THE CHRISTIAN SANDS TRIO MAKES BLUE LLAMA DEBUT

Christian Sands

Saturday evening, the Christian Sands Trio performed for the first time at the Blue Llama, the popular jazz club in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The pianist, a native of New Haven, Connecticut, is signed to Mack Avenue Records. The late pianist Billy Taylor was his mentor. In 2014, he was a finalist for the American Pianists Association Jazz Fellowship, and he was a key member of bassist Christian McBride's Grammy-winning trio. Sands told the audience he loves the intimacy of the Blue Llama and hopes to be invited back soon. Sands, drummer Jonathan Pinson and, bassist Yasushi Nakamura set the village on fire with music from Sands’ albums Reach and Facing Dragons.  Sands’ current style is a blend of early Herbie Hancock and the great Gene Harris. Harris was probably an indirect influence, but like Harris, Sands can play softly and rambunctiously within the same tune. The audience witnessed that when he stretched the piano to its limits on Rebel Music and Song of the Rainbow People. Mind you, he isn’t all piss and vinegar. Like Billy Taylor and Hank Jones, Sands can swing thoughtfully and elegantly. Their impact surfaced during Sands’ solo on Reaching for the Sun. As a leader, he likes to share the wealth. Midway through the set, he featured Nakamura. Most attendees probably didn’t expect or want to hear a lengthy bass solo, but Nakamura’s feature was jazz improvisation at its best. The trio followed with a reworking of Thelonious Monk’s Blue Monk, played with such raw feeling Monk would’ve gotten choked up hearing it. The set closed with iOyeme! This time around, Sands featured Pinson, who possesses a God-like command of the drums. Saturday was his first time performing with Sands. Sands met Pinson in Paris, and before he turned Pinson loose on the Blue Llama audience, Sands said jokingly he hired Pinson because of his ability to swing and hold his liquor. On iOyeme! Pinson was ferocious. Sands’ trio put on an incredible 90 Minute set and the Blue Llama would be smart to bring the trio back soon.