Many musicians would be content with being one of the most in–demand drummers on the scene today – but not Ulysses Owens Jr., who continues to burnish his credentials as a composer, bandleader, producer and educator. From his GRAMMY Award–winning performances with the Christian McBride Trio and Big Band to world tours with Kurt Elling and Joey Alexander, Owens has been a crucial participant in some of the most successful jazz ensembles of the 21st century. As a leader, he’s released five albums including Songs of Freedom (2019) with vocal performances by Rene Marie, Alicia Olatuja, and Theo Bleckmann; and four more CDs with the New Century Jazz Quintet, the Japan–based group he co–leads with pianist Takeshi Ohbayashi. Owens is the creator of such ambitious works as Ulysses in 3, a multi-disciplinary performance piece based on James Joyce’ Ulysses and presented in 2015 at the Park Avenue Armory Conservancy; and the seven–movement suite Stages of Us, commissioned by Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art for the MoMA Summer Garden Series. “Generation Y” is an exciting new project from this gifted renaissance man of jazz; the ensemble includes rising–star saxophonist Alexa Tarantino, whose debut album as a leader is out now on Posi–Tone Records.  Ulysses Owens Jr. – drums Alexa Tarantino – saxophone Drew Anderson – trumpet Luther Allison – piano Philip Norris – bass