Sounds of the Future: The Chamber Music of Ajibola Rivers in West Philly

This program will feature several original compositions by Ajibola Rivers. The program celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month, through a fusion of classical traditions with various areas of jazz. The Ajibola Rivers Quintet is comprised of a standard string quartet and double bass. Brief context will be provided for each selection of music.

Ajibola Rivers Quintet

Irina Rostomashvili & Alberta Douglas, violins

Akhmed Manedov, viola

Ajibola Rivers, cello

Brent Edmonson, bass

Ajibola Rivers is a Nigerian-American cellist and bass guitarist from Lafayette Hill, PA, USA. He received his cello performance degree from the Boyer College of Music and Dance in 2016. During his senior year of college he taught himself to play bass guitar and has continued developing professionally ever since. While much of his training is classical in origin, in high school he taught himself how to swing, improvise, and play by ear, opening doors to many genres in communities across the United States and around the world. He is also a self-taught composer and arranger, applying instincts developed from music theory and gigs to his work. When not performing or composing, Ajibola teaches his many students with a passion. He believes that teaching is the highest evolution of art, and he is steadily developing his teaching philosophy while exploring new methods of audience development and community engagement.