[TIM LIN Quartet]

CD RELEASE PARTY & JAM SESSION

Tim Lin - Tenor saxophone
Tim Lin is a saxophonist originally from the Bay Area, California currently residing in New York City. He stays busy recording albums, practicing, and performing live. His interests lie in being a student of the music and immersing himself in the language of bebop and modern jazz. "Tim Lin is a wonderful, creative saxophonist with a vibrant, fluid sound and a strong technique throughout all registers. His unique blend of tone, melody and complex, bop-ish lines make him a distinctive voice in the modern world of the tenor saxophone." 
Larry Schneider
🔗www.timlinmusic.com

Sungtaek Choo - Piano 
Originally from South Korea, Sungtaek Choo is a pianist making his mark in New York City’s jazz scene. After moving to the U.S. to pursue a master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music, he quickly became active in the local community. Sungtaek has performed with notable musicians such Mike Boone, Aaron Johnson, David Gibson, Eric Wyatt, Bobby Watson, Charles Gould, Evan Sherman, etc. He has appeared at top New York venues including Smalls Jazz Club, Ornithology, and Midnight Blue. Known for his versatility and musical sensitivity, he is steadily growing as one of NYC’s sought-after sidemen. 
🔗@sungtaek_choo_music

Julian Wittich - Bass
Julian Wittich (b. 1999) is a Taiwanese-Dutch jazz bassist and composer based in New York City. Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, Julian started playing the double bass at age 16. He later studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in The Netherlands, performing with Dutch jazz giants such as Benjamin Herman, Jasper Blom, Eric Ineke, and Yoràn Vroom. He has also made a name for himself in both the Taiwanese jazz and pop scene, working with established artists such as 林俊傑 JJ Lin, 9m88, and 黃宣 Yellow. Julian has most recently obtained his master's degree from Manhattan School of Music in New York City under the guidance of legendary jazz bassists Buster Williams and Jay Anderson. He is currently making his name as an up-and-coming bassist in New York, performing with luminaries such as Grant Stewart, Chris Byars, Dan Block, Jon-Erik Kellso, and Aaron Johnson, to name a few. Julian is in now the process of recording his debut album, set for release in early 2026.
🔗julianwittich.com

Anton Kot - Drums
Twenty-three-year-old Anton Kot was born in NYC and grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and along the Connecticut coast. He has headlined at the 2023 Pittsfield City and Washington Heights Jazz Festivals, the 2022 Litchfield Jazz Festival, and the 2021 Bronx River Festival Streams of Black Music as a drummer, pianist, and composer. His star-studded acts have included saxophonists Don Braden, Albert Rivera, bassist Avery Sharpe, trumpeter Jean Caze, pianists Manuel Valera, Caili O’Doherty, and Tyler Bullock II. “One audience member called Anton ‘a highlight in the [Litchfield] Festival’s history.’ Praise well deserved.” - Vita Muir, Founder, Litchfield Jazz Festival - A Triumph at 27!, August 9, 2022. During the New Haven 2022 International Festival of Arts and Ideas, Anton played his twenty-five minute piano concerto, Let’s Try This, on the main stage with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) directed by Alasdair Neale. Anton was commissioned by the NHSO before the pandemic, causing the piece to evolve into a sonic representation of the varying phases of the Covid outbreak as it entered social awareness in 2020. Let’s Try This is a self-reflection where a pianist rediscovers their instrument under the stress of induced isolation. It was designed to be performed differently each time as a nod to the insistent volatility of Covid’s effect on daily life...
🔗www.antonkot.com

*Filming & Photography Notice We’ll be capturing live video and photos during performances for promotional use. If you prefer not to appear on camera, just let our staff know—we’ll be happy to guide you to a seat out of frame. Thank you for your understanding and support!

SEPTEMBER 14 (SUN.)

5:00-6:00PM & 7:00-7:45PM
Hi-Collar, East Village

[Brandon Suarez Quartet]

ALBUM "Introducing Brandon Suarez" RELEASE EVENT

Brandon Suarez - Tenor saxophone
Brandon Suarez is one of the up and coming tenor saxophonists in NYC today.Growing up in Miami and being from Cuba, Brandon was surrounded by a lot of Cuban music and deeply rooted in that style. Even though he was brought up in that scene he is truly able to express himself playing in the bebop idiom and swing era. Since Brandon was very young he has always loved people like Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, John Coltrane developed a concept at such a young age. This led him to perform and that legendary Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey California. Even though he was the younger musician there, he was able to play with the great Eric Harland and Gerald Clayton on the main stage. Also during the festival he was able to converse with Herbie Hancock and talk about music. Brandon was just eighteen at the time but he was able to communicate and play with some of the most leading Jazz musicians in the world. When he first arrived in New York City he was lucky enough to meet the great Vincent Herring and he would go to his house on the weekends to play. There, not only did they become really great friends but Vincent started to call Brandon to sub for the Mingus big band and other various gigs. This led Vincent to call Brandon for a month long tour in Japan along side with the great Eric Alexander. Here he learned what it takes to be on the road and also immersed himself in the Japanese tradition. Playing in the bebop idiom, Brandon was able to really express his true self alongside the best saxophonist in the world. This opened a whole new door for Brandon and now he is one of the top tenor players in New York getting called for various gigs.
🔗www.brandonsuarezmusic.com

Tyler Henderson - Piano 
Born in Oneonta, New York, I began my musical journey at age 5 after my family received a piano from a local church. Initially drawn to classic rock and soul, I later discovered jazz through Bill Evans’ Portrait in Jazz, which changed my life. This passion led me to study with local jazz musicians and eventually audition for Houston’s prestigious HSPVA, where I had the opportunity to perform with artists like Wynton Marsalis and Ingrid Jensen. After high school, I was accepted into The Juilliard School, where I’m currently completing my undergraduate degree. My mission is to honor the tradition of swing while pushing jazz forward with fresh ideas.
🔗@tylerhendersonm

Caleb Tobocman - Bass
Caleb Tobocman is one of New York’s most in-demand rising bass stars. Having grown up in a musical family (in the legendary artist building Manhattan Plaza), Caleb picked up the upright bass at the age of 16 and it was apparent he was a natural. In a few short years, he has already shared the bandstand with jazz greats such as Vincent Herring, George Coleman, Nicholas Payton, David Hazeltine, Eric Alexander, Veronica Swift, Grant Stewart, John Pizzarelli, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Emmet Cohen, Pasquale Grasso, and Benny Benack III, among others. Caleb studied at Manhattan School of Music under legends Ron Carter and Buster Williams and is finishing his studies under the apprenticeship of Bill Charlap and David Wong at William Paterson University..
🔗@calebtobocman

Jacob Smith - Drums
Jacob Smith is a young jazz drummer from Northampton, MA that just moved to the city as of early August. Although he is technically new to the active scene, Jacob spent most of is undergraduate years commuting to New York so that he could play with his peers such as brandon; and study with the masters that still reside in the city. However, Jacob has already started to make a name for himself, playing with artist such as, Brian Lynch, Etienne Charles, Jazzmeia Horn, Samara Joy, Miguel Zenon, Marcus Strickland, and Curtis Lundy, all without living in the city yet. He is exited for what’s in store for this new chapter, and happy to join a community of young artists who really love this important music.

PREVIOUS EVENTS…

(If you would like to play at Five Spot Jazz contact us at: fivespotjazzbookings@gmail.com )