In the world of jazz guitarists, Brian Nova is at the tippy top.

He is a highly respected player who has performed on stages from small swanky clubs to New York City’s Lincoln Center (a recent, special show with rock and roller Steve Miller). He probably even played in some of Sonoma’s rooms, as he lived here in the Sonoma Valley in the early 2000s.

Nova returns to the Valley of the Moon to perform at the Sebastiani Theatre in a 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12 matinee, produced by the Sonoma Valley Jazz Society in partnership with the Sebastiani Theatre.

During a recent phone interview from his home in the Seattle area, Nova explained that he will be performing with “a small big band,” featuring Terry Miller on bass, Niel Levonius on trumpet, Dr. Aaron Lington on alto saxophone, Brett May playing tenor saxophone, Dan Gordon playing the trombone, and Marc Russo on the piano. Nova will quite ably handle the guitar duties and the vocals.

“We are going to be dipping into the Ray Charles and some Sinatra charts…but I’ve also got some new Quincy Jones, well, new for me, that I want to tackle. I have a new arrangement for an Emerson, Lake, and Palmer tune that I love. And a tune from The Cars,” Nova said.

The guy is supremely talented and wherever he directs his band, it will be a path worth following.

In a brief “Gear Tales” note, Nova is sponsored by Benedetto Guitars, makers of some of the finest jazz style guitar in the world. Nova himself plays a “Bravo Elite,” a model he thought might be discontinued. He said, “Call them up and tell them you want the Brian Nova model, they will know what you want.” Of course, you should save up about $18,500 before you place your order.

Nova also prefers to play his Benedetto through an acoustic-image amplifier.

Jazz lovers should consider this concert by Brian Nova and his band to be a must-see show. Tickets are available at sebastianitheatre.org.