Kent Strand has performed as a pianist at the top clubs and hotels in the Bay Area. From 1988 to 1995 he performed as a solo pianist and with his jazz trio at the Compass Rose at the Westin St. Francis Hotel and at the Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel. He also performed regularly at Stars Restaurant, the Ritz Carlton San Francisco, the Palace Hotel and for many corporate and private events. "One of today's best-kept secrets in piano jazz. A great classic jazz trio" February 2004 Keyboard Magazine review of Kent's latest CD. Kent is the Entertainment Director/Band Leader/Pianist at San Francisco’s favorite nightclub, Harry Denton's Starlight Room (harrydenton.com) on the 21st floor of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel (since 1995). His group, The Starlight Orchestra, performed at the Starlight Room from 1995 to 2005. The Kent Strand Trio performed at the Cityscape Bar and Restaurant at the San Francisco Hilton for Sunday brunches from 1999 to 2006. Kent had beem hired to performed with jazz greats Cab Calloway, Benny Carter, Mark Murphy, Kevin Mahogony and Doc Cheatham at jazz festivals throughout the United States. He has performed on National Public Radio on Garrison Keillor's Prarie Home Companion Show and on Billy Taylor’s Jazz Alive. He has backed comedians Bill Murray, Robin Williams, Paula Poundstone, Kathie Griffin and Martin Short. He performs regularly with members of Santana, Starship, War, the Steve Miller Band, Sheila E, Pete Escovedo, Prince and Boz Scaggs. Kent's experience includes studio work, backing shows in Las Vegas, performances on cruise ships, and performing at the George V Hotel in Paris in 1995 and 1997. He was the featured pianist for the 50th anniversary celebration of the United Nations where he played for the world's ambassadors. He has also performed for President Jimmy Carter, the King of Norway, the San Francisco Giants and Danielle Steel. The Kent Strand Trio consists of piano (or keyboard) with bass and either drums or a horn (sax or trumpet). 2006 Events: The Bloomingdale Opening at the St. Regis Hotel, the San Francisco Opera Gala, Bechtel, KPMG, Genetech, Novartis, Google, Forbes, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, the Kimpton Group, Danielle Steel private party, etc. 2007 Events: Kent played solo piano for Clint Eastwood and his golf tournament The Clint, solo piano for Bill Marriott for the Marriott Hotel General Managers, solo piano for the W Hotel Owners, the California Restaurant Association, Yahoo, the San Francisco Giants, the 2007 All Star Game, Mitsui, St. Jude Medical, the Semicon West 2007 trade show, weddings and private events. 2009 events: Society of Thoracic Surgeons at the Palace Hotel, RSA Conference at the Four Seasons Hotel, Texas Roadhouse at the Fairmont and Ritz-Carlton, American Society of Travel Agents at the St. Regis Hotel, the AT & T Golf Tournament in Carmel for Clint Eastwood, Institutional Venture Partners and BMW at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, the Guardsmen Sport Auction & Celebrity Dinner at the Fairmont SF, the Kent Strand Quartet performs for President Obama at the Westin St. Francis on October 15, 2009, San Francisco Food Bank, The Guardsmen, Oracle, Yahoo, the French Laundry, Deloitte Services and more to come!