Jazz piano virtuoso supports new album with San Francisco, Santa Cruz shows

It’s been a fantastic spring for jazz music in the Bay Area, with such massive talents as Brad Mehldau, Kenny Barron and Terence Blanchard performing at our local venues.

And the trend joyfully continues as Hiromi returns to the Bay Area to play seven shows in five nights.

That adverb used above — joyfully — was very carefully chosen, given that few artists exhibit more pure joy during their concerts than Hiromi. Combine that aspect with the fact that she’s a first-tier jazz piano virtuoso — who can amaze with her fleet finger work and high-flying solos — and you’ve really got a performer worth catching in concert.

Fans have five chances to do just that as Hiromi celebrates the release of the new album “Out There” with her Sonicwonder quartet — featuring trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, bassist Hadrien Feraud and drummer Gene Coye — at SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco April 17-20. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. April 17-18, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. April 19 and 7 p.m. April 20. Tickets start at $30, sfjazz.org. (This marks a rather quick return trip to the venue for Hiromi, who just opened the 2024-25 SFJAZZ season back in September with a pair of duo gigs with legendary bassist Stanley Clarke.)

Hiromi’s Sonicwonder also performs at 7 and 9 p.m. April 21 at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz. Tickets start at $31.50, kuumbwajazz.org.