The Brian Andres Trio

The Brian Andres Trio delivers jazz in its purest form—the timeless conversation of piano, bass, and drums exploring "ballads, blues and burners... exuberance, lamentation, subtle thought, wistful desire." Cincinnati-born drummer Brian Andres brings his kinetic rhythmic sophistication and deep knowledge of Afro-Caribbean traditions to this classic trio format, joined by pianist Erick Peralta and bassist Aaron Germain.

Andres is best known for leading the Brian Andres Trio Latino and his work with the Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel, where his "symphonic" approach to rhythm creates what critics describe as orchestral-level interplay. His drumming is characterized by an "in-built harmonic conception" that evokes other instruments, raising the music to new heights. Peralta, a Berklee graduate and San Francisco Community Music Center faculty member, has performed with multi-Grammy winners including Alejandro Sanz and Susana Baca, bringing versatility across jazz, Latin jazz, and salsa. Germain, a Bay Area mainstay since 2000, has collaborated with jazz luminaries like Yusef Lateef, Stanley Jordan, and Randy Brecker, equally at home on upright and electric bass across diverse genres.

The trio format allows each musician's individual voice to shine while creating what reviewers call "a conversational fourth voice which rises up like a spirit guide in the spaces and connections between them." Their performances balance considerable chops with invention and eloquence, whether tackling originals or reimagined standards. Expect to hear the influence of Andres's Latin jazz background woven into the traditional trio sound, with rhythmic explorations that draw from bomba, mambo, and other Afro-Latin traditions.

Bird & Beckett's intimate bookshop setting provides the perfect acoustic environment for experiencing this musical dialogue up close, where the interplay between three master musicians creates magic in the spaces between the notes.