This year’s Spring Season has already witnessed a number of the most exciting pianists in jazz today: the masterful Keith Jarrett, in a rare solo concert; newcomer Robert Glasper; the SFJAZZ Collective’s Renee Rosnes; just last weekend, the great Randy Weston; and others. But there’s still plenty of action on the 88s coming up in these final two months of the Spring Season. Tickets are still available for all the shows below, so order yours today and treat yourself to an extraordinary afternoon or evening of live piano jazz.

Danilo Pérez performs on a double bill with Kenny Barron this Saturday at 8PM.

Kenny Barron Trio;
Danilo Pérez Trio
Saturday, May 6 • 8pm
Herbst Theatre
Enjoy a double dose of one of jazz’s classic ensembles—the piano trio—with Messrs. Barron and Pérez at the keyboard. “The word ‘elegant’ probably was coined with pianist Kenny Barron in mind,” wrote the Chicago Tribune of the Philly-born maestro, a veteran of the bands of Stan Getz, Yusef Lateef, and Dizzy Gillespie. A fellow Gillespie alumnus, Panamanian pianist Danilo Pérez has been hailed for his “glinting technique, an expressive melodic gift, and unerring time” (Village Voice), heard recently in his own groups and in Wayne Shorter’s celebrated new quartet.

Kenny Barron Trio; Danilo Pérez Trio Saturday, May 6 • 8pm Herbst Theatre

Gonzalo Rubalcaba performs on May 12 in a solo concert.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba, solo
Friday, May 12 • 8pm
Herbst Theatre
In keeping with the theme of his brand-new CD, Solo, the Latin Grammy-winning pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba appears alone at the keyboard in this intimate performance at Herbst. Down Beat has hailed the Cuban-born Rubalcaba for his "prodigious technique, a keen awareness and understanding of jazz and deep roots in Afro-Cuban rhythmic nuance" (Down Beat). And, as JazzTimes compared him to another great solo pianist and Spring Season artist: "Much like Keith Jarrett, Rubalcaba has the ability to lift the traditional into something out of the ordinary."

Gonzalo Rubalcaba, solo Friday, May 12 • 8pm Herbst Theatre

Shelly Berg's trio perform in the luxuriant Gould Theatre.

Shelly Berg Trio
Sunday, June 11 • 2pm
Florence Gould Theatre, Legion of Honor
It takes one to know one: No less a jazz piano authority than Dave Brubeck has called Shelly Berg “a great jazz pianist who seems to have total command of his instrument.” As the Los Angeles Times wrote of this virtuosic artist and esteemed USC music professor: “Berg burns hard, his fingers flying over the keyboard while his body nearly levitates off the bench. Exhilarating…filled with breakneck parallel runs, sudden rhythmic shifts and harmonic modulations that leave the crowd breathless.”

Shelly Berg Trio Sunday, June 11 • 2pm Florence Gould Theatre, Legion of Honor

Kenny Werner performs with vocalist Claudia Villela at the Gould Theatre.

Kenny Werner and Claudia Villela
Saturday, June 17 • 2pm
Florence Gould Theatre, Legion of Honor
SFJAZZ audiences have experienced Kenny Werner’s elegance at the piano a number of times in recent years via the much-beloved Brazilian-themed ensemble led by jazz-harmonica pioneer Toots Thielemans. Now, Werner returns in a similarly inspiring duo with Brazilian-born (and Bay Area favorite) vocalist Claudia Villela—as heard on their “remarkable” (The New York Times) 2004 CD, Dreamtales. Reviewing a live performance, critic Zan Stewart called Werner “a melodic, song-like player [who exhibits] playful liberties of tempo and harmony.”

Kenny Werner and Claudia Villela Saturday, June 17 • 2pm Florence Gould Theatre, Legion of Honor

The Adler Foundation has just begun the Guido Adler Jazz Piano Scholarship Competition, focusing solely on high school jazz pianists in the state of California. The winning pianist will receive a $4,000 scholarship to the college of his or her choice, and his or her high school will also receive $1,000. Full details and downloadable application here

Okay, e-News readers, enough weighty jazz matters for one issue—it’s time to get truly trivial! In keeping with the 7th Annual SFJAZZ Spring Season, the 7th person to answer the following question correctly will win two free tickets to an upcoming Healdsburg Jazz Festival concert—either Charlie Haden’s Quartet West (June 10) or the McCoy Tyner Trio (June 11) — a $90 value. Here’s the question:

Which 2006 SFJAZZ Spring Season artist appeared in the final episode of director David Lynch’s early ’90s TV show, Twin Peaks?

Email Your Answer (include "Jazz Trivia" in the subject line of your email)

Contest Details: Our contest winner will be notified directly by e-mail, and both the winner’s name and the correct answer to the question will be published in next week’s e-News. Employees and current contractors of SFJAZZ and its seasonal sponsors are not eligible to enter. Members of SFJAZZ, on the other hand, are heartily encouraged to enter. Good luck!