SONGS & STORIES SERIES
Conductor, operatic tenor, and composer Darita Seth shares stories about advocating for BIPOC and other marginalized communities through choral music, singing all over the world, and weight-lifting. Accompanied by Carl Oser, followed by audience Q & A. Hosted by vocalist Sharmila G. Lash.

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES

Art Lande’s solo piano concerts are rare, special occasions and personal offerings of everything he has to give. This Artful evening will be a journey through loosely charted territory with plenty of side road jaunts and unscripted excursions where captivating characters, places, and events co-mingle. The audience will hear some jazz, his own compositions, improvisation, spoken word, and anything that touches his heart in the space in the moment.

Remember the 80's, when Annie Lennox’s powerhouse vocals ruled? Get ready to groove anew as Kristin puts her spin on 12 Eurythmics classics. Bassist, vocalist, arranger and fun facilitator Kristin Korb returns to the piano store to celebrate her new project, Sweet Dreams, paying tribute to The Eurythmics with her own signature style. Scheduled for release on October 25, 2024 (Giant Sheep Music), Kristin celebrates with the unique opportunity to enjoy the music before the rest of the world hears it. Joining Kristin are local legend Mary Fettig (woodwinds) and the one and only Deszon Claiborne (drums). With Andy Langham on the piano, this band just doesn't get any better.

Saxophonist/Arranger Michael O’Neill takes a trip on the Latin side with Synergy, the newest album of classic pop and soul songs reimagined with an array of Afro-Latin grooves, featuring 11-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Tony Lindsay, best known for his nearly two-decade tenure with Santana. The all-star band includes trumpeter Erik Jekabson, pianist John R. Burr, bassist Dan Feiszli, drummer Jason Lewis, and percussionist Omar Ledezma.

TWO SHOWS 5:30pm / 8pm

3-time Grammy nominee and international vocal powerhouse Roberta Gambarini teams up with celebrated pianist Tamir Hendelman in an intimate duo setting, celebrating the Great American Songbook, bebop evergreens, lesser-known music by Jobim, and more. Roberta first met Tamir at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, and he recorded on her Easy To Love and So In Love albums and has toured the US, Europe, and Japan with her. Join them in person as they collaborate on their first musical duo tour.

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES

Carmen Staaf explores the connections between compositions by Mary Lou Williams and well-known pieces by Thelonious Monk, who was mentored by Williams along with many of his bebop-era contemporaries. Carmen will be joined by Bay Area drummer Hamir Atwal. They’ll find new pathways into Williams and Monk, as well as the common ground between them. This special show is a live sneak preview of the project before they head into the studio the following day. Don't miss it!

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES

Ethan Iverson made history with the Bad Plus, and is now currently signed to Blue Note where he is part the storied label’s roster of cutting-edge artist. However, Iverson also considers the long game. Time Out New York selected Iverson as one of 25 essential New York jazz icons: “Perhaps NYC’s most thoughtful and passionate student of jazz tradition—the most admirable sort of artist-scholar.” For this event, Iverson will demonstrate a wide range of jazz piano styles and show how he brings the past to the future.

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. Their repertoire features beautifully arranged jazz classics by Thad Jones, Wes Montgomery, Brazilian masters Ivan Lins, Léa Freire and more. 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.

Craig Reiss, Associate Principal 2nd Violinist with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra and member of the SF Opera Orchestra brings his Eos Ensemble to the piano store.  Along with Evan Kahn, Principal Cellist of the San Francisco Opera, and internationally renowned pianist Elizabeth Dorman, they will present a varied program of Piano Trios by Haydn and Dvorak.  Dvorak’s expressive Trio in F minor showcases the exuberant rustic style for which he is most famous as well as the anguish of the recent death of his mother.  Haydn titled his Trio in E flat minor “Jacob’s Dream” referring to the biblical story of the ladder ascending to heaven, and it imbues his inimitable classical style with elements of Austrian folk song.

SONGS & STORIES SERIES
Pianist, vocalist, and composer Katy Stephan sings a set of her favorite songs, including some originals. She’ll share stories about being a singer who also plays piano, singing in bands and choirs, and not being limited by genres. Followed by audience Q & A. Hosted by vocalist Sharmila G. Lash.

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES

arranger, educator, and recording artist George Cables has been performing as a bandleader and sideman for many years, along with the best the jazz world has to offer. Known for his own compositions as well as his creative interpretations of the standards, his repertoire is as varied as it is fun and engaging. Debuting at the piano store as a bandleader, he’ll be joined by Essiet Essiet (bass) and Jerome Jennings (drums).  The trio’s most recent recordings are on HighNote Records with a new release scheduled for this Fall.

Chilean singer, guitarist, and composer Camila Meza, along with bassist Or Bareket, will delight the audience with rhythms and influences from Latin America mixed with the improvisatory flame of Jazz in a conversational duo and a repertoire full of lyricism, storytelling, and virtuosic interpretations.

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES

Descended from a lineage of musical greats, Marc Cary takes the stage for an evening of solo piano exploration. A cornerstone of the post-bop movement, Cary's virtuosity transcends genres, weaving together elements of jazz, world, and soul music. Be prepared to be surprised, delighted, and immersed as you float, dance and groove to the boundless creativity of Marc Cary. 

Grammy Award winner with The Count Basie Orchestra and internationally renowned vocalist Jamie Davis will seduce you with his deep, velvety voice as he sings the music of the great jazz baritones, like Johnny Hartman, and much more. With a repertoire from Cole Porter to Stevie Wonder to Mingus, Jamie has the flexibility, sophistication, and effortless delivery to stand with any of the greats. His All-Star Band includes Grammy Award Winning pianist Glen Pearson, bassist Chris Amberger, drummer Leon Joyce, Jr., and tenor saxophonist Richard Howell. Don't miss this fabulous show!

In Tribute to Don Cherry

Renowned trumpeter/multi-instrumentalist Don Cherry made his first guest appearance with Peter Apfelbaum's Bay Area-based big band the Hieroglyphics Ensemble in 1988. A fruitful musical relationship was born, and Cherry recruited Apfelbaum and fellow Hieroglyphs Bo Freeman and Josh Jones to form Multikulti, Cherry's main touring group until his death in 1995. Since then, Apfelbaum and Jones have continued to perform together and will reunite with Freeman to celebrate their beloved, departed mentor, revisiting and offering fresh takes on material from their time as 3/4ths of Multikulti.

Classical pianist Rachel Breen returns to the piano store to perform a program featuring later works of German composer Ludwig van Beethoven (opp. 109 and 126), as well as some assorted short works. 

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES

Laurence Hobgood and Matthew Szemela first connected around 10 years ago; kindred musical spirits, they quickly realized an intuitively rare and potent connection, a mellifluous symbiosis in terms of how they’re able to listen to and play off of one another. Both virtuosos, both deeply invested in music as a conveyor of jubilance, reflection, humor, reverence — their interactions are an exciting and sometimes surprising paean to true musical expressionism — not to be missed!

Hannah Mayer and Leonardo Zurita, two close friends and musical collaborators, present a jazz piano duet concert with renditions of their favorite songs across genres as well as original music.

SONGS & STORIES SERIES
Choral artist, conductor, and educator Tim Silva will sing an eclectic set of songs, including a preview of originals from his upcoming EP.  He’ll talk about growing up in the East Bay, teaching music around the bay, his wide array of collaborative work, and his love of plants. Followed by audience Q & A. Hosted by vocalist Sharmila G. Lash.

Wil Blades on Hammond organ delivers cutting solos and deep bass lines that make for a thick stew of soulful harmony and daring improvisation, while Scott Amendola behind the drum kit creates beats that are simply unstoppable, simultaneously pushing the duo to heights unknown and sending the listener into a joyful sonic trance. The duo is joined by special guest Raffi Garabedian on tenor saxophone.

Grammy Nominated Pianist, Max Haymer, returns to the piano store, this time for a solo set.  Max is known extensively for his work as the longtime pianist for 10x Grammy Winner Arturo Sandoval, as well as with Jazz Vocal Icon Jane Monheit. Max is also recently the recipient of the prestigious SouthArts Jazz Road Award, allowing him to bring his music to new audiences across the country.  Specializing in re-imagined Broadway and Jazz Standards, as well as Afro-Cuban Jazz, Haymer promises to deliver a memorable show filled with power, emotion, drama, and fire!

With a deep appreciation for the legacy of great songs and grooves, well-known master songstress Lucy Woodward along with dynamic collaborator creative pianist Henry Hey invite you to pull up a cozy chair for an energetic yet intimate evening. Drawing from their own expansive professional experience as songwriters and performers, Lucy and Henry will share classic songs from the deep well of writers such as John Lennon, Nina Simone and others and will add their own contributions on top.

JAZZ CAMP JAZZ FEST
Jazz vocalist Nicolas Bearde will be hosting students from the 2024 Jazz Camp vocal classes, as they perform select pieces from this year's Jazz Camp experience. Nicolas will also perform songs from his critically acclaimed CDs. All will be accompanied by pianist Dr. Glen Pearson, and bassist.

JAZZ CAMP JAZZ FEST
Join world-class Los Angeles based vocalist Christine Guter and friends Adam Shulman, Joshua Thurston-Milgrom, and Dillon Vado for an evening of jazz and beyond! Christine enchants audiences with her impressive range and soaring melodies. Her vivid interpretation, deep groove, unique style, and  improvisational ability blend together seamlessly with grace and joy. This group highlights songs from the jazz tradition, as well as jazz-infused arrangements of classical and contemporary music. Come join us this Father’s Day!

JAZZ CAMP JAZZ FEST - TWO SHOWS 5:30pm / 8pm

Formed in 1993, the Latin Grammy-nominated Quinteto has become one of the most important creative music ensembles of the West Coast. Performing Jovino’s original arrangements and compositions, its members excel in near-telepathic musical interactions, modern harmonic journeys, deep lyricism and high energy Brazilian grooves that never fail to excite audiences. Voted several times as Best Acoustic Jazz Ensemble of the year by readers of Earshot Jazz Magazine in Seattle. Jovino Santos Neto (piano, melodica, percussion, flute), Dillon Vado (vibraphone), Peter Barshay (bass), Dave Flores (drums), and Ami Molinelli (percussion).

Roger Glenn’s dazzling multi-instrumental prowess (playing vibraphone, flute, and sax) via his abiding passion for Afro-Caribbean (and Afro-Brazilian) rhythms will be showcased with original tunes from his soon to be released recording "My Latin Heart" and some original Brazilian-fused tunes from pianist Marcos Silva, topped with a surprise Tango or two which could also include some audience participation. Joining him will be Marcos Silva on piano, Robb Fisher on bass, Leon Joyce Jr on drums, and
Michaelle Goerlitz on percussion.

The brilliant New York pianist Noah Haidu joins forces with jazz icons Buster Williams and Lenny White in support of his soulful and expessive new album Standards II. Haidu initially launched this project to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Keith Jarrett’s trio with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette. The Wall Street Journal described Haidu’s tribute as “buoyant and free like a pent-up spirit released” while Downbeat Magazine called it “A stunning and heartfelt tribute.” The new album arrives on the heels of Standards I (2023, Sunnyside Records) which reached #4 in the national radio charts and topped numerous 'best of the year' lists.

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES

Shelly Berg, multi-Grammy nominated pianist and arranger, has performed, recorded, and arranged for renowned jazz vocalists and has collaborated with a "Who's Who" of jazz legends. He makes his debut at Piedmont Piano Company with his all-star trio featuring Chick Corea veterans Carlitos Del Puerto, bass and Gary Novak, drums.

Join legendary vocalist The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol, her all-star trio, and special guest Houston Person for a delightful and electrifying afternoon celebrating Mother's Day! The Bay Area's queen songstress will join forces with pianist Joe Warner, bassist Essiet Essiet, and drummer Greg Hutchinson, along with the elder statesman of the saxophone, the legendary Houston Person for an historic afternoon of jazz, blues, and beyond. 

S.E.Willis and the Willing is a group of lifetime working musicians, primarily blues based, but including Boogie Woogie, Country, Zydeco and New Orleans style R&B in a thoroughly American sound. Featuring Steve Willis (piano, harmonica, accordion, vocals), Ruth Davies (bass), Nancy Wright (sax), and Larry Vann (drums).

Molly Miller’s latest endeavor is The Ballad of Hotspur, Molly Miller Trio’s third album and follow-up to 2021’s St. George. The album, a collection of instrumental Americana jazz songs tinged with folk and Surf Rock vibes, draws the listener on an epic journey as the musicians embrace bold, playful instrumentation alongside moments of quiet reflection. You will be hearing the new record and other tunes this evening. The trio, comprised of Molly Miller on guitar, Jennifer Condos (Don Henley, Steve Nick, Bruce Springsteen) on bass, and Jay Bellerose (Robert Plant, Allison Krauss, Elton John) on drums is celebrating the release of this brand new album.

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES

A select member of jazz’s piano pantheon, Fred Hersch celebrates the release of his solo piano album, Silent, Listening, an important contribution to ECM’s line of innovative solo piano recordings. It finds him putting a poetic emphasis on alert, open improvisation while also embracing original compositions and a scattering of standard tunes in his album’s graceful creative arc. Interspersing songs and spontaneously composed pieces, Hersch shapes and sustains a musical atmosphere that he describes as “nocturnal," an atmosphere of heightened sensitivity to sound.

Pianist and Bay Area young lion Joe Warner teams up with NEA Jazz Master and legendary drummer Billy Hart, along with renowned bassist Tarus Mateen, for an evening of world class jazz piano trio. This all-star group will thrill and delight audiences with standards, blues, ballads, and adventurous swingin' featuring one of the greatest drummers of our time.

Multifaceted, soulful, and elegant vocalist Jackie Ryan stands out on the international jazz scene as one of the best. She is equally at home with swinging jazz phrasing, be-bop vocalese, the blues, as well as funky boogaloo rhythms, singing in several languages. Jackie and pianist Larry Vuckovich have developed a close musical chemistry going back 30 years. They'll explore classic standards and rarely heard gems, among many others in Jackie's expansive repertoire.

SONGS & STORIES SERIES
Singer-songwriter Joel Chapman plays a set of original songs. He’ll share stories about his choral background, his ever-evolving journey with YouTube, his obsession with comedy, and his album “I’m Sorry It Took So Long.” Followed by audience Q & A. Hosted by vocalist Sharmila G. Lash.

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES

Internationally known pianist, composer, improviser, drummer and educator Art Lande returns to the piano store with Paul McCandless, Mark Miller, Peter Barshay, and Dillon Vado for a special artful evening of improvised music.

This unique brand of Latin-American music will take the audience on a journey through traditions from South America and the Caribbean with a Brazilian jazz twist. Multi-faceted Puerto Rican vocalist/interpreter Madeleine Zayas and her quartet will play original compositions and innovative arrangements of carefully selected classics from the Latin American/Caribbean songbook, influenced by various Afro-Peruvian rhythms –Chilean cueca, Brazilian samba and maracatú, Argentinian sambas and chamamés, and more – tied together with rhythmic precision and intertwined with jazzy flavors.

With over 25 years of creative collaboration, bassist Ben Allison, guitarist Steve Cardenas, and saxophonist Ted Nash weave musical conversations that are full of subtlety and surprise, modeled after reedist/composer Jimmy Giuffre’s drummerless units of the 1950s and 60s. The trio has released four albums. Their most recent, Tell the Birds I Said Hello: The Music of Herbie Nichols, features unheard gems by the under-recognized composer/pianist, while their previous album, Healing Power: The Music of Carla Bley, has been streamed over 2 million times.

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES
TWO SHOWS 5:30pm / 8pm

Benny Green returns to the piano store with an evening of solo piano with standards and originals, including selections from his most recent album, Solo, recorded in Oakland in 2022.

Expect to be thrilled by this world-class organ trio. Akiko Tsuruga is one of the most entertaining jazz organists in the world today.  A disciple of Dr. Lonnie Smith, she has an uncanny ability to captivate any crowd.  Bruce Forman’s guitar prowess places him at the top of his art form, playing Country & Western to Jazz, and his faithful fan-base expects nothing but the best from him.  Drummer, Akira Tana has played with the most prestigious jazz artists of our time. From Sonny Rollins to his current touring group, Otonowa, Akira has truly earned his position in the lineage of jazz drumming. 

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES

GRAMMY Award-winning pianist Sullivan Fortner brings his trio – with bassist Tyrone Allen II and drummer Kayvon Gordon – to the piano store, as part of his West Coast Tour, playing music from his new double-album Release, Solo Game. “Solo” mixes humility, maturity and audacity in respecting the great tradition of the solo piano, while “Game” develops a magical, playful universe from a multitude of keyboards and electronic effects.

SONGS & STORIES SERIES
Jazz and Blues singer Nicolas Bearde sings a set of his favorite songs and shares stories about his more than 35 year career, from leaving his Nashville home in his teens, to singing in Japan during his military service, to eventually making his home in the Bay Area.

“Canta, Violino!” is the brainchild of American violinist Andrew Finn Magill who has been featured on NPR, PBS, and MTV. Magill who moved back from Brazil in 2017, soon thereafter signed with Ropeadope Records for this project which features percussionist Ami Molinelli of Grupo Falso Baiano and award-winning Brazilian guitarist Cesar Garabini. Says legendary Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira (Miles Davis, Weather Report, Chick Corea): "He can fool you into thinking he is from Brazil!"

Legendary pianist/composer/arranger Laurence Hobgood joins award-winning, esteemed jazz vocalist Janis Mann to share their dynamic, exciting repertoire.  Over the past couple of years they have toured together on the East Coast, notably in New York and Pennsylvania, and in Los Angeles at the famed Village Studios. Their collaboration is a fresh interpretation of jazz gems, pop standards, blues, and Latin.  Their approach is spontaneous and artistic.  An afternoon of great music not to be missed!

JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES

“A first-call accompanist and collaborator for the vocal elite, and a conceptualist who's crafted smartly arranged musical love letters to everything from steampunk sci-fi to the City of Los Angeles as part of his ongoing Discovery Project, Nelson is a creative force to be reckoned with.” –Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz

TWO SHOWS 5:30pm / 8pm

Featuring protean pianist Myra Melford, galvanizing bassist Mark Dresser, and supremely musical drummer Matt Wilson, Trio M brings together three visionary jazz artists with extensive track records in adventurous ensembles. Unbound by piano trio conventions, the leaderless project erases distinctions between frontline and accompanist, requiring each player to shape the music’s flow as it unfolds. The resulting sounds can be fierce and beatific, playful and rigorous, earthy or abstract, extravagantly joyous or quietly introspective.

Pacific Standard Time, directed by Christine Guter, is the top vocal jazz ensemble at Cal State Long Beach, and the winners of DownBeat Student Music Awards for the past 14 years in a row. They feature outstanding musicianship, leading-edge musical arrangements, incredible vocal skill, and amazing improvisation ability. Their show will include works by Duke Ellington, Bob Dorough, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Al Jarreau, Madison Cunnigham, India Arie, and more. Seeing them live is a breathtaking experience and not to be missed! 

We are pleased to present Paolo Fazioli, builder of the incomparable Fazioli piano. Come at 5:30 pm, have a glass of wine, meet Mr. Fazioli and inspect the Fazioli piano. At 6:30 we’ll have a discussion on the construction of the Fazioli in Sacile, Italy, followed by a piano performance by Monica Chew, with music by Heitor Villa Lobos, Ali Osman, Lucrecia Kasilag, and Joshua Uzoigwe.

Admission is free but reservations are required for admittance.

SONGS & STORIES SERIES
Bay Area jazz vocalist Tiffany Austin, recently named one of 30 recipients of the Center for Cultural Power's Culture Bearer Award, kicks off this brand new series with a short set of songs. She’ll share some stories of her musical journey from her beginnings in the LA area, to studying law, to performing with some of the biggest names in jazz. Followed by audience Q & A. Hosted by vocalist Sharmila G. Lash.

Old friends and legendary brothers LEVIN (Tony on bass and Pete on keyboards) and LA BARBERA (Pat on sax and Joe on drums) have decided to join brotherly forces together and to go back to their roots - jazz. Collectively, they have performed and recorded with the biggest names in pop, rock, and jazz. Don’t miss this rare night featuring world-class players