Need a quick cure for those pesky Vineyard midwinter blues?

Island jazz pianist Jeremy Berlin and guitarist Eric Johnson offered exactly that with an upbeat version of musical blues and jazz played for a packed house of delighted fans on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the West Tisbury library. The acclaimed Island duo featured a varied program of sweet chestnuts from the eclectic jazz song book — Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Steve Swallow, Jimmy Van Heusen — along with several haunting compositions of their own.

Jeremy Berlin: "Every time I play I realize how much I have to learn." — Dan Waters

Blues? What blues? And what a lovely and exciting way to enjoy the darkening of the late afternoon winter sky in West Tisbury. The new library provides a gracious concert space replete with large windows, sturdy and beautiful ceiling beams and an elegant instrument of sonic power and noble pedigree — a 1901 Brazilian Rosewood Steinway Model A-1, rebuilt and reconditioned lovingly by David Stanwood and voiced exquisitely by piano wizard Boaz Kirschenbaum.

With the first lilting riffs of the opener, Budo by Miles Davis, Mr. Berlin and Mr. Johnson took full advantage of it all to spellbind the audience. The second offering, Eric’s moving and reflective Opalescence, tightened the collective trance. By the third number, a brisk and lyrical Darn that Dream by Jimmy Van Heusen, the audience was willing to fly anywhere with the inspired artists. This included, among other kaleidoscopic moods, a visit to Nashville for The Tennessee Waltz, a steeple-like vertiginous meditation in Jeremy Berlin’s The Bell, and finally the scintillating impressions of Charlie Parker’s classic Caribbean-themed samba, Barbados.

Such a sophisticated and polished presentation is, in some measure, the result of a longstanding musical partnership. Jeremy and Eric have been collaborating in varieties of music for 14 years, often playing at cocktail parties and in restaurants. But in this special library gig, there was an almost palpable reverence evident in the tenderness of expression on both performers’ faces through the program.

Guitarist Eric Johnson and Mr. Berlin have collaborated for more than a decade. — Dan Waters

Asked about his preference for jazz, Jeremy Berlin said: “I feel that moving around among different musical genres makes my understanding and appreciation of each one greater. But I am in awe of jazz and the limitless ways one can express an idea or a thought. Jazz humbles the hell out of me, and I feel like gods have walked the earth playing it. Every time I play I realize how much I have to learn. I feel this about all good music played well, but I’m more critical of myself as a jazz player than in other realms.”

Midway through the performance Jeremy mentioned to the audience that the piano and the electric guitar occupy a similar tonal space. Later he expanded: “Both instruments spend a lot of time playing mid-range chords. So for example, if Eric is accompanying behind my solo, I’m not going to want to play the same kind of chords with my left hand that he is playing. So I’ll often solo with just the right hand, leaving the rest to him. This was hard to get used to in the beginning. I felt naked. Now I love it.”

Both musicians expressed their appreciation for the size and the sincerity of the audience, and they have made plans to do more Sunday recitals, supported enthusiastically by the library.

Jeremy Berlin and Eric Johnson can also be found every Tuesday at the Offshore Ale House from 6 to 8:30 p.m., and Eric plays solo there on Wednesdays. Jeremy Berlin is, of course, also the keyboardist for Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish, and he welcomes everyone to come to Valentine’s Day at the Ritz. “We’ll be there playing our brand of love.”

Gerry Yukevich lives in Vineyard Haven.