Trombonist Charles Hamilton directed the Berkeley High jazz program for three decades, training the likes of Joshua Redman, Benny Green, Josh Jones and Peter Apfelbaum — all players who have gone on to world renown.  Born in San Francisco in the 1940s, Charles grew up in Louisiana, touring the region on trumpet with an R&B band while still in high school.  In 1965, he came back to study music at SFSU, switching to trombone, and taking teaching jobs in the Berkeley schools upon graduation.  In 1981, he hired on as band director at Berkeley High, and the rest is history.  Charles has often played at Bird & Beckett in the past, and we’re looking forward to him bringing in a trio that includes two top players with long, stellar track records on the local and national scene.

Guitarist Calvin Keys has a dozen records to his credit as leader, and has recorded as a sideman on innumerable others.  He put in serious playing time with Ray Charles and Ahmad Jamal as well as a slew of organ specialists including Jimmy Smith and Charles Earland,  He had a particularly fertile period in LA in the 1960s, playing with Red Holloway, Blue Mitchell and many others.  His bio is so much fun to read, I recommend you just follow this link and read it for yourself!

Bassist Joe McKinley grew up in Southern California, and began playing jazz in his teens in Santa Monica, coming up to the Bay Area in his early 20s.  Along the way he’s played with Sun Ra, Billy Higgins, Joe Henderson and more.  His experience with Sun Ra was made a strong impression, as did a year with Earl Fatha Hines in a small combo that included Calvin Keys.