“[Barron is] the most lyrical piano player of our time.” - Jazz Weekly

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SFJAZZ is excited to partner with Diablo Regional Arts Association and the Lesher Center Presents Headliners series on its first ever season of concert events in Contra Costa County. Curated by SFJAZZ this thrilling line-up of internationally recognized jazz artists launches its inaugural residence at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts during the 2025-26 Season. 

ABOUT KENNY BARRON
Honored by the National Endowment for the Arts as a 2010 Jazz Master, Kenny Barron has an unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies, and infectious rhythms. The Los Angeles Times named him “one of the top jazz pianists in the world” and Jazz Weekly called him “the most lyrical piano player of our time.”  

The Philadelphia native started playing professionally as a teenager with Mel Melvin’s orchestra and Philly Joe Jones. He moved to New York City at 19 and freelanced with Roy Haynes, Lee Morgan, and James Moody. Upon Moody’s recommendation, Dizzy Gillespie hired Barron in 1962 without even hearing him play a note. In the early 1970s, Barron began working with Yusef Lateef, whom Barron credits as a key influence on his art for improvisation. Encouraged by Lateef to pursue a college education, Barron balanced touring with studies, earning his degree from SUNY Empire State College. By 1973, Barron joined the faculty at Rutgers University as a professor of music. He held this tenure until 2000, mentoring many of today’s young talents, including David Sanchez, Terence Blanchard, and Regina Belle. In 1974, Barron recorded Sunset to Dawn, his first album as a leader which led to over 50 others, including a duo album with Stan Getz which led to the first of 14 Grammy nominations. Barron has also received honorary doctorates from SUNY Empire State College and the Berklee College of Music and was awarded the Jazz Journalists Association’s Best Pianist distinction (his eighth) in 2024. 

ABOUT TYREEK McDOLE
Tyreek McDole, a 24-year-old Haitian-American vocalist from sunny Florida with a string of prestigious awards to his name, stands out as a rising star in the New York music scene. He received a degree in jazz performance from The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, under the guidance of esteemed instructors LaTanya Hall, Gary Bartz, Gerald Cannon, Eddie Henderson, Billy Hart, Dan Wall, Sullivan Fortner, and Weedie Braimah. McDole has shared the stage with an impressive roster of musicians, including Theo Croker, NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz, Miki Yamanaka, Mike King, Rodney Whitaker, Winard Harper, Marcus Printup, Eric Reed, Carl Allen, Victor Goines, and many others. 

With his roots firmly planted in the musical soil of the Caribbean, New York, Florida, and beyond, McDole now casts his spell on the bustling streets of New York City, leaving an indelible mark on the vibrant tapestry of worldwide music and made his Artwork Records debut with the June 2025 release of Open Up Your Senses.

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