Brad Mehldau trio, photo by Michael Wilson

Brad Mehldau's new Nonesuch release, Ode, is a ravishing collection of original music and his first studio recording with the trio in seven years. The Brad Mehldau Trio, which also features long time musical partners bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, will appear on Wednesay, May 16th at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz. Then they stop at the Napa Valley Opera House on Thursday, May 17th. Finally speing three nights at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on San Francisco on Friday, May 18th,through Sunday, May 20th.

"When the idea of the electric band came up I had been playing mostly in an acoustic trio format for twelve-fifteen years. So I decided to get together with some hand-picked musicians to see how it felt. The rehearsals went so well that I called my engineer, Danny Leake and my producer/son, Frayne Lewis, to come in and roll tape. Of all the albums, this album takes its place among the top five." -Ramsey Lewis

Ramsey Lewis, photo by Michael Coakes

Jazz legend, composer and pianist Ramsey Lewis has been referred to as “the great performer", a title reflecting his performance style and musical selections which display his early gospel playing and classical training along with his love of jazz and other musical forms. Ramsey Lewis brings his Electric Band to the Bay Area on Saturday, May 12th and Sunday, May 13th at Yoshi's in Oakland. The Electric Band features Ramsey Lewis on piano, Henry Johnson on Guitar, Joshua Ramos on Bass, Charles Heath on Drums, Tim Gant on Keyboards.

 "By the time Cedar Walton came to make his first LPs for Prestige in 1967, he was without question the finest unrecorded pianist in New York."   -Bob Porter

Cedar Walton

One of the all time great jazz pianists, NEA jazz master Cedar Walton is also known for his compositions, several of which have become jazz standards, such as "Bolivia," "Clockwise," and "Firm Roots." Long associated with the finest hard bop innovators, Cedar toured and recorded with Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet for two years and then was with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers for three years. Cedar Wlaton appears at Yoshi's in Oakland  with sets at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Friday, April 27th and Saturday, April 28th and sets at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 29th. Cedar will be accompanied by David Williams on bass and Willie Jones on drums.

Maria Farantouri and Charles Lloyd

Charles Lloyd's latest group, dubbed the New Quartet will perform with vocalist  Maria Farantouri at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco at 7:00 p.m. on Sunsay, April 22nd. Lloyd’s current group is a perfect setting for the heralded young pianist and recent MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Jason Moran, who was named DownBeat’s 2011 Jazz Artist of the Year and has been selected as a Guest Artistic Director for the new SFJAZZ Center in 2013. Bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland round out the rhythm section, joined by special guest Maria Farantouri, whose incandescent vocals are featured throughout Athens Concert, Lloyd’s recent double album [click here for a Jazz Police review ].