MUSIC

Stevie Wonder is indubitably one of America's greatest popular composers. He has written hundreds of songs, including more than thirty Top Ten hits. He has earned countless honors, including more Grammy awards than any other male recording artist. He's even President Obama's favorite musician. His songs are more than radio-friendly pop confections; they have the kind of rich harmonies and narrative forms that jazz improvisers love to play.

Stanford Jazz Workshop pianists Joe Gilman and Bennett Paster have both been deeply influenced by Stevie Wonder's music, and each has a different perspective on these classic tunes. Gilman's unique acoustic jazz trio arrangements put a contemporary twist on many of Stevie's most beloved tunes with complex grooves and spontaneous interplay, as heard on his albums View So Tender: Wonder Revisited Volumes 1 and 2.

Paster draws upon his mastery of diverse musical styles, including modern jazz, rhythm and blues, and funk, to create compelling contexts for his adventurous improvisations. Celebrate the legacy of one of America's most beloved songwriters with these two phenomenal pianists and a spectacular cast of Stanford Jazz artists.