Drummer Giuseppe Paradiso leads Meridian 71, a cross-cultural music project blending jazz and improvised music with Mediterranean and West African styles. Meridian 71 is a dynamic and ever-changing musical project with a revolving lineup and a driving vision to use music and sound to inspire, bridge cultures and create links within different traditions.

A native of the southern Italian town Santeramo in Colle, Paradiso formed an early version of the band - which takes its name from Boston’s latitude - just a few years after his move to Boston in 2008. “Boston is the location where I met musicians from different parts of the globe. We are deeply connected and spoke the common language of music together,” reflects Paradiso. “It felt like I had known for a long time that at some point in my life I would have met musicians just like them, way before moving across the Atlantic in 2008. Meridian 71 became the creative laboratory and space to develop this music.”

The band’s three albums - Otherness Collection, Metropolitan Sketches and Parallel Dimensions - are available on streaming platforms.

For this concert, Giuseppe will present a quartet lineup featuring Mark Zaleski on alto saxophone, James Heazelwood-Dale on bass, and Utar Artun on keyboards.

This concert is presented with generous support from the Quincy Arts Council.

$15 in advance, $20 at the door. $10 for students. $5 for EBT/WIC cardholders. Free for kids under 18.