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09/15/2026

Introducing SFJAZZ Hot Seats: $10 Tickets All Season Long

We are excited to share a new initiative designed to make live music more accessible to the individuals who support our community every day.

Through the Hot Seats program, students, educators, and Bay Area nonprofit employees can attend 2026–27 Season performances in Miner Auditorium at the SFJAZZ Center for just $10 per ticket.

Program Details
Eligibility: Students, educators, and Bay Area nonprofit staff (with valid ID or proof of employment).

Price: $10 per ticket for select Left Terrace seating in Miner Auditorium.

How to Purchase: Available exclusively in person at the SFJAZZ Center Box Office.

On-Sale Schedule: Tickets for each month’s performances go on sale on the last Friday of the preceding month at 12:00 PM (limit 2 tickets per person per day).

September Hot Seats are now on sale. October concerts go on sale beginning September 25th!

Join us at the SFJAZZ Center to secure your seats for the upcoming month of performances.

Learn more at SFJAZZ.org

We are thrilled to welcome GRAMMY-nominated drummer, producer, and composer Blaque Dynamite to the SFJAZZ Center's Joe H...
09/15/2026

We are thrilled to welcome GRAMMY-nominated drummer, producer, and composer Blaque Dynamite to the SFJAZZ Center's Joe Henderson Lab on Sunday, October 4, 2026!

Known for his phenomenal energy and relentless technical precision, Blaque Dynamite (Mike Mitchell) has backed jazz and hip-hop titans like Herbie Hancock, Erykah Badu, Stanley Clarke, and Kamasi Washington. As a bandleader, his sound is an adventurous fusion of deep grooves, electronic beats, and fearless improvisation.

Experiencing Blaque Dynamite in the intimate setting of the Joe Henderson Lab is guaranteed to be a highlight of the season.

Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Venue: Joe Henderson Lab, SFJAZZ Center
Sets: 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM

Tickets are on sale now at SFJAZZ.org

Some standout shows in October at the SFJAZZ Center and beyond are right around the corner! The month of October brings ...
09/14/2026

Some standout shows in October at the SFJAZZ Center and beyond are right around the corner! The month of October brings a powerhouse lineup spanning genre-defying instrumental grooves, world-class vocal prowess, breathtaking guitar virtuosity, and international roots music. Experience four distinct musical journeys led by true masters of their craft: jazz fusion titans Snarky Puppy, celebrated vocal innovator Kurt Elling, global icon Lila Downs, and acoustic guitar trailblazer Julian Lage.

Snarky Puppy
Date: October 2, 2026
Venue: Paramount Theatre (Oakland)

Kurt Elling
Date: October 9, 2026
Venue: Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center

Lila Downs
Dates: October 15–18, 2026
Venue: Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center

Julian Lage
Date: October 19, 2026
Venue: Davies Symphony Hall

Tickets & Info > SFJAZZ.org

Few artists reshaped music like Miles Davis, and few musicians understand that legacy quite like Marcus Miller. This Sep...
09/14/2026

Few artists reshaped music like Miles Davis, and few musicians understand that legacy quite like Marcus Miller. This September, the iconic bassist, composer, and producer brings an extraordinary homage to the SFJAZZ Center.

We Want Miles: A Centennial Celebration dives deep into the high-voltage energy of Davis’s 1982 classic We Want Miles, while surveying his path-breaking career—from 1950s acoustic jazz to the game-changing Tutu and Amandla eras.

Joining Miller are fellow Miles Davis alumni Mike Stern, Bill Evans, and Mino Cinelu for a four-night event celebrating a titan of modern music.

Dates: September 24–27
Venue: Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center

Tickets: SFJAZZ.org

The Season 2026-27: Forward Motion launched last night at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco! This new season connects l...
09/11/2026

The Season 2026-27: Forward Motion launched last night at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco! This new season connects legendary jazz roots to the modern scene, bringing together rising stars and established masters who are actively shaping the future of the music.
 
We kicked things off with bass titan Christian McBride celebrating Ray Brown alongside a stellar trio: pianist Benny Green and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. Plus, rising Blue Note Records pianist Paul Cornish made his SFJAZZ debut with music from his new release, ‘You’re Exaggerating!’ joined by drummer Jonathan Pinson and bassist Jermaine Paul.
 
Season 2026-27: Forward Motion runs now through May 2027.

09/10/2026

Saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins weighs in on a huge range of subjects for this Jazz Takes episode, from his favorite clubs and seated versus standing audiences to vintage saxophones, jazz fashion, and the enduring power of “Careless Whisper.”

Full video on the SFJAZZ YouTube Channel

This week, we kick off our 2026–27 Season: Forward Motion—a bold new chapter led by SFJAZZ Executive Artistic Director T...
09/08/2026

This week, we kick off our 2026–27 Season: Forward Motion—a bold new chapter led by SFJAZZ Executive Artistic Director Terence Blanchard and CEO Gabrielle Armand. Across nine months and over 350 shows, the music moves with purpose and possibility, transforming our stages into a hub for innovation, collaboration, and discovery.

From centennial celebrations of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Ray Brown to performances by icons like Ron Carter, Dianne Reeves, and Branford Marsalis, the season connects legacy to the now. Rising stars and modern masters alike—from Isaiah Collier, Tyreek McDole, Brandon Woody, and Gabrielle Cavassa to Christian McBride, Hiromi, Julian Lage, and Cécile McLorin Salvant—drive the music forward.

With new flexible ticket packages and more, there’s never been a better time to jump in and experience jazz in motion.

Tickets + More Information > SFJAZZ.org

09/08/2026

Emmet Cohen & friends perform the classic Dizzy Gillispie & John Lewis composition ‘Two Bass Hit’ with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, bassist Rueben Rogers, saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, and drummer Joe Farnsworth absolutely crushing the top of the solo section with this iconic tune from the Miles Davis album 'Milestones.'

09/07/2026

Celebrate the centennial of legendary bassist Ray Brown in this SFJAZZ Jazz Minute. A pioneering force in bebop and one of the most influential bassists in jazz history, Brown helped shape the music through his work with Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, and many others. Known for his powerful tone, impeccable swing, and melodic brilliance, his impact continues to inspire generations of musicians. In honor of his 100th year, Christian McBride joins forces with Ray Brown's longtime collaborators Benny Green and Greg Hutchinson this September to open the new SFJAZZ Season with a special tribute celebrating Brown's enduring legacy and profound influence on jazz.

09/04/2026

Make It Jazz: SFJAZZ Collective take on Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow”

In honor of the 35th anniversary of Pearl Jam’s Ten (released August 27, 1991), we challenged a trio of SFJAZZ Collective members including vibraphonist Warren Wolf, bassist Matt Brewer, and drummer Kendrick Scott to listen to Pearl Jam’s 1991 grunge anthem “Even Flow” and to make it jazz.

09/03/2026

While at SFJAZZ to honor the work of Miles Davis and John Coltrane for their centennials in 2026, pianist and composer Emmet Cohen gives us his unvarnished takes on subjects including institutional jazz education versus learning on the bandstand, young jazz audiences, his favorite Miles and Coltrane bands, eating before or after the gig, and jazz in the digital age.

Emmet’s 2026 concert devoted to Miles and Coltrane will premiere on Fridays Live this week on 9/4.

Today, we join the global jazz community in grieving the loss of the incomparable Cassandra Wilson—a true visionary, NEA...
09/03/2026

Today, we join the global jazz community in grieving the loss of the incomparable Cassandra Wilson—a true visionary, NEA Jazz Master, and two-time GRAMMY winner whose rich, earth-resonant contralto re-imagined the boundaries of American music. She passed away in Jackson, Mississippi on September 2nd.

We look back at her memorable SFJAZZ Center performance in an intimate duo set with Jason Moran on 11.21.2013.

11-time GRAMMY-winning bassist and composer Christian McBride returns to the Miner Auditorium with his dynamic new quint...
09/03/2026

11-time GRAMMY-winning bassist and composer Christian McBride returns to the Miner Auditorium with his dynamic new quintet Ursa Major on September 12th & 13th!

Featuring a powerhouse lineup of jazz’s brightest rising stars:
Nicole Glover (Tenor Sax) — Toured with Wynton Marsalis & JLCO, also featured on Aaron Diehl’s GRAMMY-nominated Zodiac Suite.
Savannah Harris (Drums) — Oakland native powerhouse making waves with Cécile McLorin Salvant & Kenny Barron.
Mike King (Piano) — Chicago-bred talent touring with Dee Dee Bridgewater & Marquis Hill.
Ely Perlman (Guitar) — Rising star collaborator with Braxton Cook & Terreon Gully.

Join us for the opening week of our ‘Forward Motion’ concert season.

Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/26-27/christian-mcbride-ursa-major/

09/02/2026

SFJAZZ monthly rundown for September! The ‘2026-27 Season: Foward Motion’ concert season kicks off next week with an exciting first month of concerts at the SFJAZZ Center. Full Schedule:

Miner Auditorium
Sep 10–13 • Christian McBride: Ray Brown Centennial & Ursa Major
Sep 15 • Brian Simpson ft. Grace Kelly (Matinee)
Sep 16–19 • Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves Celebrate John Coltrane
Sep 19 • Family Matinee w/ Destiny Muhammad Trio ft. James Mahone
Sep 22 • Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra w/ Wynton Marsalis
Sep 24 • Branford Marsalis Quartet (Matinee)
Sep 26–27 • Marcus Miller ‘We Want Miles’ Centennial Celebration

Joe Henderson Lab (JHL)
Sep 10–11 • Paul Cornish Trio
Sep 12–13 • Nduduzo Makhathini Trio
Sep 18 • Camille Kerani plays John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme"
Sep 19–20 • Myra Melford Splash Trio
Sep 24–25 • Jahari Stampley Family Soul Trio
Sep 26–27 • The Alaya Project

Tickets + More Information > SFJAZZ.org

As we gear up for our new 2026-27 Season, Forward Motion, launching at the SFJAZZ Center next week, let’s look back at s...
09/01/2026

As we gear up for our new 2026-27 Season, Forward Motion, launching at the SFJAZZ Center next week, let’s look back at some of our favorite memories from the SFJAZZ Summer Sessions!

Wynton Marsalis Septet (photo by Scott Chernis)
Brad Mehldau’s ‘Ride Into The Sun’ (photo by Jack Brown)
Yilian Canizares (photo by Rick Swig)
Lettuce (photo by Frank Lee)
Monsieur Periné (photo by Jack Brown)
Steven Bernstein’s S*x Mob (photo by Rick Swig)

SFJAZZ 2026-27 Season: Forward Motion is in full swing starting September 10th. Check out the full calendar at SFJAZZ.org

09/01/2026

Patrice Rushen takes us on a journey through Miles Davis's "Flamenco Sketches."

Recorded live on the SFJAZZ stage, this performance comes from our all-star Kind of Blue tribute, back in rotation this month as we celebrate the Miles Davis centennial.

Joining Patrice in this incredible lineup:
Eddie Henderson (Trumpet)
Donald Harrison (Alto Saxophone)
Javon Jackson (Tenor Saxophone)
Rodney Whitaker (Bass)
Lenny White (Drums)

Catch the full performance—and stream hundreds of exclusive live shows—on SFJAZZ At Home. Start your free trial today!

Recap from the Paramount Theatre in Oakland: Brad Mehldau's 'Ride Into The Sun', an orchestral project paying tribute to...
08/31/2026

Recap from the Paramount Theatre in Oakland: Brad Mehldau's 'Ride Into The Sun', an orchestral project paying tribute to the music of Elliott Smith, presented by SFJAZZ.

Featuring Brad Mehldau alongside Chris Thile, Blake Mills, Matt Chamberlain, John Davis, and the USC Thornton Chamber Virtuosi conducted by Dan Coleman.

Photos by Scott Chernis

08.29.2026

08/28/2026

What’s in store for our Family Matinee concerts this concert season at SFJAZZ?

SFJAZZ Education Ensemble Manager Briana Scales gives us a rundown of everything in store for our Family Matinee concert programming for Season 26-27: Forward Motion.

Our Family Matinees are a monthly, kid-friendly concert series designed for children and their families. These interactive one-hour shows feature live music, audience participation, and shorter performance lengths to introduce young audiences to jazz and diverse musical genres.

Explore the full Season 26-27: Forward Motion at SFJAZZ.org

08/27/2026

When JP Saxe dropped by SFJAZZ for an intimate album listening session in the Joe Henderson Lab, we asked him about the pianists who shape his world. 
 
One name sat right at the top: Brad Mehldau.
 
The best part? Mehldau takes our stage this Saturday at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre presented by SFJAZZ.
 
JP says you need to be in the room. We couldn’t agree more.
Great musicianship doesn’t care about genres—it just connects. Grab your tickets before they’re gone!

08/27/2026

Celebrate the 5-year anniversary of Kenny Garrett's Sounds From The Ancestors (originally released on Mack Avenue Records on August 27, 2021) on this week’s Fridays Live broadcast!

This concert was originally filmed and aired during the 2023 San Francisco Jazz Festival and features pianist/keyboardist Keith Brown, bassist Jeremiah Edwards, percussionists Rudy Bird and Melvis Santa, and drummer Ronald Bruner.

Date: 8/28
Time: 7:30PM-PST

Link: SFJAZZ.org/AtHome

08/26/2026

Celebrating the Miles Davis centennial, trumpeter Keyon Harrold and Miles’s nephew, Vince Wilburn Jr., share their perspectives on Miles’s career in our latest episode of ‘Jazz Takes’.
 
Explore the SFJAZZ At Home library including performances of Keyon Harrold’s Sketches tribute and Vince Wilburn’s Miles Electric band.
 
Full video on the SFJAZZ YouTube channel.

08/26/2026

Happy 85th Birthday to our Bay Area friends and partners at Public Media! 🎷🎂

To celebrate 85 years of legendary local radio, KALW is throwing a once-in-a-lifetime Birthday Benefit Concert at The Warfield on Sept 29. The lineup is stacked with incredible talent:

BADBADNOTGOOD

Digable Planets

Rozzi

DJ Wonway Posibul

We’re thrilled to champion KALW’s decades of original programming and deep dedication to Bay Area music and culture. Grab your tickets to support local public media and join the celebration!

Tickets: KALW.org/85

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