The Jazz Gallery Presents: Jon Cowherd Mercy Project

In any context, be it joyous or unsavory, the word mercy evokes compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, even surprise. It appropriately matches the music of Jon Cowherd, who will bring his Mercy Project to The Jazz Gallery this Friday, March 24th. As a landmark in his dynamic and multifaceted career, the Mercy Project is an evocative and engaging venture, representing Cowherd’s first release under his own name.

Cowherd is a cofounding member of The Fellowship Band with Brian Blade, which released “Landmarks” (Blue Note, 2014) around the same time as Cowherd released Mercy. His touch on the keyboard is deft and bluesy, and his sound as a composer is expansive and engaging. A wide range of projects has lead him to collaborate and tour with Cassandra Wilson, Rosanne Cash, The John Patitucci trio, Claudia Acuña, The Grahams, Myron Walden, Scott Colley, and Mike Moreno, to name a few.

The Mercy Project encompasses a suite of compositions by Cowherd. It was originally documented on the album Mercy, recorded by Cowherd on piano, Bill Frisell on guitar, John Patitucci on bass, and Brian Blade on drums. The music has been performed by multiple incarnates of the ensemble, depending on the season and venue, including Tom Guarna on guitar, Doug Weiss on bass, Dan Reiser on drums. At The Jazz Gallery, the band will comprise of Cowherd (piano), Steve Cardenas (guitar), Tony Scherr (bass), and E.J. Strickland (drums). Regarding The Mercy Project, Cowherd has written that he “felt the need to make a statement under my own name.” In Mercy, that statement was sure-footed and compelling, garnering rave reviews and a swell of enthusiasm sustaining the project years after its release.

Jon Cowherd and The Mercy Project plays The Jazz Gallery on Friday, March 24th, 2017. The group features Mr. Cowherd on piano, Steve Cardenas on guitar, Tony Scherr on bass, and E.J. Strickland on drums. Sets are at 7:30 and 9:30 P.M. $22 general admission ($12 for members) for each set. Purchase tickets here.