Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith

Vijay Iyer, a composer-pianist known for his genre-blending jazz, was praised by The New York Times as a visionary artist. Born in America, he won a MacArthur Fellowship, a Doris Duke Award, and received a Grammy nomination. Iyer collaborated with Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn Sorey, Craig Taborn, and Wadada Leo Smith, creating acclaimed works like "Uneasy" and "Far From Over." His compositions have been commissioned by prominent ensembles and artists, and he teaches at Harvard University.

Wadada Leo Smith, born in Mississippi, is a groundbreaking jazz trumpeter and composer known for his Ankhrasmation musical language. A pioneer in avant-garde jazz since the ’60s, he’s worked with Anthony Braxton, John Zorn, and Vijay Iyer. His major works include Pulitzer-nominated "Ten Freedom Summers" and Grammy-winning "America’s National Parks".