The Coco Quartet

WCT features the unique sounds of the Latin Jazz band Coco Quartet as part of its Music in the Box series WCTwill feature the unique sounds of the Latin Jazz band Coco Quartet as part of its Music in the Box series. Nikki Denner pianist and group leader has played with the Willie Martinez Latin Jazz Band and KJ Denhert’s New York News Band at WCT along with husband Anton. This is her first appearance at WCT fronting her own band. Advance purchase is strongly recommended. Refreshments will be available. www.wctheater.org ABOUT NICKI DENNER - PIANIST Pianist/composer/tap dancer Nicki Denner has played with such diverse artists as Sheila E., Michele Lee, Doc Severinsen, Randy Brecker, KJ Denhert and Savion Glover. She has released three recordings, El Médico de Coquí featuring Julian Llanos (2005), Moliendo Café (2008) and Daydream (2014). She is currently recording two new albums featuring mostly original music for voice, piano trio and jazz quartet to be released in 2026. As a co-leader, she has recorded with the New Jazz Quartet-Tall Grass (2009) and the Nocturno Project -Marhala (2021). She has composed for solo classical piano, animated film and the New Jersey Tap Ensemble of which she was assistant music director and music director for 20 years. Since 2005, she has been the musical director of the band Cocomama, an internationally renown all woman Latin jazz collective which has released 3 albums, Quiero (2015), Woman’s World (2022) and Evolucion (2025), which all feature original works inspired by the music of the Americas. ABOUT ANTON DENNER- WOODWINDS Born in NYC in 1961, Anton Denner began playing the saxophone in 1974. After early studies with Lee Konitz and Joe Lovano, he began to freelance in the New York area in the early ‘80’s, performing at the Village Gate, Visiones, the 55 Bar, Birdland and many other venues. Anton has worked with many of the jazz greats including Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Clifford Jordan, Mel Lewis, Al Foster, Norman Simmons, Brad Meldau, Bill Carrothers, Larry Golding, Terell Stafford Daver Stryker and Bill Stewart. ABOUT JENNIFER VINCENT- BASSIST/CELLIST Jennifer Vincent, bassist and cellist, hs been an active force in. the NYC music scene for well over a decade. She has played with Bertty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, The Boys’ Choir of Harlem, Willie Martinez y La Familia, Son Sublime, the Xavier Cougat orchestra, the Roberto Rodriguez Septet, Carmen Lundy, Harry Whitteaker, Jon Hendricks, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and many other jazz and Latin notables. ABOUT MAYRA CASALES- PERCUSSION Mayra Casales, founder of Cocomama Music, is one of the most versatile percussionists of her generation. Born in Havana, Cuba and raised in Miami, Mayra studied with Carlos "Patato" Valdez. Before long she was performing with some of the biggest names in Latin music such as Celia Cruz, Machito, Joe Cuba, Miguelito Valdez and Tito Puente.