Guitarist Calvin Keys has been featured on many acclaimed recordings since the early 1970s, both as a leader and a sideman, with such artists as Ahmad Jamal, Ray Charles, and Bobby Hutcherson. He’s also long been a mainstay of the Oakland jazz scene. We are more than pleased to welcome him for his second appearance on the Bird & Beckett stage, hot on the heels of a booking earlier this month by New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center in a celebration of Wes Montgomery’s groundbreaking guitar work. Like Wes Montgomery, Calvin possesses an unmistakable personal style that sets him apart from his peers.
Bassist Heshima Mark Williams is a world-traveled musician who holds down our third-Saturday-of-the-month date, playing when he’s free and booking the date whenever he can’t be on hand. For this date, he’ll be here to lead a superlative trio with Calvin Keys at its heart. We’re proud and overjoyed in anticipation of presenting what promises to be an exceptional night of jazz.