Momentum Series: Heard

There are some shows where sitting politely in your chair becomes increasingly difficult.

Heard is one of those bands.

Drawing on rhythms and musical traditions from West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and beyond, Heard creates vibrant, deeply rhythmic music that moves freely between world music and jazz, leaving plenty of room for improvisation, musical conversation and whatever happens in the moment.

And after more than 16 years of making music together, they know how to make those moments happen.

A six-time Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards nominee, Heard was named the 2026 Eddie Awards World Music Group of the Year, recognizing a band that has become one of the region's most distinctive and adventurous musical ensembles.

At the heart of Heard's sound areoriginalband members keyboardist, vocalist and composer Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius,percussionist and vocalistZorkie Nelson,and drummerBrian Melick. Also featured on the bill will be woodwinds playerLaura Andrea Leguía,bassistEvan Jagels and dancer, vocalist and percussionistFelix Nelson. Together they create a sonic landscape filled with layered percussion, soaring woodwinds, jazz interplay, vocals and rhythms built to move.

And yes, we mean that literally.

This is music that may very well get you out of your Caffè Lena chair.

Heard's debut album, Karibu, reached #15 on the WorldJazz charts, earning praise for its combination of sophisticated musicianship and infectious rhythms. Their adventurous follow-up, Flyway, produced by the legendary Joel Moss, continued to expand the band's musical vocabulary and draw critical acclaim.

The Times Union has described Heard's music as taking listeners on “unexpected journeys through the realms of classical, jazz and world music,” while Improv Jazz Nation praised Karibu as “Most Highly Recommended.”

But Heard makes the most sense live.

A groove begins. Percussion joins percussion. A horn answers. Someone takes the music somewhere unexpected. The band follows. And somewhere along the way, the line between jazz concert, global musical journey and dance party gets wonderfully blurry.

SAMPLE SONG

Come hear why Heard was named the 2026 World Music Group of the Year, and come prepared to move.

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