LIVE at Piedmont Piano Company
JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES
Russell Ferrante Trio
Featuring Steve Schaeffer and David Hughes
Russell Ferrante, continuing his 42 years with Yellowjackets, released a beautiful jazz trio album titled Inflexion in early 2021. Inflexion or inflection comes from the Latin root inflexionem meaning to bend in, to change direction. This music is indeed very personal and intimate and one could say it bends in. The band features the beautiful interplay between Russell Ferrante (piano), David Hughes (bass), and Steve Schaeffer (drums).
$30 General Admission
We are offering a limited number of tickets to attend this performance in person. Advance purchase is required. COVID-19 SAFETY: All ticket holders must show proof of full vaccination (including a booster, if eligible) and wear a mask while inside the piano store.
RUSSELL FERRANTE
Born in San Jose, California in 1952, Russell Ferrante began studying piano at the age of 9 years old. His early musical experiences revolved around the church where his father was the choir director. His interest in jazz and improvisation was kindled in high school and shortly thereafter he began performing with various R&B and jazz groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. The bay area was an exciting place to be in the early 70’s with musicians freely combining musical styles. This exposure to seemingly every kind of music helped prepare Russell for his professional career which began in 1973. It was then that he met guitarist, Robben Ford and toured the U.S. and Europe as part of legendary blues singer, Jimmy Witherspoon's band.
In 1977 Russell moved to Los Angeles in order to continue working with Robben Ford. Within a short time, he was recording and touring with Robben Ford, Joe Farrell, Wayne Shorter, Tom Scott, and Joni Mitchell. It was during this period that, Russell, Robben and Jimmy Haslip co-founded the jazz group, Yellowjackets. Russell also continued working as a freelance writer, arranger and producer for numerous recordings including those by Take Six, Sadao Watanabe, Bobby McFerrin, Michael Franks, Al Jarreau and many others. Presently, Russell continues his 45 year association with Yellowjackets, performing and conducting clinics worldwide. During his career Russell has received eighteen Grammy nominations and received two Grammy awards.
DAVID HUGHES
David Hughes was born and raised in Sweden but is now based in Los Angeles, California. After studies at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, he headed for Hollywood and the Bass Institute of Technology, BIT. After receiving the BIT Outstanding Student Award, Hughes soon joined the teaching staff and began to explore life as a studio and live musician. He has taught at Los Angeles Music Academy (LAMA), University of Southern California (USC), and California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
David received his first important break when Wayne Henderson of the legendary Jazz Crusaders asked him to join the band. Other credits include David Benoit, Christopher Cross, Melissa Etheridge, and Burt Bacharach. He has played on sessions for TV shows such as “Baywatch” and for films such as Old School, in which he also appeared.
Hughes has released seven solo CDs and numerous singles and music videos. The music ranges from jazz to funk and fusion and pop/rock. Currently Hughes fills his schedule with composing, recording sessions, and performances spanning jazz to rock and everything in between.
STEVE SCHAEFFER
Steve Schaeffer is a noted drummer who started his career in NYC. At the age of 17, he joined the Al Cohn / Zoot Sims Quintet at the famed Half Note Jazz Club. Three years later, he became part of Sarah Vaughn's trio, which featured Chick Corea on piano.
Steve also worked with jazz greats, such as, Joe Henderson, Tom Scott, and Randy and Michael Brecker. In the mid 1970's, he became part of Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass and in 1979, Steve, along with bassist Abraham Laboriel, were the rhythm section on Alpert’s biggest hit, “Rise”.
Steve soon became one of LA’s busiest recording musicians, playing on more than 1500 feature films and soundtracks, such as On Golden Pond, Air Force One, The Edge, Sleepless in Seattle, and Star Wars VII & VIII. He has played on numerous gold and platinum recordings that range from Barbra Streisand’s Broadway albums to Toots Thielemans, Brazil 2. Steve currently plays with the Russell Ferrante Trio which includes Mike Valerio on bass and Russell on piano.