A piano, a stool — this is the stripped-down setup chosen by Etienne Manchon to perform his “music of the present moment.” While songs from Broadway musicals have shaped the jazz standards repertoire for the past century, Etienne’s world has always drawn inspiration from a wide range of music — from the baroque operas of Henry Purcell to the modern jazz of Carla Bley, and from iconic female voices of French chanson such as Barbara and Pomme.

In this concert, the pianist unveils his own set of standards, weaving a thread between these diverse worlds and infusing them with the art of improvisation he masters so effortlessly. Melodies burst forth and intertwine, worlds collide, all united by the finely honed and spellbinding sound of Etienne Manchon’s piano.