Pavel & Direct Contact

Pavel Polanco-Safadit - piano/vocals
Leah Crane - vocalist
Steve Dokken - bass
Matt McGraw - drums
Gerardo Becerra -congas/bongos
David Allee - trumpet
Rich Cohen - saxophone
Freddie Mendoza - trombone

Pavel & Direct Contact is known for energetic, fiery performances, much in the vein of the modern pyro-technicians of today’s Latin Jazz world. Led by Internationally-known Dominican pianist and Chicago Music Awards Nominee, Pavel Polanco-Safadit, Direct Contact brings an unforgettable experience of Latin Jazz, Salsa, and Latin-infused American pop song.  

With a combined experience from around the globe, the band members have played throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. The band is composed of Indy Jazz Hall-of-Famers, studio musicians, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra players, and International artists. These professional musicians have shared the stage with legends such as Ray Charles, Peter Erskine, Kenny G, Dave Valentin, Max Weinberg, Patti LaBelle, Roscoe Mitchell, Gunther Schuller, The Who, The Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, Ben E. King, and Henry Mancini.

Pavel & Direct Contact features vibrant horns, Latin rhythms, and vocals in both Spanish and English. In 2010, Direct Contact released their first album The Other Side (2016). Since then, they have produced four recordings with AireBorn Records: Rush Hour (2017), D’la Calle (2018), Americanisao (2019), and Día Bonito (2021). These compositions by Steve Dokken and Pavel feature David Allee, Leah Crane, Rob Dixon, Matt McGraw, Freddie Mendoza, and Gerardo Beccera.  Along with their single, “You” (2020), these can be found on all platforms. Most recently, the band released an album of their most downloaded & streamed songs called Essentials (2023).

In addition to performing, Pavel has been named "Artist in Residence" at Butler University and Eskenazi Hospital.

With dancing shoes or not, you will be immersed into a world of entertainment!