Pianist

Keyboards

Christian Sands, pianist, composer and band leader, is one of the new protagonists of the contemporary jazz scene. “A jazz star of the future,” Wynton Marsalis defined him in unsuspecting times. His musical culture allows us to maintain strong ties with our roots; at the same time, Sands is a forward-leaning artist. 

Christian Sands Trio

Teatro Morlacchi

In June 2023, Yo-Yo Ma played the final notes of Bach’s Cello Suites in Nairobi. They marked the end of a five-year, six-continent journey, a search for answers to the questions that have in many ways defined his career: What is culture’s role in society? How can culture help us imagine and build a better future?

Now, in a special program combining music and conversation, Yo-Yo will be joined by two friends he met along the way, Angélique Kidjo and Jeremy Dutcher, visionary artists whose generosity and perspective have guided him toward hope. Performing together for the first time, Ma, Kidjo, and Dutcher call on us to contemplate the great questions of life and art: What has brought us here? And where will we choose to go next?

EPSG:4326

An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma

Gaillard Center

Christian Sands — Steinway Artist and five-time Grammy nominee — is an emerging jazz force. His abundant piano technique perfectly matches his conception, accomplishing a much deeper musical goal: a fresh look at the entire language of jazz. Christian says, “My music is about teaching the way of jazz and keeping it alive.” Whether it’s stride, swing, bebop, progressive, fusion, Brazilian, or Afro-Cuban, Sands develops the past while providing unusual and stimulating vehicles for the present and future. He expresses himself through an extensive vocabulary of patterns, textures and structures. He also maintains a strong sense of understatement, sensitivity, taste, and swing — hallmarks of his style.

Dakota

Christian Sands Quartet, jazz

Clayton State University

Experience the magic of jazz at its finest with the Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour, featuring an ensemble of jazz luminaries including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling, Lakecia Benjamin, Christian Sands, Yasushi Nakamura, and Clarence Penn. This special event is set to take place on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 8:00 PM at The Music Center at Strathmore.

Celebrating its 65th anniversary, the Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the jazz world's most enduring and essential institutions. The tour brings together an unparalleled lineup of talent, with NEA Jazz Master, Grammy and Tony Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater and Grammy winner Kurt Elling leading the charge. Under the musical direction of five-time Grammy nominee Christian Sands, this ensemble promises an unforgettable evening of jazz excellence.

The performance will showcase the artistry of 2020’s DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star Alto Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, alongside the dynamic rhythm section of bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Clarence Penn. This event is not just a concert but a celebration of jazz's rich history and its vibrant future.

Co-presented with Strathmore, the Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour is a highlight of Washington Performing Arts’s The World in Our City initiative, promoting cross-cultural understanding and cultural diplomacy. Don't miss this opportunity to savor the world-renowned sound of the Monterey Jazz Festival right here in the DMV.

Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour

The Music Center at Strathmore

One of the jazz world’s longest-running and most-iconic events, the Monterey Jazz Festival celebrates its 65th year with a must-hear once-in-a-lifetime ensemble. Featuring Tony- and Grammy Award-winning NEA Jazz Master vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater alongside Grammy Award-winning vocalist Kurt Elling and critically acclaimed rising-star saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, this stellar band will be directed by visionary pianist Christian Sands and anchored by his longtime rhythm section, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Clarence Penn.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

For 65 years, the Monterey Jazz Festival has played host to the greatest names in jazz. Now hear a collection of outstanding jazz stars in one performance as the Monterey Jazz Festival goes on tour.

McCallum Theatre

The illustrious Monterey Jazz Festival once again sends six of its finest jazz ambassadors to Berkeley as part of its popular touring program. Multiple-Grammy-winning vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater, among the “best-rounded and unique jazz vocalists singing today” (All About Jazz), and Kurt Elling, “the standout male jazz vocalist of our time” (The New York Times), scat, swoon, and soar as they bring swing standards, moody ballads, bop favorites, and Latin hits to life. The hard-swinging band is led by pianist Christian Sands, with rising-star saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin (Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys), and the well-oiled rhythm section of bassist Yasushi Nakamura (Wynton Marsalis, Hank Jones) and drummer Clarence Penn (Betty Carter, Maria Schneider).

Christian Sands

Pianist, Keyboards

Events

Past events

Jul 18, 2024

Christian Sands Trio · Umbria Jazz

May 30, 2024

An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma · Spoleto Festival USA

About

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