FRANK HATCH FREE FIRST THURSDAYS: APRIL

Fabiola Méndez is a Puerto Rican cuatrista, singer, composer, and educator that has taken part in a musical and cultural movement, crossing over the lines of genres such as folk, jazz & Afro-Caribbean. Her musicality and original compositions take the listener on a journey through her identities and culture, while celebrating and exploring the versatility of the cuatro puertorriqueño. Recognized for being the first student to graduate from Berklee College of Music with the cuatro as principal instrument (2018), Fabiola performs nationally and internationally and works as a composer for animated children’s show Alma's Way (PBS Kids). She is a recipient of the Quincy Jones Award, the Brother Thomas Fellowship, ASCAP Lucille and Jack Yellen Award 2022, a Children's and Family Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Interactive Media, and being selected “Latin Artist of the Year 2023” by the Boston Music Awards.

Jonathan Suazo Award-winning saxophonist / composer / cultural advocate who also leads his own project entitled RICANO, a unique afro Caribbean Jazz concept that blends the sounds of Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. A Berklee Global Jazz Institute graduate, he’s received many honors including being named as one of the top ten emerging jazz artists of 2023 by the GRAMMYS and having his debut album “Ricano” listed at #6 in the best Jazz albums of 2023 by The New York Times. He's won the South Arts Jazz Road Tours Grant, the New Music USA Creator Fund Grant, A full tuition Scholarship to attend the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Masters Program, The Project Support Grant for Program Alumni by the Fundacion Banco Popular for his Ricano album and the Berklee Urban Service Award for using the arts to support humanitarianism. Suazo’s resume includes collaborations / performances with Miguel Zenón, Terri Lyne Carrington, David Sánchez, Charlie Sepúlveda, Gonzalo Grau, Alex Alvear, Ricky Rodriguez, Ileana Cabra (iLÉ), Calma Carmona, Rakalam Bob Moses, Joe Lovano, Paoli Mejias, Humberto Ramirez, David Rivera, Tito Matos, Ricardo Pons, William Cepeda, Jon Secada, Pedro Capó, Obie Bermudez, Hans Glawischnig, Humberto Ramirez, Silverio Perez, Tony Escapa; and he’s led his and at the Santo Domingo Jazz Festival, Martinique Jazz Fest, Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals, Teatro Francisco Arriví (Puerto Rico), Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Fest (Anfiteatro Tito Puente), Springfield Jazz Fest, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Elephant Room Austin TX, SXSW 2023, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and many more.