Billy Childs Trio

Fri, May 15

*PLEASE NOTE: All 6PM and 8PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows $25.00 / $40.00 / $50.00 / $55.00 – Wed, Thu, Fri & Sun $25.00 / $50.00 / $60.00 / $65.00 -- Sat Billy Childs – piano Matt Penman – bass Ari Hoenig – drums “One of the most critically acclaimed pianists in modern jazz”
– All About Jazz Renowned pianist and composer Billy Childs performs the music for his new album, Triumvirate, his first trio recording in 25 years. This exciting new release harnesses the energy and creative prowess of his touring group — bassist Matt Penman and drummer Ari Hoenig — who appear with him here. A native of Los Angeles, Childs grew up immersed in jazz, classical, and popular music influences, which he blends in a powerful and personal compositional and performing voice. A child prodigy who started performing at age six and studying at USC at 16, he was “discovered” by trumpet legend Freddie Hubbard, with whom he embarked on a successful performing and recording tour. He also recorded and performed with a number of other influential jazz musicians, including J.J. Johnson, Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Jack DeJohnette, and Dave Holland, among many others, and with such varied artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Renee Fleming, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Kronos Quartet. Downbeat reports, “The same creative spirit that’s propelled him from the bands of bop giants as a twenty-something side-player to a composer renowned throughout concert halls and across jazz festival stages remains unhampered.” The Los Angeles Times adds, “As a pianist, he possesses the improvisatory skills and powerful sense of swing one associates with world-class artists… Childs is an inventive composer and arranger whose effort in those areas consistently expand the dimensions of the jazz genre - and beyond.”