Two long-time associates —  both hard driving professionals with 50+ years under their belts — take the bandstand with a young bassist who has become one of the mainstays of the local jazz scene.

Pianist Don Alberts was born in the South Bay and made his mark on the San Francisco jazz scene in the early 1960s in venues including Jimbo’s Bop City, where he was house pianist for a stretch.  He’s a prolific composer and has put out several CDs, as well as books of jazz history, fiction and poetry.  Don has also recorded with the renowned bassist David Friesen and has shared the bandstand with the likes of Leroy Vinnegar, Chet Baker, Shorty Rogers and Bud Shank.

Drummer Art Lewis was born in New Orleans but began his jazz career in San Francisco, and studied under Philly Joe Jones. Like Don, he played in the bustling 1960s jazz scene at Bop City and the other major clubs in town, then moved to New York in 1968, playing there with prominent modern jazz players at clubs like the Village Vanguard, Slug’s, Ali’s Alley, The Tin Palace, The Public Theater, Jazz Workshop, and more.  Art has worked and recorded with Dewey Redman, Dexter Gordon, Clifford Jordan, Jon Hendricks, Sam Rivers, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson, John Handy, and others.

Don Alberts and Art Lewis, with the late bassist Don Russo.