Sean Imboden Large Ensemble featuring Gilad Hekselman

6:30p Show | Doors @ 5p

9:30p Show | Doors @ 8:45p

Sean Imboden is an American saxophonist and composer whose music brings a contemporary, original voice to the modern jazz big band. A leader with four albums to his name, he directs the Sean Imboden Large Ensemble (SILE), a 17-piece group that reimagines traditional big band instrumentation through bold composition and dynamic ensemble interplay.

SILE released its debut album in 2025 and second album in 2026, earning international recognition, including four-star reviews in All About Jazzand features in Modern Drummer Magazine. In 2026, SILE was named a Rising Star Large Ensemble in DownBeat Magazine. SILE will celebrate the release of its third album in spring 2027 with a performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. As a performer and collaborator, Imboden has worked with GRAMMY-winning artists and jazz luminaries such as Slide Hampton, Taylor Eigsti, Mike Rodriguez, Sean Jones, Emmet Cohen, and Ryan Keberle.

Gilad Hekselman is one of the leading voices in jazz guitar. Born in Israel and based in New York, he tours globally as a bandleader, and has shared the stage with some of the greatest artists in jazz including Chris Potter, Eric Harland, Fred Hersch, Mark Turner, Anat Cohen, Ari Hoenig, Esperanza Spalding, Jeff Ballard, Ben Wendel, Gretchen Parlato, Ben Williams, Avishai Cohen, Tigran Hamasyan, Aaron Parks and Becca Stevens among many others.

Gilad is the recipient of multiple prestigious recognitions and awards. In 2018, he was asked by Pat Metheny to perform as part of the legendary guitarist's NEA Award ceremony at The Kennedy Center. In 2017 and 2022, Gilad placed first in the Rising Star category of Downbeat Magazine. That same year, he won the 7 Virtual Jazz Club International Contest. In 2005, Gilad won the Gibson Montreux International Guitar Competition, which led to a string of performances including opening for guitar legend Paco de Lucia with his trio at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2006.

SAXOPHONES

Matt Pivec - LaMont Webb - Mark O'Connor - Cecily Terhune - Evan Drybread

TRUMPETS

Clark Hunt - John Raymond - Scott Belk - Kent Hickey

TROMBONES

Tucker Woerner - Blake Schlabach - Chaz Rhodes - Rich Dole

RHYTHM SECTION

Gilad Hekselman - Chris Pitts - Nick Tucker - Cassius Goens