New Jazz Underground is the 2023 DCJazzPrix’ winner, a trio that blends traditional jazz with hip-hop, Afro-beat, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Comprised of saxophonist Abdias Armenteros, bassist Sebastian Rios, and drummer TJ Reddick, all Juilliard graduates, the group gained a wide audience through viral living room videos, now boasting over 85,000 YouTube subscribers.
Their music respects jazz’s history while pushing genre boundaries, with releases like MF Doom Suite and Cook/Swing/Work/Relax. Rios won the 2024 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, and Armenteros is the youngest member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Earlier this year, New Jazz Underground played a sold-out show at our club, showcasing their energetic performance and tight chemistry. NPR Music recently featured the trio, praising their fresh approach.
The band also focuses on education, teaching jazz history, theory, and modern music production to students, helping shape the future of jazz.
