The Jazzschool Piano Sale
Jazz Piano Masters Series
For this rare Bay Area solo piano concert, Myra Melford will be performing original compositions and improvisations.
Drummer Allison Miller and pianist Carmen Staaf continue the collaboration they began on the acclaimed Science Fair with Nearness, a new duo album release that freely explores originals and standards with playful intelligence and deeply synced connection. “Allison Miller and Carmen Staaf share an affinity for incorporating unexpected elements within familiar forms. That was obvious on their previous collaboration, the 2018 album Science Fair, recorded with a trio and quintet. Here, they use it to great effect on a set of piano and drum duets.” (John Frederick Moore, Jazziz, 2022)
Jazz icon Michael O'Neill teams up with the lead vocalist from Santana, Tony Lindsay, and Latin Grammy winner Omar Ledezma, along with John R. Burr (piano), Dan Feiszli (bass), Jason Lewis (drums), and Erik Jekabson (trumpet) to play Latin arrangements of tunes by Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Bill Withers, and some standards based on arrangements by the members of the band. Each member of this stellar band has contributed their vision to the music, making this very much a collaborative effort.
Longtime musical associates Peter Apfelbaum (piano, saxophone) and Josh Jones (drums, percussion) return to the piano store for their first public concert here since January 2019. In their largely improvised performances, Apfelbaum's expansive, polyrhythmic approach to the piano combines with Jones's mastery of Afro-Cuban rhythms. Celebrating 44 years of performing together, they will be playing material from their shared partnership in Apfelbaum's Hieroglyphics Ensemble and Don Cherry's Multikulti, possibly interspersed with a cover or two.
JAZZ PIANO MASTERS SERIES
Edward Simon, a native of Venezuela, has made a name for himself over decades in America as a jazz improviser, composer-arranger and band leader, with his profile heightening in recent years as he has explored the commonalities jazz can have with the folkloric sounds of Latin America.
"Love Letters from Jamie" will showcase vocalist Jamie Davis’ way with love songs and ballads while including some swinging elements, a nod to the blues, and lots of love to welcome Spring. So, sit back and enjoy the velvety, rich baritone voice of Jamie Davis, backed by an impressive, all-star band: Matt Clark (piano), Ron Belcher (bass), Leon Joyce, Jr. (drums), and Michael O'Neill (saxophone).
