“A 21st Century Art Tatum “ — The Guardian

“Bollani relishes the challenge of making a box of hammers and strings into something that breathes and sings. “ — The Telegraph

Stefano Bollani Trio

• Stefano Bollani – piano
• Jesper Bodilsen – bass
• Morten Lund – drums

Calling Stefano Bollani the most prodigiously gifted pianist on Italy’s talent-laden jazz scene doesn’t begin to capture the esteem he inspires in his colleagues. Over the past decade Bollani has worked with American masters Lee Konitz, Pat Metheny, and Phil Woods, while Chick Corea collaborated with Bollani on the celebrated 2011 double piano album Orvieto (ECM). For this rare Bay Area appearance Bollani performs with his working band featuring the remarkable Dutch rhythm section tandem of bassist Jesper Bodilsen and drummer Morten Lund, a trio documented most recently on the Brazilian-inflected ECM album Stone In the Water. Born in Milan in 1972, the conservatory-trained Bollani made his professional debut at 15. He gained widespread recognition through his work with trumpet great Enrico Rava, a progressive force on the European jazz scene since the mid 1960s, and in recent years Bollani has risen in stature to that of a national celebrity in his homeland. An audaciously inventive improviser who draws inspiration from many musical and literary sources, the pianist possesses an exquisite touch, a rambunctious sense of humor, and a knack for elegant concision. With a vast repertoire encompassing Monk and Zappa, Dorival Caymmi and Francis Poulenc, he’s also a prolific composer with a treasure trove of memorable melodies.

Sponsored by Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco