Will Kjeer Trio feat. Dan Chmielinski & Anthony Ty Johnson

Will Kjeer (piano), Dan Chmielinski (double bass), Anthony 'Ty' Johnson (drums)

2019 Yamaha Young Performing Artist Will Kjeer has achieved international recognition as a jazz musician drawing from a wide array of genres to create lyrical, forward thinking chamber music. Whimsical and adventurous, Will seeks to tell stories through his craft, inspired by classical song forms and folklore as well as notes of rock and classic pop. A graduate student at the prestigious Juilliard School, Will is the 2018 winner of the Angel City Jazz Festival Young Artist Competition, an alum of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead and of the Steans Music Institute, a Jazz Fest Bonn International JazzBeet Competition finalist, 2022 Ravinia Bridges Composition Competition Winner, and is proud to have performed for Herbie Hancock as one of five piano finalists for admission to the Thelonious Monk Institute. 

Will's style and intentionality caught the ear of drumming pioneer Dave King (The Bad Plus) early on, leading to King producing and performing on Will's debut album, recorded during the pandemic and due for label release in 2023. Other mentors of note include master composer Billy Childs and pianist/composer Josh Nelson, both West Coast visionaries who Will first met during his undergrad at the California Institute of the Arts. 

Will has shared the stage with many world-class performers including drumming pioneer Dave King of The Bad Plus, Saxophone icon Jerry Bergonzi, international drum sideman Adam Nussbaum, European voice master Sinne Eeg, legendary American troubadour Larry Long, and bassist/producer Billy Peterson (Bob Dylan, Steve Miller, Prince). Joining Will in his trio at Sam First are Dan Chmielinski (GRAMMY award-winner & Juilliard alumni) and fellow Calarts alum Anthony 'Ty' Johnson, touring drummer for the Tony Award-winning Hadestown.

All shows at Sam First are 21+ (no one under the age of 21 will be permitted)

Show Times: 7:30pm & 9:00pm, and a separate ticket is required for each show.

Notice of Recording: Sam First live streams and records all concerts. By entering Sam First, you understand that your image and/or voice might be included in those recordings. Sam First reserves the right to use any photography, video or audio recording taken at this event, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video.