John Beasley: From Invisible Piano to Unlimited Miles
With a new album arriving on May 8 and an all-star Miles Davis centennial concert coming to the Presidio Theatre on May 14, pianist, composer, and arranger John Beasley moves between inward reflection and large-scale tribute while keeping the piano at the center of both projects.
The Sextet David Weiss Spent Decades Building
Trumpeter and composer David Weiss brings his sextet and music from Auteur to SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab on May 17, closing a tour that has given this seasoned working band time to settle, stretch, and sharpen.
Gunhild Carling at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab
Gunhild Carling returns to SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab for four performances with her New Orleans ensemble, blending multi-instrumental virtuosity with a live approach centered on audience connection and real-time musical exchange.
Marcus Shelby Celebrates Miles Davis
Bay Area bassist and bandleader Marcus Shelby brings his New Orchestra to SFJAZZ's Miner Auditorium on May 10th for a deep dive into the Miles Davis nonet sessions that changed jazz.
Daniel Ho’s Many Roads to SFJAZZ
Ahead of his May 2 appearance at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab, Daniel Ho reflects on his Hawaiian roots, his wide-ranging musical path, and the quartet he’s bringing to San Francisco.
Aaron Diehl Finds the Space Between
Pianist Aaron Diehl brings his trio to SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium on April 26, drawing on early influences, Mary Lou Williams’s Zodiac Suite, and a refined sense of space and listening.
Lynne Arriale Brings Her Trio to Oakland
Ahead of her April 25 appearance at Piedmont Piano Company, pianist-composer Lynne Arriale reflects on the childhood ear that led her to jazz, the human values at the center of Being Human, and a trio set shaped by lyricism, optimism, and close listening.
Instant Alter Brings Future Fusion to SFJAZZ
Ahead of Instant Alter’s April 19 shows at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab, vocalist Natasha Agrama talks about the band’s roots, its stripped-down but harmonically rich sound, and the values driving music built for the present moment.
Ben Wendel on Improvisation and Yoshi’s
Ben Wendel discusses his musical beginnings, the openness of jazz, the thinking behind “On The Trail” and “Wanderers,” and the deep band chemistry behind his upcoming quartet appearance at Yoshi’s.
T.K. Blue Brings Randy Weston’s African Rhythms to SFJAZZ
Ahead of SFJAZZ’s three-night centennial tribute to Randy Weston in the Joe Henderson Lab, T.K. Blue reflects on Weston’s influence, the African Rhythms lineage, and the spirit behind these upcoming performances.
August Lee Stevens Brings Her Bay Area Voice to SFJAZZ
Ahead of four Joe Henderson Lab shows at SFJAZZ, East Bay singer-songwriter August Lee Stevens talks about the Bay Area roots that shaped her, songs drawn from public feeling and family memory, and a live set built for the room.
Monty Alexander Hears One Word: Music
Ahead of his SFJAZZ appearance, Monty Alexander reflects on growing up in Kingston, absorbing every sound around him, and shaping a musical language where jazz, blues, calypso, and Jamaican rhythm all belong to the same joyful conversation.
Lakecia Benjamin Keeps the Flame Burnin’
Ahead of her SFJAZZ UpSwing appearance, Lakecia Benjamin talks about her upcoming album We Dream, the spirit behind “Flamekeeper,” and the communal energy she wants her music to carry into the room.
Lenny White on Miles Davis’s Lessons
Drummer Lenny White reflects on what Miles Davis taught musicians about space, instinct, and personal voice. Ahead of SFJAZZ’s March 21 tribute, White speaks about Davis’s unusual guidance, his approach to teaching, and why this music still challenges players to think more deeply.
Eddie Henderson Carries Miles Davis Forward
Veteran trumpeter Eddie Henderson reflects on hearing Miles Davis live as a teenager, the lessons Miles passed on directly, and how those experiences shape his role in SFJAZZ’s sold-out March 21 tribute to Miles’s acoustic years.
Javon Jackson: From Dylan’s Poetry to Miles’ Precision
Veteran tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson discusses his new Bob Dylan tribute album, Jackson Plays Dylan, and reflects on the musical discipline, lineage, and economy that also shape his upcoming Miles Davis tribute at SFJAZZ.
Flying High at the Presidio: Waldowski and Fulton Celebrate Swing’s Leading Women
On March 15, the Presidio Theatre hosts Flying High: Still Soaring, a Women’s History Month tribute to the swing-era vocalists who shaped the Great American Songbook—led by producer Suzanne Waldowski and musical director Champian Fulton.
Roger Glenn's 50-Year Journey to "My Latin Heart"
After five decades of elevating the projects of jazz royalty, multi-instrumentalist Roger Glenn claims his narrative with a long-awaited statement of Afro-Caribbean identity.
Jack West on Innovation, Invention, and the “Acoustic Spank
A virtuoso guitarist and prolific inventor brings a "whole new sub-genre of jazz" to Berkeley for a double-bill performance celebrating a major return to the studio.
Sarah McKenzie: A Love Letter to San Francisco
Australian jazz star Sarah McKenzie brings her "breezy technical style" and "lyrical sense of swing" to Northern California, exploring the "soul" of San Francisco through her latest music.