Christian Sands to return for live jazz performance Oct. 27 at Eisenhower

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

Purchase tickets, which are $38 for an adult, $15 for a University Park student, and $28 for a person 18 and younger. Tickets are also 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. 

“Be Water,” his 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 Sands discuss the making of “Be Water.” 

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

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

Safety first

The Center for the Performing Arts has the health and safety of our patrons in mind. Visit Covid Precautions for more information on the center’s safety measures.