The Latin Roots of Jazz are deep. The parallel evolution of traditional and popular Latin American music with that of Jazz has greatly informed both streams and has produced some of the most exciting and moving music of the last 120 years. The JS Quartet always takes us on an imaginative musical journey that encompasses an astounding variety of rhythms and styles.

Pianist/keyboardist, singer, composer, arranger Matt Jenson lights up the connection between roots-reggae and soul-jazz with his Mix Up Mix Up band featuring guitarist Will Bernard, trombonist Jeff Cressman, drummer Reese Bullen and bassist Gillian Harwin. The group presents original compositions and creative re-workings of pop, jazz and reggae anthems by Bob Marley, Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, Marvin Gaye, George Gershwin, Chopin and more.

You may know Dillon Vado as the vibraphonist who earned 1st place in Jazz Search West 2014, or the vibraphonist/percussionist in Alan Hall’s band Ratatet, or as the drummer and sideman for many people like Jeff Denson, Sandy Cressman, Jovino Santos Neto and Art Lande. But this concert you can hear Dillon play drums with his newest project, Never Weather, as they celebrate a year of playing together and the finishing of their debut record, Blissonance.

3-time Latin Grammy nominee Jovino Santos Neto returns to the Bay Area for a single performance with his Quinteto. The Brazilian-born pianist and composer will be joined by Dillon Vado on vibraphone, Peter Barshay on bass, David Flores on drums and Ami Molinelli on percussion. Their repertoire covers a wide spectrum of Brazilian styles, from Jovino’s self-propelling compositions to works by Hermeto Pascoal, Jobim and other composers.

Ensemble 1828 — violinist Nicole Oswald, cellist Isaac Pastor-Chermak, and pianist Alison Lee — makes their debut with an eight-concert tour throughout Northern California in Summer 2019. Honoring Schubert’s last and most productive year with their name, Ensemble 1828 will present an all-Schubert program, highlighting two pieces composed in their namesake year and featuring varied groupings of violin, cello and piano. Come for the timeless solo piano impromptus, stay for the intimate duos for cello and piano and violin and piano, and come back after intermission for the epic, symphonic Piano Trio No.2.  

Grammy winning New Zealand born pianist and arranger Alan Broadbent returns to the piano store in a duo with celebrated bassist Harvie S for what will surely be a sold out show. Alan is acclaimed for his work with Irene Kral, Diana Krall, and Natalie Cole and has worked with artists as diverse as Glenn Frey and Sir Paul McCartney. Harvie S has performed and recorded with the likes of Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon and Tony Bennett, just to name a few. They join together here in a collaboration that is sure to be filled with beauty and intrigue.

Back by popular demand, internationally renowned jazz flutist, Ali Ryerson, is excited to return to Piedmont Piano Company with her longtime colleagues, Steve Rudolph on piano, John Wiitala on bass, and Akira Tana on drums. The quartet comes to Oakland directly following their weeklong residency at Hidden Valley Music Seminars on the Monterey Peninsula, where Ryerson conducts her annual jazz flute masterclass.

An accomplished pianist and organist playing with an amazing technical facility and a swing feel like no other, Jake Shapiro is quickly gaining acclaim as one of the top pianists of his generation.  He was a Semi-Finalist in the 2018 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition. Danielle Wertz earned a Bachelor's Degree in Studio Music and Jazz Vocal Performance. In 2017 she relocated to Northern California and currently studies privately there with Dann Zinn. She was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition.

The Dann Zinn Band features Dann Zinn on tenor and soprano saxophone, Taylor Eigsti on piano, Dan Robbins on bass, and Mark Ferber on drums.  This performance is a CD release concert for Dann’s newest recording, Day Of Reckoning, on Origin Records. The music is a dynamic blend of Contemporary Jazz, World Music, and Americana, with memorable melodies and intense improvisations.  “…demanding new material and game virtuosity combine for a thrilling, seat-of-the-pants set…” SFCV

Joel Tepper performs an evening of solo classical piano music. The program consists of Haydn’s Sonata in C Major Hob.XVI:35, Chopin’s Nocturne in Eb Major Opus 55 No. 2, Debussy’s 1st Arabesque, the Brahms Sonata in F Minor Opus 5 No. 3, and three pieces by Justin Levitt, an award winning Contra Costa County composer.  

8-time Grammy Nominee Tierney Sutton teams up with pianist Tamir Hendelman for a special duo evening, following their recent tours to Japan and Italy.  Sutton is heralded for her abilities as a jazz storyteller and her ability to use her voice as an instrument.  Hendelman is known for his sense of swing, imaginative arranging, sensitive touch and his work with vocalists from Natalie Cole to Barbra Streisand.  Together the duo will draw on sources from Bill Evans to Nancy Wilson, Chick Corea to Cy Coleman and more.

Celebrates the release of Two Weeks Inside Studio D

Don’t miss this intimate evening, celebrating the release of Two Weeks Inside Studio D, produced at Fantasy Studios, which features 3 originals by Tammy L. Hall. She will also be sharing some of her favorite songs and moments in live and recording performances. She will be joined by Ron Belcher (bass), Ruthie Price (drums), and special guests Rhonda Benin (vocals) and Kristen Strom (sax)

For the past decade vibraphonist and composer Tyler Blanton has garnered notice as a rising star in the New York Jazz scene. Known for his distinctly lyrical and nuanced sound on the vibraphone, Blanton has been praised as "an heir to the swinging and melodically charged throne of post-bop masters such as Gary Burton and Bobby Hutcherson."  He has toured the US, Europe, and Asia both as a leader and as a featured guest artist and received press from the NY Times, Jazztimes, Village Voice, Hot House, LA Times, and Downbeat Magazine. His third record as a leader is due for release in Spring of 2019 on Destiny Records which consists of an adventurous program of original compositions and tastefully delivered jazz standards. This tour finds him in the company of a stellar band consisting of pianist Glenn Zaleski, bassist Aidan Carroll, and drummer Christian Euman. 

Benefit Concert

The Young People’s Symphony of Berkeley will hold a benefit concert to raise funds to support their music scholarship program.  It will feature their 2019 concerto winner Isabelle Brown-Lyden, cello with Caroline Turner, oboe and Ananya Navale, flute.  Guest artists will be composer/pianist Davide Verotta, pianist Laura Magnani,  pianist Martin Morley and the piano trio "Caverca" featuring Carol Braves, violin, Verna Lim, piano and Catherine Jolly, cello.

Philip Aaberg brings his eclectic musical background to the piano store for one special evening of solo piano. Hear the Great Northern train thundering across the High Plains of Montana, roll down the Marias River and listen to Chicago Breakdown and Fooled Around and Fell in Love from Aaberg’s latest CD Versatile. He often says, "it's all one music,“ but rarely can an artist cover this kind of musical ground so well.

Edward Simon (piano), Art Lande (piano), Peter Barshay (bass), and Alan Hall (drums) join forces for a musical adventure heading in many interesting and unpredictable directions. Each musician contributes original compositions and arrangements to this new ensemble. Don’t miss this evening of music to hear where they go.

Vocalist Jackie Ryan, pianist Larry Vuckovich, and bassist Jeff Chambers come together for an intimate trio format of varied jazz styles and tempos. Their music has richness and depth, featuring jazz classics, rare standards, South American bolerso, Brazilian music, blues, and more. Don’t miss it! Refreshments will be served.

In 2016, pianist Laurence Hobgood launched The Laurence Hobgood Trio with the album Honor Thy Fathers, a musical tribute not only to Hobgood’s own father, but to all of the musicians who have inspired him. Howard Reich had this to say in the Chicago Tribune about a recent performance: Just as Honor Thy Fathers can be considered Hobgood's strongest recording to date, this band may provide his best musical forum yet. He will be joined by current members bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Jared Schonig.

Grammy winner and American Pianists Association Cole Porter Fellow Sullivan Fortner brings his trio featuring Ameen Saleem on bass and Jeremy 'Bean' Clemons on drums to Piedmont Piano Company. The trio has been touring all over the country celebrating their recent release Moments Preserved on Impulse records. “There’s evidence here of an artist with his own distinct style.” – New York Times