On October 13, the Maximilian Jacobs Trio will kick off the
2026–27 Matinee Idylls series with a performance showcasing classic tunes and original compositions that incorporate elements of jazz, Balkan folk, and classical music.
Weaving together a wide variety of musical traditions sounds like a challenging endeavor, but this experimentation was integral to violinist Maximilian Jacobs’ education as an artist. The Baltimore native—who has performed at the Kennedy Center as well as internationally—studied classical music at the University of Maryland but dabbled in klezmer and jazz during freelance gigs he played to support himself. It was the desire to blend these diverse influences that shaped his own compositions, leading to works like the four-part Chamber Symphony for Jazz Octet, which he wrote during a 2025 residency at Strathmore, which—among other things—used a triple time signature to meld together waltz and zhok, a klezmer circle dance.
The Maximilian Jacobs Trio also draws inspiration from Django Reinhardt, an influential early 20th-century French Romani guitarist and composer credited with shaping the musical genre known as gypsy jazz, one whose work has inspired “Django festivals” in the United States and Europe.
The trio’s afternoon performance this fall will provide audience members with the opportunity not only to hear the ensemble in an intimate setting, but to enjoy a lunch (available for purchase) and post-concert dessert (included with concert ticket). Visit the Hylton Center website to find additional details about tickets and other upcoming Matinee Idylls performances.