ADITHYA VAIDHYAN QUINTET & KIW TRIO
ADITHYA VAIDHYAN QUINTET, KIW TRIO
Nublu 151151 Avenue C, New York 10009
Nublu hosts a two-act bill pairing the Adithya Vaidhyan Quintet with KIW Trio. Vaidhyan leads a quintet featuring Kris Allen, Kevin Du, Dezron Douglas and Sam Bolduc. KIW arrives as its established three-piece lineup: Pau Jorba, Ferran Rico and Artur Ponsà. The listing presents the groups as separate sets on the same night rather than a single combined ensemble.
Vaidhyan is a New York-based bandleader and composer who grew up in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He writes music rooted in jazz tradition but shaped by what he calls “unexpected twists and turns” and a “unique identity of expression.” His work has included rehearsals with the Gil Evans Project and Dezron Douglas Quartet, and performances with musicians including Dave Ballou, Don Braden, Orrin Evans and Matt Wilson; he was recognized in ASCAP’s 2025 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards. KIW is a Catalan trio based between Boston and New York, formed around Berklee and The New School. Their “e-jazz” combines jazz, funk, hip-hop and electronic production with acoustic instruments, beats, textures and improvisation; their debut It’s Not About Me features Llibert Fortuny.
A second-floor club in the East Village, Nublu 151 is a compact space with a center stage and a balcony that overlooks the performers. The room is dark and grungy with solid acoustics and a disco ball, mostly standing room with a few stools that disappear quickly. The atmosphere is intimate and focused on music, with live sets and DJs spanning jazz, funk, Latin grooves, electronic, and world music. The building's layout supports diverse live performances, and the venue has its own record label. It's a place where musicians gather to play, attracting a crowd of music lovers and creatives. The vibe is laid-back, with a good attitude and openness to different styles going a long way.