Bennet Paster Trio

Pianist Bennett Paster brings his latest album Radiance to life with a trio performance showcasing music "at the crossroads of beauty and groove." Known for his creative versatility across jazz, Latin, and funk, Paster has performed with jazz luminaries including Wallace Roney, Bill Stewart, and Billy Hart, and has released nine albums as a leader. His fluent pianism and distinctive musical voice blend soul jazz, boogaloo, blues, and funk with singable melodies and modern harmonic sophistication.

Radiance represents Paster's search for music as an antidote to our complex world—something to "settle, soothe, and smooth the wrinkles of our modern lives." The album synthesizes classic soul jazz influences like Bobby Timmons and Ray Bryant with contemporary twists, featuring what Jazz Journal describes as "catchy but cleverly constructed jazz" with "palpable joy." Tracks like "Pyramid Breakfast" earned praise from JAZZIZ for its "giddy excitement" and movement from "late-night Chicago blues" into "boogaloo territory with funky, New Orleans second-line rhythms."

Joining Paster are Bay Area bassist Josh Thurston-Milgrom, a 16-year veteran of Stanford Jazz Workshop who has collaborated with Chicago luminaries Von Freeman and Bobby Broom, plus Kurt Rosenwinkel during three years in Berlin, and SJSU Professor of Jazz Studies Jason Lewis, an in-demand drummer who has performed with Gary Burton, James Moody, Kurt Elling, and Boz Scaggs.

Critics describe Paster's approach as "intelligent and soulful," with Contemporary Fusion Reviews calling Radiance "one of the most fascinating albums I've listened to (yet) in 2023." The music balances accessibility with substance—groove-centered compositions that are "satisfyingly listenable while still substantial and genuine," perfect for the intimate listening environment at Mr. Tipple's.