Sat May 24
Pavel & Direct Contact • Dance Set with a Special Salute to Cuba
9:30PM / $10 - $20 | $3.50 Fees Get Tickets
Pavel & Direct Contact - Dance Music
Pavel Polanco-Safadit - piano/vocals
Leah Crane - vocals
Steve Dokken - bass
Matt McGraw - drums
Gerardo Becerra - percussion
Andre Rosa Artis - percussion
David Allee - trumpet
Rich Cohen - saxophone
Rich Dole - trombone
Let the music take you on a journey filled with passion, groove and energy. Feel the electric sounds of Pavel & Direct Contact as they bring you an extraordinary mix of originals, American pop-infused tunes, and a heartfelt tribute to Cuba, the largest island of the Caribbean.
Pavel & Direct Contact will transport you to the vibrant streets of Havana while feeling the pulse of modern pop culture. Showcasing the folklore, songs of Irakere, Los Van Van, Buena Vista Social Club and MORE!
Whether you're dancing to the powerful salsa rhythms or swaying to the tropical melodies, this is an experience you won't want to miss.
Special guests: Tony Artis, Iris Rosa and the Executive Director of the Indianapolis International airport, Mario Rodríguez.
Come for the music, stay for the magic. Let's celebrate Cuba together!
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!
9:30PM / $10 - $20 | $3.50 Fees Get Tickets