In the instrumental arsenal of jazz, the piano is a unique triple threat. The keyboard was a vital harmonic link for the Big Band elegance of Duke Ellington and the incandescent lines of Art Tatum. In the hands of legends like Thelonious Monk the piano is also a key rhythmic component (the piano is often categorized as a percussion instrument because of the hammer action that produces the notes), providing pulse and swing to countless recordings. And Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett forever marked the instrument as an unparalleled font of melodic ingenuity.

This year’s San Francisco Jazz Festival features an abundance of pianists, each a unique voice drawing from the rich jazz tradition of the 88 keys.

The originator of a meditative, Eastern-tinged keyboard style, Alice Coltrane (11/4) is also a legendary composer, harpist, and organist. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch Coltrane leading an all-star band that features her son with the late, great John Coltrane, Ravi (saxophone), and jazz legends Charlie Haden (bass) and frequent collaborator with her late husband, drummer Roy Haynes.

Miles Davis claimed Ahmad Jamal (11/11) as a profound influence on his music, and critic Stanley Crouch asserted, “No musician has had a more profound effect on the orchestral approach to small groups in the last 35 years.” Known for his artistic use of the space between notes, Jamal is sure to exploit the ebb and flow of his masterful dynamic touch in this trio performance.

Toshiko Akiyoshi

Though she’s better-known stateside for her work as a composer and arranger for big band, Toshiko Akiyoshi (10/28) got her start as a straight ahead bebop pianist in Tokyo’s jazz clubs. Oscar Peterson took note, as did Verve Records founder Norman Granz, who released her eponymous first album over fifty years ago. This solo performance is an exceedingly rare chance to experience that same piano genius live. Tickets are still available to this SFJAZZ Members-only concert. [Join today for access to these tickets and many other member benefits.]

Be sure to catch these shows, as well as the other keyboard virtuosi on our fall Festival schedule including B3 organist and soul jazz legend Dr. Lonnie Smith (11/3); composer and hard bop pioneer Andrew Hill (10/29); young lion Cyrus Chestnut (10/27) co-leading a quintet with guitarist Russell Malone (10/27); Piazzolla heir and Nuevo Tango master Pablo Ziegler (10/28); Geri Allen appearing with SFJAZZ Beacon Award-winner Mary Stallings (11/10); and Myra Melford (11/4) leading a progressive quintet through her exquisite compositions.

SFJAZZ Collective

Great News! In only its third performance season, the SFJAZZ Collective has been named Rising Star Jazz Group in DownBeat Magazine’s 2006 Critics Poll. Reinforcing the accolades are individual honors for Collective members Bobby Hutcherson as Top Vibist and Miguel Zenón as Rising Star Alto Saxophonist.

In 2006 the all-star group played 25 dates in the United States and Europe, tackling the music of Herbie Hancock and their own new, original compositions. Joshua Redman, artistic director and tenor saxophonist for the Collective, was extremely pleased with the results. As Redman tells DownBeat: “given that harmony is the essential component of Herbie’s work, as an octet we were able to take advantage of his expansive use of chord color and play with different chord voicings to capture the emotion.”

Even more exciting for poll winner Zenón is the progress the ensemble has made over the past three years. “This is a functioning band where every personality has jelled, especially this year. Everyone knows each other, which makes it special to compose with them in mind.”

The fruit of their Collective labors will be featured on the forthcoming deluxe CD set, SFJAZZ Collective Live 2006: 3rd Annual Concert Tour. By pre-ordering today, you can help underwrite the cost of this limited edition, keepsake CD set, scheduled for release this fall.

See the August issue of DownBeat for the full story on the Collective, as well as features on poll-winners and upcoming Festival performers like Sonny Rollins (10/20) and Andrew Hill (10/29). And look for more info on poll-winners performing in this fall's Festival in next week's e-News.
 

The trivia contest tickles the ivories with this week’s jazz challenge:

What Lee Morgan album is named after a composition by the pianist Andrew Hill?

The fifth person to respond with the correct answer will receive a free Stanford Summer Jazz sampler CD featuring tracks by Bay Area jazz luminaries Lavay Smith, Kim Nalley, Dave Ellis, and Taylor Eigsti.

E-mail Your Answer (include "Jazz Piano" in the subject line)

The fine print: Our contest winner will be notified directly by email, and both the winner’s name and the correct answer to the question will be published in next week’s e-News. The following are not eligible to enter: employees and current contractors of SFJAZZ and its seasonal sponsors; past e-News Jazz Trivia Contest winners.

Last week’s question was:
Latin percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo will appear at this fall’s Festival with Mickey Hart’s Grammy-winning Planet Drum percussion showcase; in what year and under what group name did Hidalgo last appear at the San Francisco Jazz Festival?

Answer: Congratulations to last week’s winner, Doug Ashcraft of Oakland, who was the third person to peg the “Conga Kings” show in 2004 as Giovanni Hidalgo’s last appearance at the San Francisco Jazz Festival. Be sure to check Hidalgo out with Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum percussion showcase on Sept. 23.