Drawing Gatsby: A Live Illustrated Concert

Benjamin Lacombe is a French author and illustrator, born in Paris on July 12, 1982. He is considered one of the leading figures of the new generation of French illustration.

In 2001, he began his studies at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD) in Paris. While still a student, he worked in advertising and animation. At the age of nineteen, he published his first graphic novel, followed by several illustrated books.

His graduation project, Cerise Griotte (Cherry and Olive), became his first children’s book. It was published by Seuil Jeunesse in March 2006, then by Walker Books in the United States the following year, and was selected as one of Time magazine’s “10 Best Children’s Books” in 2007.

Since then, Benjamin Lacombe has written and illustrated more than thirty books, with over three million copies sold worldwide. Many of his works have been translated into more than ten languages, including Généalogie d’une Sorcière (Genealogy of a Witch), L’Herbier des Fées (The Fairy Herbarium), Les Contes Macabres (Tales of the Macabre), Les Fantômes du Japon (The Ghosts of Japan), Frida, Monsieur le Lapin Blanc (Mister White Rabbit), Dorian Gray, and L’Enfance du Père Noël (The Childhood of Santa Claus).

His work is regularly exhibited in prestigious museums and galleries around the world, including Museo ABC (Madrid), the Louvre-Lens, the Château de Chambord, Tenoha (Milan), Haven Gallery (New York), Dorothy Circus (Rome), Maruzen (Tokyo), Gallery Nucleus (Los Angeles), and his main gallery, Galerie Daniel Maghen in Paris.

Benjamin Lacombe lives and works in Paris with his dogs and cat, Edward, Jingu and Emily who often make discreet appearances in his books.

Peter Yarin is a pianist, arranger and composer based in New York City. Known as a specialist in early 20th century jazz styles, Peter plays piano for Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, and can be seen weekly at Birdland in NYC with that band, often featured as a soloist. With Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks he has performed or recorded with Regina Spektor, Elvis Costello, Liza Minnelli, St. Vincent, Rufus Wainwright, Michael Feinstein, and many others.

Peter has recorded on numerous film and television soundtracks, including Killers of the Flower Moon, Joker, Eleanor the Great, The Queen’s Gambit, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. His recordings for Boardwalk Empire earned him a place on its Grammy-winning soundtrack album.

Equally at home as an improviser and interpreter of written music, Peter also leads his own jazz trio, featuring modern takes and original compositions. His new album of Tchaikovsky arrangements “Seasons: Past and Present” will be released later this year.

Peter  is also a BMI affiliated songwriter and has composed several works for musical theater. He attended NYU and is on faculty at the Diller-Quaile School of Music in NYC. For more info: www.peteryarin.com IG @peteryarin

Jared Soldiviero enjoys a multi-faceted freelance career playing Broadway, modern and classical music in his hometown, New York City.

For over 20 years, he has subbed regularly on Broadway, including at The Great Gatsby, Days of Wine and Roses, Floyd Collins, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd, Camelot, and many more. Before 2020, he performed with the national tour of Les Misérables, giving over 750 performances across the USA and Canada.

As an orchestral musician, Jared has appeared with New Jersey Symphony, Albany Symphony, Springfield Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Princeton Symphony and Hartford Symphony.

Jared’s interest in modern and contemporary music led to a long association with Lucerne Festival, including performances under conductors Pierre Boulez, Simon Rattle, Riccardo Chailly, Peter Eötvös, Susanna Mälkki and John Adams. Among the many world premieres Jared has taken part in, highlights include works from Steven Stucky, Charles Wuorinen, Timo Andres, Sally Beamish, Stuart Greenbaum and Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate.

Jared has recorded orchestral, modern and pop music, with releases ranging from Philip Glass’ Symphony no. 5 (with NOVUS NY) and music by Viet Cuong (with Albany Symphony) to the complete percussion music of Fritz Hauser, and Paul Simon’s Stranger to Stranger.

Damian Jermaine Thompson is a classically trained stage, film, and television actor. Born in Kingston, Jamaica and partly raised in Miami, FL, he now resides in New York City. Mr. Thompson is a 2022 Connecticut Critics Choice award winner for outstanding lead actor in a play, a 2018 NAACP award winner for his performance in Fly (the story of the Tuskegee Airmen), and a 2012 leading actor Drammy Award winner for his performance in the Brother/Sister Plays at Portland Playhouse in Oregon. He has had the pleasure of performing for both the Obama’s and the Clinton’s at the Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC and Off-Broadway in New York City. His short film BLACK? (for which he wrote, produced, and co-starred in) won best film at the New York Premiere film festival, and was an official selection at numerous festivals including the International Black Film festival, the Orlando Film Festival, and the Albuquerque Film Festival. His work can currently be seen in the National Geographic special Clotilda: The Last Slave Ship and the Netflix feature Wedding Season. Facebook/Instagram: damianthompsonactor