Seventh Annual Redwood Coast Whale & Jazz Festival Brunch & Jazz with keyboard artist Greg Hester Redwood Grill Sunday, April 5, 2009 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

On Sunday, April 5, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., enjoy Brunch & Jazz, held again at Redwood Grill in Anchor Bay, which is gaining popularity for hosting local events vis-à-vis cuisine and/or live entertainment.

This year keyboard artist Greg Hester will play solid mainstream jazz, standards and bebop. Redwood Grill's regular menu is available, reservations are recommended. MC/VI (707) 884-1639.

Greg Hester: Keyboard

Greg Hester started playing professionally in 1974. He moved to Holland in 1976 and became friends with Johnny Griffin while working in Amsterdam. Hester lived and performed in Holland and Germany on and off thru 1979 working with his own band and with alto sax player Allen Praskin.

He has performed jazz festivals in Frankfurt, Germany and here on the west coast in San Jose, Sonoma, Healdsburg and Calistoga, with the likes of Allan Dawson, Louis Bellson, Ron Crotty, Eddie Duran, Don Moye, Babatunde Lea, Richie Cole, Seward McCain, Mel Graves, Max Hartstein and Dean Reilly.

Hester currently works with Lee Charlton, Yancy Taylor, Vernelle Anders, Elena Welch, Rob Wright, Jim Passarell, Ernie Shelton and others. His main influence is east coast jazz where favorites include Bud Powell, Barry Harris, Kenny Barron, Sonny Clark, Tommy Flannigan, Monk, Kenny Drew, Wynton Kelly, Red Garland and Hampton Hawes (from the west coast). He was also greatly influenced by sax players Griffin, Stitt, Parker, Gordon, Coltrane, Webster, Hawkins and Young.