The 2023 season kicks off with a solo piano performance by renowned jazz pianist Christian Sands, whose abundant piano technique accomplishes a much deeper musical goal: a fresh look at the entire language of jazz. The power and prowess of his playing has taken him to the Kennedy Center, Newport Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival (where he served as Artist-in- Residence and as Music Director for MJF on Tour), Detroit Jazz Festival, and to New York’s celebrated jazz clubs. McBride was last at SMF in 2014 when he performed as part of Christian McBride’s Trio.