Art of Solo: James Brandon Lewis, Nicole Mitchell, Janel Leppin, Jenna Camille, Kalia Vandever, Val Jeanty, Shara Lunon, and Alexis Marcelo

Art of Solo is an individual classical music project presented in New York City, including performances at Roulette. The series frames the solo set as a site for composition and improvisation, often placing the artist in conversation with peers across the city’s creative music scene.

James Brandon Lewis is an American jazz saxophonist and composer whose work balances written structure with open improvisation. In New York City he is heard at the Village Vanguard, where he leads the James Brandon Lewis Quartet in repertory that highlights his arranging and ensemble direction.

Janel Leppin is an American cellist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist whose work moves between contemporary classical practice and the vocabularies of free jazz and improvisation. Active internationally since the mid-2000s, she has presented original projects in museum and performing-arts contexts and collaborated with artists including Art of Solo, James Brandon Lewis, and Nicole Mitchell.

Jenna Camille is a New York City–based classical musician whose work often moves between notated repertoire and the open forms of contemporary improvisation. She has appeared at Roulette on multi-artist programs such as Art of Solo, sharing the bill with figures including James Brandon Lewis, Nicole Mitchell, Janel Leppin, Kalia Vandever, Val Jeanty, Shara Lunon, and Alexis Marcelo.

Kalia Vandever is an individual artist whose work sits between Rock/Pop framing and the ambient jazz tags that follow her on streaming platforms. In New York City she has appeared on bills at LPR (Le Poisson Rouge), alongside acts and themed nights ranging from Y2K Party and One Direction Night to The Black Queen and Junior Varsity.

Val Jeanty is an individual artist working in a classical context, appearing on New York City bills that blur the line between composed music and open-form performance. At Roulette, she has shared the program with Art of Solo and artists including James Brandon Lewis, Nicole Mitchell, Janel Leppin, Jenna Camille, Kalia Vandever, Shara Lunon, and Alexis Marcelo.