Jazz in Conversation with Poetry: The Joel Larue Smith Trio with poet, Patrick Sylvain

Moving seamlessly between the constellations of jazz styles and the rich and varied literature of the classical masters, Joel LaRue Smith is one of those rare and gifted pianists who has never had to choose between these two musical worlds, because for him they are not separate. His pianistic skill, musical artistry, and intuitive understanding of each composer he interprets speak directly and intimately to his listeners. Join the Joel Larue Smith trio in a musical conversation with Patrick Sylvain at Joan Lorentz Park.

Professor Patrick Sylvain, is a Haitian-American poet, writer, social and literary critic, and photographer who has published widely on Haiti and Haitian diaspora culture, politics, language, and religion. He is the author of several poetry books in English and Haitian, and his poems have been nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize. He is published in several anthologies, academic journals, books, magazines and reviews including: African American Review, Agni, American Poetry Review, Callaloo, Chicago Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Prairie Schooner, Transition, and The Caribbean Writer. His most recent bilingual poetry collection, Unfinished Dreams /Rèv San Bout, will be published by JEBCA Editions in April 2023. Dr. Sylvain is the lead author of the recently released Education Across Borders: Immigration, Race, and Identity in the Classroom published by Beacon Press (February 22, 2022), and has received several awards, among them the Harvard University Derek Bok Center Award for Teaching Excellence.