Join us on Thursdays this fall for the Mizik Ayiti! Residency Series. The first residency will be held by bassist Bobby Raymond and percussionist Markus Schwartz and marks HCX’s inaugural public event in our new home at 35 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.
The 2025 performance season launches at HCX with the Mizik Ayiti! Residency Series. On Thursday evenings, artist-composers host unique sets joined by a rotation of guest artists and ensembles. Performances offer the opportunity to showcase new work and workshop arrangements across the musical landscape, from traditional genres reverberating the strength of the tanbou to the contemporary sound like fusion jazz and electronic music carrying Haitian vibration into the future.
Things kick off this Thursday, October 9
6-9pm (45 min sets at 6:30 & 7:45)
35 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY
—
About the Musicians
Born in Haiti, bassist Bobby Raymond established his musical career in the 1980s alongside progressive Haitian jazz musicians including Ernst Crepsac Marcelin, Buyu Ambroise, Eddy Bourjolly, Joe Charles, Phillipe Charles, Bobby Sanabria, Mino Cinelu, and Eddy Rodriguez. He joined several influential bands including Freefall, Mozayik, Mystik and the Blues In Red Band, collaborating with artists like Emeline Michel, Beethova Obas, and Alan Cave. During the 1990s, Bobby was part of the Blue Bomba Quartet with Robert Aaron, Willie Martinez, and Ismael Bongo Bruno, occasionally joined by legendary Cuban percussionist Carlos “Patato” Valdez. Bobby remains one of the most sought-after bass players in the New York City Haitian music scene.
Native to Denmark, Markus Schwartz is a Grammy-nominated percussionist, recording artist and educator with over twenty-five years of experience studying traditional Haitian religious music. Since the early 1990s, he has traveled frequently to Haiti, following Haitian percussionists on pilgrimages to learn the intricate drumming styles of various lakou. He became a respected drummer at Haitian religious ceremonies and was a member of the groundbreaking Haitian Jazz quintet Mozayik alongside Bobby Raymond. As a first-call percussionist on the NYC Haitian music scene, Markus has released four recordings as a leader and currently performs with Lakou Brooklyn Quartet, Grammy-winner David Sanchez’ Carib project, and Ches Smith’s We All Break.
—
HCX | Mizik Ayiti! Residency
HCX positions this invitational residency as an opportunity to innovate and workshop concepts and works-in-progress, showcase new work, and build networks for artists’ future presentation (e.g. booking, touring) at other cultural institutions and stages.
Rarely do artists receive a consistent opportunity to create and share in “real time”–to develop their ideas in a beta form, experiment, and refine amidst presenting publicly. Over the course of 6 weeks, resident artists receive a platform to fine-tune approaches, activate jam sessions, and explore sonic possibilities while developing relationships with their audiences.
Join us for future Bobby Raymond & Markus Schwartz Mizik Ayiti! Residency performances Thursdays this fall:
October 16, 23, 30 and November 6 and 13.
6-9pm (45 min sets at 6:30 & 7:45)