Pianist Steve Rudolph, based in Harrisburg, PA, is on tour with Ali Ryerson; and after a week of workshops with her in the Carmel Valley, leads a trio at Bird & Beckett in the eve of their concert at Piedmont Piano.  Bassist John Wiitala and drummer Akira Tana are two of the finest, most experienced jazz players in the Bay Area, and lend ample support to a pianist who’s been called “a savvy, swinging, glimmering heavyweight… …simply outstanding.” The winner of the Jazziz Magazine Piano Competition at the Seven Springs Jazz Festival in 2000, he was also awarded two Jazz Composition Fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.