Although Conrad Tao also has classics by Rachmaninov or Maurice Ravel in his repertoire, his own works or jazz standards by Billy Strayhorn or Stephen Sondheim roll off his fingers just as casually. The American-Chinese pianist is a connector, a smart communicator. He comes across as approachable and sociable – regardless of whether he is explaining Prokofiev’s 3rd Piano Concerto on his YouTube channel with a full hipster beard or kicking up dust playing Bach on the melodica in street subways. When he talks about music, he moves his hands as if he were unrolling his thoughts from a spindle. He speaks while playing, and he plays while speaking.