New York City. He has performed and worked with Roy Hargrove, Redman, Method Man, KRS-One, Talib Kweli, Lauryn Hill, Nicholas Payton Television Studio Orchestra, José James, and Valery Ponomarev’s big band. His quintet held a year-long residency at New York’s prestigious Standard Hotel, playing five nights a week in the Boom Boom Room. He has also performed in an orchestra and jazz quartet on the largest cruise ship in the world: “The Oasis of the Seas.”