Arts and Entertainment

Christian Sands returns for live jazz performance Oct. 27

Jazz pianist Christian Sands, who performed at Eisenhower Auditorium in 2019 with Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour, will return to the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, virtually, with a free concert celebrating his recent release “Be Water.” Credit: Anna WebberAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jazz pianist Christian Sands, who performed an on-demand streamed event in February 2021, will return to the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State for a live concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

Tickets are available online. Tickets also are available by phone at 814-863-0255 or in person at Eisenhower Auditorium from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. A grant from the University Park Student Fee Board makes Penn State student prices possible.

Read more about the concert here.

“Be Water,” Sands' third album for Mack Avenue Music Group, was released in 2020. On the expressionistic recording, the pianist-composer finds inspiration in water’s tranquility and power and muses on the possibilities offered by echoing its fluidity and malleability. Sands will be joined in the performance by bassist Russell Hall and drummer Clarence Penn.

In an interview with Downbeat, Sands said he knew the project would explore the concepts of water and flexibility with inspiration from a favorite quote by Bruce Lee: “Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water. ... Water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

“Be Water II,” a track from the album, was nominated for a 2021 Grammy Award in the Best Instrumental Composition category.

Sands also performed at Eisenhower in 2019 with Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour featuring Yasushi Nakamura, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Bria Skonberg, Melissa Aldana and Jamison Ross.

Watch a video of Sands discussing his version of the Blind Faith song “Can’t Find My Way Home.” Credit: Mack Avenue

Patricia Best and Thomas Ray, Charlotte Zmyslo, Nancy Gamble and Nancy J. Wolf sponsor the performance.

The John L. Brown Jr. and Marlynn Steele Sidehamer Endowment provides support.

Visit Center for the Performing Arts online for more information about the fall 2021 season events.

Safety first

The Center for the Performing Arts has the health and safety of its patrons in mind. Visit the center's COVID precautions webpage for more information on safety measures that have been implemented.

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Last Updated October 11, 2021

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