Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Classical Voice
Ben Winkelman Trio | April 30–May 1
I wasn’t familiar with Australian-reared, New York pianist Ben Winkelman until receiving a copy of his recently released fifth album Balance (OA2 Records), which left me determined to catch him in performance. A startlingly impressive trio session focusing on his original tunes, the album brims with ideas and his love of Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Joined by the great New Zealand-born bassist Matt Penman, who spent a dozen years anchoring the SFJAZZ Collective, and the commanding Haitian-American drummer Obed Calvaire, a current member of the Collective, Winkelman plays with an idiosyncratic rhythmic feel informed by his love of Latin music and early jazz idioms. He brings the same stellar trio to San Francisco’s Black Cat for a two-night run.