Roots In Motion was founded on an unwavering belief in the importance of live music, and the continued relevance of Jazz and other roots musics. The mission of Roots in Motion is to cultivate opportunities for live performances in stimulating environments for musicians and audiences alike. The connection between audience and performer is the key element of any performance and it is our goal to present music in environments that facilitate this connection. Our primary focus is on presenting music that is approachable and inviting to casual listeners as well as enthusiasts. An all too common perception is that jazz is a complex and challenging music which is uninviting to the uninitiated. Roots In Motion presents jazz and other music that is not only accessible, but usually familiar on many levels. Jazz developed in parallel to hymns, parade music, and all kinds of dance music played in fun and informal settings. All forms of American popular music from swing, RnB, rock n roll, Soul, Funk, and Hip Hip share common roots with jazz, along with Celtic influenced Bluegrass and Country music. Moreover, the music’s roots go beyond American music, and one can find many shared elements between jazz and Caribbean, Afro Cuban and Brazilian music. We refer to all of the aforementioned as Roots Music, with the common thread being the presence of a rhythmic drive which has the power to lift spirits, to harmonize and to unify.

Roots In Motion has been active since 2010. During this period Dan Nicholas was based in the Netherlands, where he was very active producing concerts as well as performing. The organization grew out of a desire to take advantage of the great number of major American and International artists traveling in Europe. Nicholas returned to the USA in 2020 and In 2023 Roots In Motion began an ongoing collaboration with Colby College, presenting concerts at the Greene Block and Studios in downtown Waterville Maine. This collaboration is part of a long-term goal of Roots In Motion to bring musicians from NYC and elsewhere to perform in the area. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to cultivate a network of affiliated venues in the Northeast USA, enabling tours for traveling artists with concerts in multiple locations.

Alongside concerts Roots in Motion has always been proactive with educational initiatives, organizing workshops, lectures, and lessons with visiting artists, all of which offer an important contribution to art and culture, while creating work opportunities for traveling artists.

Some of the artists presented by Roots In Motion in concert include:

Dr. Barry Harris

Peter Bernstein/Larry Goldings/Bill Stewart Trio

Johnny O’Neal

Ed Cherry

Benito Gonzalez

Jeremy Pelt

Virginia MacDonald

Vincent Herring

Miki Yamanaka

And many more…

Some of the diverse artists featured in Roots In Motion workshops include:

Dr Barry Harris

Jason Marsalis

Ari Hoenig

Peter Bernstein

Leon Parker

Bill Stewart

And many more…