Grammy Nominee Pianist Eigsti at Library

Jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader Taylor Eigsti again graces the stage at Wilton Library on Saturday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. in a Hot & Cool: Jazz at the Brubeck Room concert. Eigsti will be accompanied by vocalist Becca Stevens and bassist Harish Raghavan.

This is Eigsti's third appearance at the library where the Wilton community enthusiastically welcomes the talented musician.

This performance will include selections from Eigsti's latest CD, "Let It Come to You," as well as pieces from his newest CD to be released this May.

Edward Blanco of ejazznews.com writes of Eigsti's CD, "I was more than impressed by Let it Come to You. I was taken aback by the rich musical experience I had just heard. This is one recording not to be missed, trust me." A two-time Grammy Award-nominee for his debut CD for Concord Records, Lucky to be Me, Eigsti is quickly becoming known in the jazz world as a force to be watched. Wilton's own Dave Brubeck, for whom the library's performance space was named, remarked, "He's [Taylor] the most amazing talent I've ever come across. Remember him."

Mr. Eigsti's accomplishments at the age of 23 seem natural since he was labeled a child prodigy. By the age of 8, he had already began his stage career opening for his friend and piano mentor, David Benoit, and at 12, opened for Diana Krall and Al Jarreau, and shared the stage with Diane Schuur. He has had the opportunity to open for or play with such jazz greats as Dave Brubeck, Bobby Hutcherson, James Moody, Ernestine Anderson, Patti Austin and Red Hollaway, establishing him nationally and internationally.

The Saturday night performance includes Becca Stevens on vocals. Ms. Stevens hails from North Carolina and was brought up singing folk music from her native state accompanying her family band, the Tune Mammals. After a childhood of singing, dancing and acting, including a year-long touring performance of The Secret Garden, she graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts. She went on to the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC, where she received a BFA with high honors in vocals and jazz composition. Her current style is a blending and blurring of folk, jazz and pop, music that she makes with her band, the Becca Stevens Band.

Harish Raghavan was introduced to the bass at age 17 and has accomplished a great deal at the age of 24. He graduated from the music program at the University of Southern California, where he studied with John Clayton and has already performed with well-known musicians such as Ralph Moore, Kei Akagi, Bill Childs, Willie Jones III and countless others. He is also a composer and a teacher, participating in clinics and workshops to educate people on the arts.

Hot & Cool: Jazz at the Brubeck Room is made possible by a generous grant from the William and Karen Tell Foundation with special thanks to Catherine and Ed Romer, and Tish and Chris Brubeck. A reception follows the concert.

The suggested donation for the performance is $10 per person. Advance registration is strongly recommended due to the popularity of this concert series. Pre-registrants must arrive by 7:20 p.m. to be guaranteed seating; waitlisted and walk-in registrants will be seated after 7:20 p.m. if space is available.

For information, directions, and to register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org/events or call 203-762-3950, ext. 213. Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in the heart of Wilton Center.