Kenny Washington, with John R. Burr

Recently dubbed the “Superman of the Bay Area jazz scene” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Kenny Washington is a jazz virtuoso who thrills audiences with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and rapid-fire scatting. Ravi Coltrane has declared Kenny his favorite male vocalist, and Mark Murphy said in a Jazz Times interview that Kenny was the only contemporary male vocalist carrying on the tradition.

The thing is, Washington slays ’em wherever he performs. Standing not quite five-foot-two, he’s an oversize talent who can scat with the harmonic daring and rhythmic command of a bebop saxophonist, croon with the simmering soul of Donny Hathaway, and interpret standards with such intelligence and emotional commitment it’s like Rodgers and Hart wrote “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” with him in mind.”

- Andrew Gilbert, eastbayexpress.com

Pianist John R. Burr combines a jazzy style with a love of folk music and singer-songwriters, and has lent his talents to recordings by the Alison Brown Quartet and Paul McCandless, among others. McCandless returned the favor by guesting on Burr’s debut solo effort, 1998’s Piedmont Avenue.