Mercer Shavelson
Feb 1st - 7th

Mercer Shavelson is an up-and-coming Keyboardist/Composer based in Queens. Shavelson grew up in Sea Cliff, NY, a small town in Long Island, and has been around music all his life. This has led him to a flourishing music career, which so far has been characterized by unique explorations into instrumentation, groove, and harmony. The son of a jazz singer, Mercer attributes much of his musical inspiration to jazz icons such as Bill Evans and John Coltrane, though he has also been influenced by a wide array of different musical traditions and artists, ranging from the Armenian Folk-Infused music of Tigran Hamasyan to Hip-hop groups such as The Roots.

While in residence, Shavelson will be joined by collaborators Adam Cordero, Gary Jones III, Nick Panoutsos, and Alexandra Ridout. Together, they will develop new pieces and compositions inspired by experiences both known and unknown.