Keystone Korner Baltimore Announces Cyrus Chestnut & Steinway Coordination; Additional Performances Added

As previously announced, NEA Jazz Master Todd Barkan and Michelin-starred chef Robert Wiedmaier are set to relaunch Keystone Korner, the legendary San Francisco (and later) Tokyo club that set the standard for jazz performance in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. The venture marks the first large-scale jazz club in the region since the demise of the beloved Ethel’s Place and Blues Alley Baltimore in the late ’80s.

The impresario, a NEA Jazz Master and the former programming director of Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the chef, proprietor of 11 restaurants in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey, will be bringing together world-class music and top-flight cuisine in Baltimore’s booming Harbor East.

Set to open on April 30 with the Ron Carter Trio, coinciding with International Jazz Day and Carter’s 82nd birthday, Keystone Korner is actively adding more performances to their already impressive schedule. Most recently added include Irene Jalenti, The Hot Club of Baltimore, Lafayette Gilchrist with Sonic Masters, Azar Lawrence, Mike Kuhl, Gary Bartz, Roy Ayers, James Carter and Christian McBride.

Already on the schedule over the coming months, the venue will host some of jazz’s most recognized and important artists, including Ron Carter, Kenny Garrett, Bill Charlap, Joey DeFrancesco, The Cookers, Matthew Whittaker, Cyrus Chestnut, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, Steve Turre, Freddy Cole and more. A full schedule is included below.

Barkan is committed to providing the highest-quality sonic experience at the club. He enlisted Baltimore-native Cyrus Chestnut to assist in selecting the perfect Steinway piano for the room. As well, Joey DeFrancesco’s Viscount Legend JD Signature Model organ will be housed on-site.

Ticket prices range from $15 to $45 with performances at 7:00PM and 9:00PM Sunday through Thursday, and at 7:30PM and 9:30PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Doors open at 4:00PM and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. There are two seating options for each performance: premium seating is closest to the stage with the most direct views of the live performances, and general admission seating is farther from the stage but with the same excellent sound. Tickets are available online now.

Barkan is committed to dynamic pricing for the room, which will hold upwards of 200 patrons. He said he plans to keep ticket prices competitive — and setting aside affordable seats at every performance for students — will make this art form he has committed his life to available to as many people as possible.

“Our mission at Keystone Korner in San Francisco from 1972 to 1983 was to provide the best music in the world for the most affordable prices in the most loving environment,” says Barkan, “and that is still our fundamental goal in 2019 at Keystone Korner Baltimore. Here, we have the added blessing of joining forces with chef Robert Wiedmaier and his talented team, which ensures that the food and libations will be as inspiring and reasonably-priced as the phenomenal music.”

Click here to re-live the Keystone Korner through Barkan’s narrative.

April 30 – May 2 | Ron Carter Trio w. Russell Malone and Donald Vega

May 3 – 5 | Kenny Garrett Sextet

** May 6 | Irene Jalenti: Anima Latina

** May 7 & 8 | Duduka Da Fonseca/Maucha Adnet Quintet: Samba Jazz

& The Music of Jobim

** May 9 | Bill Charlap (solo)

** May 10 | Bill Charlap & Jon Faddis

** May 11 & 12 | Joey DeFrancesco Trio

** May 13 | Hot Club of Baltimore

** May 14 | Lafayette Gilchrist w. Sonic Trip Masters

May 15 – 19 | The Cookers w. Billy Harper, Donald Harrison,

David Weiss, George Cables, Cecil McBee, and Billy Hart

May 21 | Matthew Whitaker Quartet

May 22 – 26 | Cyrus Chestnut w. Buster Williams and Lenny White

(special guest Antonio Hart from May 24 – 26 only)

May 28 & 29 | DOUBLE BILL: Raul Midón & Sean Jones “Dizzy Spellz”

May 30 – June 2 | Kenny Barron Quartet w. Regina Carter,

Kiyoshi Kitagawa, and Justin Faulkner

** June 3 | The Baltimore Jazz Collective

June 4 | Todd Marcus Quintet

June 5 | Mike LeDonne’s Groover Quartet w. Eric Alexander,

Buster Williams, and Joe Farnsworth

June 6 – 9 | Steve Turre Sextet w. James Carter & Vincent Herring

“Bright Moments — The Music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk”

** June 10 | The Baltimore Jazz Collective

** June 13 | Oleg Butman & Natalia Smirnova Quartet w. Gary Thomas & Matthew Dwonszyk

June 14 – 16 | John Pizzarelli — Centennially Yours, Celebrating Nat King Cole

** June 17 | The Azar Lawrence Experience

** June 18 | Mike Kuhl Unity Project

June 20 – 23 | Freddy Cole Quartet w. Lionel Cole

** June 24 | The Baltimore Jazz Collective

June 25 – 26 | Janis Siegel Trio w. John DiMartino

** June 27 – 30 | Eddie Palmieri Sextet

** July 1 | The Baltimore Jazz Collective

** July 18 – 21 | Dr. Monty Alexander, CD w. JJ Shakur & Jason Brown

** July 25 – 28 | Gary Bartz Quartet

** August 1 – 4 | Roy Ayers

** September 13 – 15 | Christian McBride’s New Jawn

** September 26 – 29 | James Carter Organ Trio