Mon Mar 16
Gene Perla Trio with Special Guest Viktorija Gecyte - Women in Jazz Month
7PM / $25 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
Gene Perla
Master bassist Gene Perla tours with his trio and special guest Viktorija Gecyte, a Paris-based singer of Lithuanian origin whose authenticity and poetic voice make this new-record performance a rare live encounter.
As one reviewer put it, Viktorija Gecyte—known as Vik—“is the real deal: a singer who makes every word count” (JazzTimes), while Gene Perla is hailed as “a bassist whose sound is orchestral in scope and spirit” (DownBeat).
Together with the Gene Perla Trio, they present a program that blends fresh compositions with reimagined standards—driven by the unmistakable authority of Gene’s bass lines and the luminous lyricism of Vik’s vocals.
Gene Perla is a master jazz bassist whose sound combines depth, authority, and poetry—instantly recognizable and deeply expressive. Raised in New Jersey, he studied classical piano and trombone before choosing bass as his primary instrument. After attending Berklee College of Music, he moved to New York City, where he quickly became an integral part of the jazz scene, performing and recording with legends such as Elvin Jones, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and many others.
In the 1970s, Gene helped shape the direction of modern jazz not only as a performer, but also as a producer and entrepreneur. He founded record and publishing companies, co-created the influential trio Stone Alliance, and toured extensively throughout South America and Europe, gaining first-hand experience in booking, production, and artist development. His creative range has also extended to Broadway sound design—including work on the Tony Award-winning City of Angels—as well as studio engineering, digital media, and education.
Today, Gene remains as active and curious as ever, performing, producing, and mentoring the next generation through his work at Lehigh University and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.
Special guest Viktorija “Vik” Gecyte is one of those rare jazz voices that feels fully formed—luminous, grounded, and effortlessly expressive. Lithuanian-born and Paris-based, she brings a refined yet deeply authentic presence to every stage, often described as “filling the room with a dusky, easy voice that seems to come from nowhere and go everywhere.” She grew up in Vilnius surrounded by music, performing from an early age, discovering jazz in her teens, and traveling across Lithuania to hear the music live—an early hunger for improvisation and connection that still defines her sound today.
For more than fifteen years, Vik has shared a rare musical bond with Gene Perla. Their collaboration—documented across several recordings, including In the Moment (praised by Couleurs Jazz as “a major record”)—showcases her storytelling artistry alongside a rhythm section that bridges generations and continents. Their latest project includes the EP Mother, featuring two of Gene’s original compositions and a haunting title track inspired by texts from avant-garde filmmaker Jonas Mekas.
Viktorija has performed throughout Europe, North America, and beyond, bringing her singular blend of folk roots, swing, blues, and poetic nuance to audiences worldwide. Reviewers often call her “an angel voice” and “a class act,” but what truly defines her artistry is the balance of poise and spontaneity. She doesn’t decorate melodies—she tells stories. Each phrase breathes, every silence matters, and the result is the kind of intimate jazz experience that draws the room in and keeps it listening.
7PM / $25 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
1. Final sale, no refunds, not transferable.
2. $15 food/beverage minimum per person not included in ticket price.
3. Seating first come at the door. Doors open 6 PM & 8:45 PM respectively Monday thru Saturday, and 4:30 PM & 7:15 PM Sundays.
4. No Photography or Recording of any kind during the performance.
5. Keep conversation to a minimum during the performance.