The Actual Trio

Wednesday, April 25, 7:30 pm at  California Jazz Conservatory

The Actual Trio is a vehicle for the compositions of iconoclastic Bay Area guitarist John Schott (Junk Genius, T.J. Kirk). Bassist Dan Seamans (New Klezmer Trio, Lost Trio), and drummer John Hanes (Henry Kaiser, Victor Krummenacher) provide the foundation for Schott’s adventurous-but-accessible compositions, marrying deep pockets and joyful swing to wayward harmonies and spontaneous excursions. Ranging from joyful tributes to Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz and the Golden State Warriors to an anguished response to the 2016 election, the Actual Trio’s recent release Act II solidifies and deepens their singular identity.

About the Actual Trio, John writes: “I think trios thrive on independence and improvised conversation, so Dan, John and I always prioritize being in the moment and making it new. But we start from my compositions, which can get quite involved. My touchstones for this trio are Ellington in trio settings, Monk, Ahmad Jamal, and Horace Silver, while at the same time acknowledging that I play an electric guitar, not a piano. There is a much deeper tradition in jazz of piano trios rather than guitar trios. The way they orchestrated their compositions, each instrument playing parts, each group having its own distinctive groove, placing the beat just so, voicing chords just so. The directness, the concision, the simplicity, and the pride of rhythm sections.”

Jazz in the Neighborhood’s Wednesday night series at CJC is presented with financial support from AFM Musicians Union Local 6.

Tickets available through the CJC box office or at the door.
$20 general admission / $10 full-time students

Photo credit: Myles Boisen