Yes, it is true, our special guest tonight does change the configuration from a trio to a quartet. But let's talk about the classic trio format first. In addition to the wide-ranging, genre-hopping piano wizardry of Sam Rudin, we can be sure that there will be some wonderful chemistry between Jeremy Steinkoler, Sam's always on-point first call drummer, and bassist Sam Bevan.

Not only does Bevan (who is recently returned from NYC, where he was part of that jazz scene for 15 years) have the necessary skills to go in whatever direction the band happens to go, he is also old friends with Jeremy. Years ago, they played together all the time, and he and Jeremy have established a great musical bond!

And in those earlier, pre-NYC days, Bevan made other connections too. He was for instance a member of the legendary David Grisman band. AND, he was a long time member of Mads Tolling's great band, the Mads Men. And if you aren't familiar with Mads Tolling, you should know that he is one of the most highly regarded jazz violinists anywhere! It is not surprising that his last two appearances here were sold out. He does that a lot!

Which brings us to this show. Mads has graced The Back Room stage on several occasions, and he was kind enough to express interest in guest starring for a night with Sam's Corner. When he heard that his old bandmate Sam Bevan would be holding down the bass position on Nov 23, he knew that this was the ideal night for that guest appearance.

So we are excited that is not only the first time for Mads to be part of Sam's Corner, but is also the first time in many years for Sam B and Mads to reunite. It is going to be a great evening!

In case you don't know, although Sam's repertoire stylistically spans the entire 20th century of American music, and includes some unexpected delights, it revolves mainly around the well-known intersection of blues and jazz.

It also relies heavily on the boldest sort of improvising. Sam (Rudin) is likely, after the first verse, to jump off a musical cliff, just for the sheer joy of seeing where he will land. In Sam (Bevan) and Jeremy, he has found willing partners for these courageous leaps. And there is no question that Mads is of the same nature. By mutual consent, their adventures stay within conventional boundaries of harmony and rhythm. But that still leaves a lot of room for exploring the exciting world of "Hey, what's that over there!?"

"Sam has wowed audiences with a vivid keyboard style that blithely embraces jazz and blues, barrelhouse, boogie-woogie, and be-bop." - Andrew Gilbert, Berkeleyside

Tickets are $25 general admission. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show.

Doors open 30 minutes before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door.

The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.

To join our mailing list, please click here.

Thank you for your support!

Please refrain from using your phone during performances, and if you use your camera or video, please disable the flash.

Although masks are no longer required, we strongly encourage their use to keep everyone safe in our intimate space.