Terraza Big Band

An adventurous New York ensemble, Terraza Big Band plays an original mix of harmonically sophisticated post-bop and modern creative jazz. The group debuted to acclaim, picking up a Grammy nomination for 2019's One Day Wonder. Based in Queens, New York, the Terraza Big Band was formed in 2015 by co-directors saxophonist Michael Thomas and bassist Edward Perez. Prior to forming, Thomas and Perez built their own impressive array of credits. A graduate of the University of Miami's Frost School of Music with a master’s in jazz performance from New England Conservatory, Thomas has been a regular presence on the New York jazz scene since 2011. Along with issuing his own forward-thinking albums, he has played with such luminaries as Miguel Zenón, Dave Liebman, Brian Blade, Jason Palmer, Wayne Shorter, Nicholas Payton, and others. Conversely, Perez studied math at Harvard while pursuing his love of jazz and Latin-traditions. After two years of living in Peru and working with acclaimed Afro-Peruvian artists Eva Ayllón and Juan Medrano, he relocated to Queens. He has worked with an equally rich cadre of performers, including Lee Konitz, Kenny Werner, Seamus Blake, Paquito D’Rivera, and Arturo O’Farrill, to name a few. The pair eventually connected playing gigs in Boston and New York and decided to combine their varied interests into a large ensemble project. Featuring an 18-member roster of some of New York's most creative and forward-thinking improvisers, the Terraza Big Band has held a monthly residency in Jackson Heights, New York since its inception. In 2019, the band released their debut album, One Day Wonder, which featured arrangements composed by Thomas and Perez. The album gained wider attention after picking up a Grammy nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.
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