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 the 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 at San Francisco's favorite nightclub, Harry Denton’s Starlight Room (www.harrydenton.com) on the 21st floor of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel (since 1995). He performed over 1,500 nights at the Starlight Room with his group, The Starlight Orchestra, playing everything from jazz to bossa novas, standards, Motown, Disco and contemporary R & B. The Kent Strand Trio performed at the Cityscape Bar and Restaurant at the San Francisco Hilton for Sunday brunches from 1999 to 2007. Kent has 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 and Martin Short. He performs regularly with members of Santana, Starship , War, the Steve Miler Band, Sheila E, Pete Escovedo, Prince and Boz Scaggs. Kent's experience includes studio work, backing shows in Las Vegas and 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, Robin Williams, and Danielle Steel. The Kent Strand Quartet consists of piano with upright bass, drums or a horn (sax or trumpet). Top Bay Area vocalists or instrumentalists can be added to Kent's trio. 2006 events: The Kent Strand Trio was the featured entertainment for the SF Opera Gala, the Junior League benefit, the Bloomingdale Grand Opening party at the St. Regis for the CEO, owners, politicians and local dignitaries, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Stop Aids Benefit, The Smile Train Benefit with Alex Trebek, Kaiser Permanente, McGraw-Hill, Wells Fargo, Forbes, Bechtel, etc. 2007 events: Private party for Bill Marriott, Chairman and CEO of Marriott International at the San Francisco Marriott, David Castro of HBO event, the San Francisco Hotel Hero event at the Palace Hotel for the San Francisco Hotel Association, a noon time concert at Santa Clara University, SemiCon West Trade Show, Hartford Insurance event in Freeport, the Bahamas, Mitsui & Co, Yahoo, California Restaurant Assn.,Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Genentech, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant General Managers party, etc. 2008 events: The San Francisco Hotel Hero Event at the Westin St. Francis, the Monterey Jazz Festival Gala for Clint Eastwood, the National Association of Catering Executives Gala at the InterContinental San Francisco, Ford at the Four Seasons Hotel, an in-house event for the St. Regis Hotel's national meeting, coordination and playing for the Starwood Hotels and Resorts GM conference for eight hotels, Time Magazine event at the Ritz Carlton San Francisco, Jazz at Pearl's, Moose's Restaurant Sunday brunches, Macy's, the Grand Opening of the InterContinental San Francisco, etc. 2009 events: Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Linkshare at the Palace Hotel, RSA Conference at the Four Seasons Hotel, Texas Roadhouse, American Society of Travel Agents at the St. Regis Hotel, the AT & T Golf Tournament in Carmel, 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! August 7, 2008 Westin St. Francis event: You and your group were wonderful, no wonder INROADS wanted you again this year! Reviewed in Keyboard Magazine. February 2004 http://www.keyboardmag.com Kent Strand is one of today's best-kept secrets in piano jazz. He isn't flashy, though he commands a formidable technique. Being a definite admirer of Bill Evans, Kent chooses tight, concise, extremely lyrical phrasing, yet his music breathes. On his new album he plays well-chosen standards in the style of the great masters. Every tune shows his clarity of ideas and his mastery of economy. His extensive experience with jazz great such as Cab Calloway, Benny Carter and Doc Cheatham make it a shame that he hasn't had wider recognition. This is a great classic trio jazz piano that can only come as a result of thoughtful introspection and year of hard work. Written by Anthony Comisso/Editor/Keyboard Magazine.