The Trio

Phil Aaron plays regularly with the Phil Hey Quartet and other area ensembles and vocalists. Drawing inspiration from Bill Evans, Cedar Walton, Tommy Flanagan, and Keith Jarrett, he “can swing hard or wax romantic at the keyboard" (Minneapolis Star Tribune). After attending Berklee College of Music and the University of Illinois, Phil  served as Music Director for the Dance Department at UCLA and taught at Santa Monica College. Phil is often on the bandstand with touring national artists such as Frank Morgan and Lee Konitz. Recently Phil sat in with Soul Café, presenting the music of Miles Davis.  

Bassist Tom Lewis is a busy sideman throughout the Twin Cities, a “straight-ahead, hard bop, and bebop bassist and he swings like anything” (Don Berryman, Jazz Police). Tom performs with the Out to Lunch Quintet, brass ensemble Snowblind, and is a first-call player for many area vocalists and bands. 

Drummer Jay Epstein is seen all over the Twin Cities, often in the company vocalists (Christine Rosholt, Connie Evingson) and top instrumentalists (Gordy Johnson, Benny Weinbeck, Mary Louise Knutson), as well as with the edgy trio Red Planet (with Dean Magraw and Chris Bates), Framework and Maintime. He also released a highly acclaimed recording, Long Ago, featuring Bill Carrothers. Earlier this month he performed with Carrothers’ Armistice ensemble at the AQ. 

The Phil Aaron Trio released I Love Paris to rave reviews; said Leigh Kamman (The Jazz Image), "In sum, this trio shapes and colors these music materials with crackling tempos, space wit, and taste." 

Relive the excitement of those nights at the Sofitel when the original Phil Aaron Trio returns to the stage, on January 23rd at the Artists Quarter.  

The AQ is located at 408 St. Peter Street in downtown St. Paul, www.artistsquarter.com. Sets at 9 pm.