Tammy Hall "The Songs I Love"

Grammy-winning pianist Tammy L. Hall presents her intimate "Songs I Love" series, where she pays tribute to the mentors and influences who shaped her four-decade career. This special program honors jazz legends including Etta Jones, Ernestine Anderson, Houston Person, Mary Lou Williams, and Nina Simone — artists who helped define Hall's warm, intuitive musical voice.

Hall's playing style fuses jazz, gospel, and classical approaches with what JazzTimes describes as "an uncluttered, telegraphic style marked by her classical training and deep roots in gospel" that "combines elegance and grit." Her fierce left hand and supremely soulful touch have made her one of the Bay Area's most in-demand accompanists, though in this setting she steps into the spotlight to share the music closest to her heart.

As KQED notes, Hall is "a consummate musician who cherishes elevating other artists," and her approach to performance reflects a deep empathy and musical understanding. NPR's Marian McPartland praised her playing as "warm and persuasive and a listener's delight."

Hall began playing at age four in Dallas, later studying at Mills College before spending formative years performing in Belgian clubs. She's collaborated with an impressive roster including Mary Wilson, Houston Person, Regina Carter, Marcus Shelby, and Kim Nalley, while also serving as a Lead Teaching Artist with SFJAZZ and winning Grammy recognition for her artistry.

This performance promises an evening of heartfelt storytelling through song, as Hall shares the music that has guided her journey and continues to inspire her artistic vision. Expect to hear both beloved standards and personal interpretations that reveal the deep musical relationships Hall has cultivated throughout her career.