The ensemble generally includes “5 saxophones, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, piano, guitar, bass, drums, congas, bongos, singers, singers and more singers.” IC Express performs everything from Bossa Nova to BeBop to Middle Eastern and Afro-Cuban grooves, while its vocalists (including frequent guests such as Smader Levi and Fatima) are often featured in any of seven languages. Diversity extends to gender as well with several women holding down horn assignments.  

For their Jazz Improv set in October, the setlist reflected the band’s commitment to both the jazz tradition and global influences—Brubeck’s “Nomad” (from Jazz Impressions of Eurasia) featuring Matt Snyder’s swirling clarinet and Smadar’s haunting vocals; Ellington’s “I’m Beginning to See the Light” with a trio of voices, including Ralph Revello; Revello’s own “Take the J Train;” an inventive arrangement of Strayhorn’s “Chelsea Bridge;” and a bilingual rendition of “Night in Tunisia” featuring vocals from Smadar (Arabic) and Rhoda Dunlap (English).  At Il Campanello, expect to hear the music of Ray Barretto, Duke Ellington and Beyonce (all in on night!), along with Arabic hip hop, old school salsa, tango and jazz fusion.

Smader Levi. Smader’s background is a perfect fit to the world fusion of IC Express. The Israeli-Moroccan singer grew up near Gaza, and after serving her term in the Israeli Army embarked on a career in music described as “pan-Mediterranean music peppered with a gypsy sound.” The multi-lingual vocalist performs her own compositions as well as interpretations of traditional tunes in Hebrew, Arabic and Ladino. In 2000 she formed her own project in New York City with Israeli, Turkish and Arab musicians, seeking to bring a Mediterranean aesthetic to music beyond the confines of culture and religion. In 2004, Smadar recorded her self-titled debut album, Smadar. In February 2006, the international nonprofit Seeds of Peace honored Smadar for "uniting cultures to achieve peace through music." She has performed at such Manhattan venues including Carnegie Hall, the Knitting Factory and Joe’s Pub, and at the San Francisco World Music Festival.

New York-born, Puerto Rican king of Afro-Cuban percussion Bobby Sanabria was a protégé of the great Tito Puente. Sanabria has worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Mongo Santamaria and Paquito D’Rivera, and has appeared on Grammy-nominated albums including the Mambo Kings soundtrack.

A multi-Grammy nominee himself, Sanabria grew up in the Fort Apache neighborhood of The South Bronx and attended the Berklee College of Music. In addition to leading a variety of Latin and Brazilian ensembles, Sanabria is a dedicated educator, having served for many years as an Associate Professor at the New School University's Jazz & Contemporary Music Program and as Professor at Manhattan School of Music. Regardless of whether he is hitting on salsa, bop or soulful ballads, Sanabria is always a compelling, polyrhythmic performer. 

Compelling, polyrhythmic, toe-tapping fun? Check out the IC Express on Saturday night, December 15th, 10 pm at Il Campanello.  

Il Campanello is located at 136 W. 31st Street near Penn Station and Madison Square Gardens in Manhattan; (212) 695-6111; www.ilcampanelloristorante.com.  More about IC Express at www.icexpressband.com