Raphael Rogiński / Sarah Hughes
About the event
Raphael Roginski cover artwork by Marcin Janusz
Wednesday October 21 * doors at 7, show at 7:30 * $20-30 * TICKETS
“ Raphael Rogiński Plays John Coltrane and Langston Hughes” is a solo program by one of Poland’s most important contemporary guitarists and composers, blending reinterpretations of John Coltrane’s works with musical reflections on the poetry of Langston Hughes. Originally released in 2015 by Bôłt Records as part of the Populista series, the project was reissued in 2024 by Unsound in an expanded version featuring four new recordings.The concert is a fully solo performance by Rogiński on electric guitar – no overdubs, no effects – characterized by his distinctive fusion of blues, jazz, and traditional music from around the world. The program combines Coltrane reinterpretations with original improvisations and musical responses to Hughes’s poetry, creating a deeply spiritual and contemplative live experience.
The album Plays John Coltrane and Langston Hughes established Rogiński as one of the most original voices in contemporary guitar music. His versions of Coltrane’s pieces – slowed down, polyphonic, full of tension and inner silence – create an intimate, meditative concert that appeals equally to jazz listeners and audiences interested in alternative, experimental, or contemporary music. The 2024 reissue, recorded after a 52-concert tour, showcases an even more mature and nuanced approach to the material.
Sarah Hughes is a performing and visual artist. She has 26 years of experience playing the alto saxophone and also doubles on the soprano saxophone, flute, and clarinet. She received training in classical saxophone performance from Dale Underwood at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music education in 2008. In 2015, Hughes earned a master’s degree in jazz saxophone performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she studied with Jerry Bergonzi, Ran Blake, Anthony Coleman, and Donny McCaslin. Hughes’ music is intuitive and genre-liberated while displaying an unquestionable command of her instrument and musical vocabulary. Her improvisations and compositions are infused with knowledge of both traditional and contemporary approaches and combine a love for “The Greats” with a drive to innovate.
Raphael Rogiński's tour is supported by the Polish Cultural Institute New York.
