With Special Guest Bobby Hutcherson

When: Friday, June 6
Where: Raven Theater, 115 North St., Healdsburg
Time: 7:30 pm
Tickets: Reserved Seating $65 | $45

Elegance, impeccability, adventure, swing, dynamism, sass—these are some of the qualities Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes each bring to the grand piano. Put the two together— which is easy to do as they’re married — and you have something like the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of jazz piano. Yes, they are that good. After years of recording in their own respective bands and as sidepeople with a host of jazz greats, Bill and Renee released Double Portrait in 2010, and they’ll be assuming their tandem grand mode for the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.

As an added highlight, legendary jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson will play with Charlap and Rosnes during the evening. Hutcherson has been a mentor as well as stage partner for the piano duo over the years, and Healdsburg Jazz is proud to welcome the NEA Jazz Master him back to town.

Despite the virtuosity Renee and Bill share, each has found different routes to the keys. Whereas Bill Charlap has displayed uncommon devotion to the standard repertoire, Renee is a prolific composer and pretty much game for anything. Born to Broadway composer Moose Charlap and singer Sandy Stewart, Bill—a two-time Grammy nominee—has worked with Tony Bennett, Phil Woods, Gerry Mulligan and Benny Carter, among others. Since 1997 he has led a trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington that invites comparison to the great trios of Bill Evans. Bill Charlap on the web

A Canadian who has garnered four Juno awards (that country’s equivalent of the Grammys) and who recently discovered she has an East Indian heritage, Renee Rosnes has worked with Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson and J.J. Johnson. She served 20 years in saxophonist James Moody’s band, which gives you an idea of her bop bona fides, and she was the founding pianist for the SFJAZZ Collective. Visit Renee Rosness 

Double Portrait, their recording together, displays each of their proclivities, with tunes that include Double Rainbow” by Jobim, “My Man’s Gone” by Gershwin, “Inner Urge” by Joe Henderson, “Chorinho” by Lyle Mays and “Dancing in the Dark” by Deitz & Schwartz. At Healdsburg Bill and Renee definitely will be dancing.