Sullivan Fortner, Ian Shaw, Wendy Kirkland and many more for PizzaExpress Live’s 2024 Steinway 2-Piano Festival
Mike Flynn
Monday, January 8, 2024
The Steinway 2-Piano Festival returns to Pizza Express Live’s Holborn venue in March 2024 with a strong line up of some of today’s most highly regarded pianists
There are rare club appearances by the likes of Sullivan Fortner (a regular accompanist of Cécile McLorin Salvant) with talented North Carolina-raised pianist Sean Mason, while Don Grusin (younger brother of Dave) pairs up with Shakatak’s Bill Sharpe.
Further unique pairings include UK pianist Wendy Kirkland with Indian pianist/composer Charu Suri, while top Danish players Carsten Dahl and Nikolai Hess appear on the first night of Steinway and simultaneously the last night of Sounds of Denmark mini-fest (line up to be announced soon). The Steinway 2-Piano billing is as follows: Carsten Dahl & Nikolai Hess (21 March); Don Grusin & Bill Sharpe (22-23 March) Dom Pipkin ‘New Orleans Piano’ (lunchtime, 23 March); Wendy Kirkland & Charu (lunchtime, 24 March); Sultan Stevenson & Emile Hinton (evening, 24 March); Janette Mason & Dena DeRose (25 March); Ian Shaw with Jamie Safir (early eve, 26 March); Ian Shaw with James Pearson (late eve, 26 March) and Sullivan Fortner & Sean Mason (27 March).
Further international visitors performing at PizzaExpress Live in January/February include Dick Oatts, Silje Nergaard with Espen Berg, Jerry Bergonzi, Peter Bernstein with Jesse Van Ruller, and ex-Mingus sax player Ricky Ford.
For full details visit www.pizzaexpresslive.com/steinway-2-piano-festival
