Here's an unusual one that I suspect you'll like.
the trio is Peter Erskine (d), Michael Benita (DB) and Nguyen Le (g). The CD title is ELB
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001ENXWW/qid=1111004510/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-3782923-7255259
Le is a Vietnamese guitarman who brings Jimi Hendrix sensibilities to slow burning jazz groves. Erskine sure needs no intro. Benita is well known in Europe but a stranger on these shores. Too bad, because he is a great musician. This is some of the best guitar trio stuff I've heard in years (and I love guitar trios). I suspect one or two songs would be good set pieces and I can guarentee you'll love the rest.
You could check out Steve Khan, especially Let's Call This or Headline (Anthony Jackson or Ron Carter appearing on bass) Lyrical, straight ahead stuff, but Steve has a strong Latin side that he keeps restrained on these two. I suspect much of those two CDs would help you stretch and also please the crowd.
John Abercrombie has done a lot of trio stuff, but the trio with Erskine and Marc Johnson may come closest to what you are looking for. The Gateway trios lean to fusion.
Check out Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones. It's more subtle than it sounds at first. Though it may be too quirky for your setting.
--I should add that all of these guys are considered jazz players (though that's a dangerous label for Frisell) but they worlds away from Jim Hall. Pat Metheney has more in comon with him (They did a duet CD). Pat has a couple trio CDs out, per the following post.
I hope one of these proves useful.
In any case it sounds like you've got a nice gig going there. Good luck.
John
OK, one more: Out of sheer perversity I'll mention Terje Rypdal's two trio CDs on ECM with Miroslav Vitous and Jack DeJohnette. Though the tunes would probably get you fired and if they didn't, what he does on Karta certainly would. But you might enjoy the CDs in any case.
