Jazz phenom Taylor Eigsti dazzled the 240 audience members in attendance at the Patil Theater this evening at the first event of the Harker Concert Series’ 2018-19 season. Joined by longtime friend and celebrated saxophonist Dayna Stephens, as well as drummer Jason Lewis and bassist Zach Ostroff, the prodigy-turned-Grammy nominee performed several of his own compositions as well as his own interpretations of works by ­­­artists such as John Coltrane. Upper school music teacher Dave Hart, an accomplished trumpeter and a friend of Eigsti’s, also joined the band for a song, as did the new middle school music teacher Naoki Taniguchi.

As a bonus to the fantastic performance, guests enjoyed the variety of food and drinks available during the reception and intermission, held in the Rothschild Performing Arts Center’s spacious and elegantly decorated lobby.