11 ESSENTIAL Piano TRIOS WORKING Today

Renowned piano virtuosos Brad Mehldau, Kenny Barron and Hiromi are set to grace the stage of the SFJAZZ Center in April 2025. In anticipation of these shows, SFJAZZ staff curated a playlist celebrating the brilliance of jazz piano trios who are active today. In addition to the pianists presented by SFJAZZ, you'll also hear from South African pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, rising jazz star Kris Davis, the critically acclaimed Vijay Iyer Trio and much more. This playlist offers a rich and varied exploration of artists who both uphold and push forward the jazz piano trio sound.

Brad Mehldau Trio: "Blackbird" (The Art Of The Trio Vol. 1, 1997)

For nearly 30 years, Brad Mehldau has been pushing the possibilities of the piano trio. In doing so, Mehldau has also expanded the Great American Songbook, adding songs from The Beatles (like his definitive cover of "Blackbird"), Nick Drake, Radiohead, Soundgarden and more. We're excited to hear Mehldau's latest trio configuration with Christian McBride and Marcus Gilmore to SFJAZZ on April 3-6, 2025.

Kenny Barron Trio: "Cook's Bay" (Book Of Intuition, 2016)

Kenny Barron is one of the living legends in jazz and connects the bebop era (he got started in Dizzy Gillespie's band) to today. Kenny's working trio features bassist Kyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Johnathan Blake (who we recently asked to break down the swing beat). "Cook's Bay" is a groovy original that feels like a nod to fellow pianist Ahmad Jamal's hit "Poinciana." You can catch Kenny Barron at SFJAZZ on April 10-13.

Nduduzo Makhathini: "Water Spirits: Amanxusa Asemkhathini"

A roiling storm of a piece, the second part of the South African pianist's composition  "Water Spirits" is a cinematic evocation of rushing water, with a nod to the style and approach of Makhathini's great influence McCoy Tyner, with turbulent assistance from bassist Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere and drummer Francisco Mela. This piece deals with vital energy and restoration - a proposal of "cleansing and summoning of essence." As a global community, we've rarely needed it more. 

Hiromi's The Trio Project: "Seeker" (Alive, 2014)

Hiromi brings a remarkable virtuosity to everything she touches, and in bassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Simon Phillips she found a band to match her. "Seeker" is a great introduction to the supercharged jazz-rock sound of The Trio Project. Also good primer for her new SONICWONDER project coming to SFJAZZ on April 17-20

Jason Moran & The Bandwagon: "Planet Rock" (The Bandwagon, 2003)

In recent years, Jason Moran has branched off to new ambitious projects, but The Bandwagon still plays and made its mark on the trio sound since the early 2000's. Featuring Tarus Mateen on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums, "Planet Rock" is a good example of how the band has brought elements of hip-hop and the avant-garde into the traditional piano trio format. You can watch Jason Moran's most recent SFJAZZ concert on-demand here.

Avishai Cohen: "Brightlight" 

A study in pulse and fractured rhythmic subdivisions, this track from Israeli bassist Avishai Cohen's latest is a minefield of interlocking phrases, navigated with remarkable acuity by Cohen's latest trio mates - pianist Guy Moskovich and 24-year-old drumming phenomenon Roni Kaspi.

Kris Davis Trio: "Run the Gauntlet"

Pianist Kris Davis, bassist Robert Hurst, and drummer Johnathan Blake tackle this explosive and slippery composition like they have decades of experience as a band behind them, though this is their first album together. It's dedicated to the influence of many of Davis's inspirations including Geri Allen, Marilyn Crispell, Renee Rosnes, and Sylvie Courvoisier.

GoGo Penguin — "Everything Is Going To Be OK"

Not necessarily jazz, however this piano-bass-drums trio has become one of the groundbreaking groups among the UK scene, blending together break-beat rhythms, cinematic textures, jazz and electronic influences. We recently filmed them live at SFJAZZ, and you can watch it on-demand here.

Collettivo Immaginario — "Sotto II Mare"

Led by Italian-born Los Angeles-based drummer, producer and DJ Tommaso Cappellato, and featuring pianist Alberto Lincetto and bassist Nicolo Masetto the trio explores 70s-inspired jazz-funk grooves similar to legendary fusion pioneers Azymuth, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Herbie Hancock.

Nautilus — "'Round Midnight"

Formed in 2014, the Tokyo-based jazz-fusion trio Nautilus has been making their mark on the Japanese jazz scene for over the last decade with a number of LP and 7" single releases, often featuring forward-thinking renditions of classic jazz, soul and pop songs. 

Vijay Iyer Trio - "Hood" 

This is an incredible homage to legendary minimal Detroit house producer Robert Hood. You can hear the minimalist influence here which coupled with the phasing polyrhythms give the track an addictive groove. Vijay is another artist we’ve featured on our SFJAZZ At Home streaming series. You can watch his latest trio concert with bassist Linda May Han Oh and Tyshawn Sorey on-demand here.

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