The Vijay Iyer Quartet
Ticket price to be announced. Student tickets always $11. Eligible for CLE Credit.
“…ability to connect with each other almost telepathically.” – The New York Times
Some performances—especially jazz—invite you to surrender the need to know what’s coming next. You stop trying to predict the next note and simply hold your breath, waiting to discover where the music will lead. That uncertainty is the thrill: performers and audience alike following the sound somewhere unexpected, until you find yourself wondering, How did they do that?
The Vijay Iyer Quartet lives in that space of possibility. Performing compositions by composer-pianist Vijay Iyer, the ensemble reveals new possibilities in the music each time it takes the stage.
Voted DownBeat‘s Jazz Artist of the Year four times and a MacArthur Fellow, Iyer has spent decades expanding the possibilities of the jazz quartet. His celebrated trio with bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Tyshawn Sorey was praised by The New York Times as “one of the best bands in jazz.”
Building on three decades of musical collaboration and experimentation, Iyer expanded the ensemble in 2025 with the addition of trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, a longtime collaborator and member of one of Afro-Latin music’s most revered musical families.
Together, the quartet combines acoustic instruments with Fender Rhodes and electronics, creating music that is fearless, unpredictable, and constantly unfolding.
Why We’re Presenting This
At the heart of this quartet is a simple but increasingly rare act: listening deeply and responding thoughtfully. Each musician brings a distinct voice, yet what makes the performance remarkable is what happens between them—the trust, attention, and willingness to follow an idea somewhere unexpected.
In a cultural moment full of noise and distraction, that feels like something worth experiencing together. The music rewards sustained attention and invites audiences into curious discovery. These skills matter far beyond the stage: listening closely, adapting in real time, building on the ideas of others, and creating something together that none of us could create alone.
Vijay Iyer’s relationship with Carolina Performing Arts stretches back to the organization’s earliest years, including being the first artist CPA commissioned to create new work. Today, in addition to being one of the most influential musicians of his generation, he is also an educator whose students explore ideas of creativity, inquiry, and collaboration in the classroom.
Event Details
- Runtime: approximately 75-90 minutes, with no intermission
- Late seating policy: to be announced
- Additional information: visit our FAQ page
About the Artists
Discount Information
We offer several discounts for CPA series performances only. Partner and rental events are not eligible.
Important Notes
- Discounts must be applied at the time of purchase and cannot be added retroactively.
- Only one discount can be used per order.
- Enter discount code before adding tickets to cart.*
UNC-Chapel Hill Students
$11 ticketsZones 3, 4 & 5
UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty & Staff
25% offUNCRET2627 Retired faculty/staff
UNC Health Staff
25% offCarolina Alumni Members
15% offSeniors (65+)
15% offNon-UNC Students
K–College, statewide
$11 ticketsZones 3, 4 & 5
Military & First Responders
15% off*We reserve the right to cancel tickets that do not follow these guidelines.