Benny Green in San Francisco

Benny Green is an American jazz pianist born in New York City in 1963 and raised in Berkeley, California. His hard-bop and post-bop playing became known through his work with Betty Carter, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and the Ray Brown Trio, as well as albums under his own name including Greens and These Are Soulful Days. Benny Green toured with vocalist Betty Carter in the 1980s, then played in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Freddie Hubbard’s band before becoming the pianist in the Ray Brown Trio. As a bandleader, he documented his own trio on Testifyin’!: Live at the Village Vanguard.

Christian McBride is an American jazz bassist, composer and bandleader, born in Philadelphia in 1972. Known for his work on both acoustic and electric bass, he has recorded under his own name with groups including Inside Straight, New Jawn and Christian McBride Big Band. His albums include Gettin’ to It, The Good Feeling and Live at the Village Vanguard. In the 1990s, he toured and recorded in Joshua Redman’s quartet, whose lineup also included Brad Mehldau and Brian Blade. McBride later established a parallel live career with his own trios, quartets and large ensemble; a 2014 trio engagement at the Village Vanguard became a concert album. In 2016 he became artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival. Christian McBride plays frequently in New York, including engagements at Jazz at Lincoln Center. His West Coast appearances include concerts at SFJAZZ in San Francisco.