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10/30/2026

Bass master Christian McBride looks back at photos from the 1995 SFJAZZ Block Party—recounting a hilarious story from his performance with legendary organist Jimmy Smith.

At the height of SF’s Acid Jazz era, Smith headlining with an all-star band including McBride, Mark Whitfield, Herman Riley, and Jimmy “Junebug” Jackson was pure history.

Explore the SFJAZZ Historical Archive: SFJAZZ.org/Archive

10/29/2026

Tonight SFJAZZ host's the West Coast Premiere: David Sánchez’s Tambó!

SFJAZZ Collective tenor saxophonist & Latin GRAMMY winner David Sánchez brings his Carib ensemble to the stage for a powerful new performance celebrating Afro-Caribbean identity, resilience, and history.

Inspired by the historic Afro-descendant communities of Loíza, Puerto Rico, and San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia, Tambó explores the rich cultural threads that connect us across the Americas.

Venue: Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center
Set Time: 7:30PM

Tickets: sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/26-27/david-sanchez-tambo/

10/29/2026

Looking for Halloween plans?! Tomorrow (Oct. 30) the sacred space of Grace Cathedral will transform into a grand movie palace for a special Halloween week screening of John S. Robertson’s 1920 adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson novella of a doctor wrestling with split identities, starring John Barrymore and featuring a live score performed on Grace’s famous pipe organ by renowned organist and composer Dorothy Papadakos.

This performance will take full advantage of Grace’s 7,500 pipe Aeolian-Skinner organ, a historic instrument installed in 1934 that has been played by many of the world’s great organists and earned a place in jazz history as well, being employed for the premiere of Duke Ellington’s Concert of Sacred Music in 1963 and pianist Vince Guaraldi’s 1965 Jazz Mass.

Tickets + More Information: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/26-27/dr-jekyll-mr-hyde-dorothy-papadakos/

10/28/2026

Following up her riveting Thelonious Monk tribute at SFJAZZ with the Marcus Shelby New Orchestra this past October, alto saxophone powerhouse Sarah Hanahan returns to lead her own quartet on November 21st and 22nd, bringing an incendiary, hard-bop sound defined by blues-drenched horn lines, fierce rhythmic drive, and fearless improvisational agility to the Joe Henderson Lab.

Named one of NPR's "Youngbloods" and praised by DownBeat with a rare five-star review for her debut album Among Giants, Hanahan is fast establishing herself as one of the defining saxophonists of her generation. Trained under Jackie McLean disciples and seasoned by performances alongside the Mingus Big Band, Hanahan brings a formidable ensemble featuring pianist Taber Gable, bassist Matt Dwonszyk, and drummer Kyle Poole. Together, they execute intricate post-bop compositions with muscular tone, deep swing, and uncompromising blues feel.

Do not miss this extraordinary presentation of high-octane modern acoustic jazz.

Date(s): Saturday, November 21 – Sunday, November 22, 2026
Set Time(s): 7:00 PM & 8:30 PM (Sat), 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM (Sun)

Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/26-27/sarah-hanahan-quartet/

10/28/2026

This November, SFJAZZ celebrates the annual return of the Django Festival Allstars bringing an ebullient, hot-swinging sound defined by blistering acoustic guitar arpeggios, lyrical violin lines, and driving la pompe rhythm to our Miner Auditorium.

Carrying forward the legendary "jazz manouche" tradition pioneered by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, these elite Roma jazz virtuosos perform music from their album Evolution. Led by guitar master Samson Schmitt alongside accordionist Ludovic Beier, violinist Pierre Blanchard, rhythm guitarist Francko Mehrstein, and bassist Antonio Licusati, the ensemble delivers an exhilarating balance of dazzling speed, rich accordion harmonies, and timeless swing.

Do not miss this beloved annual tradition honoring the high-energy spirit of Django Reinhardt’s legacy!

Date(s): Friday, November 20, 2026
Set Time: 7:30 PM

Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/26-27/django-festival-allstars-fall-2026/

10/27/2026

SFJAZZ presents Brittany Davis, bringing a visceral acoustic and electronic sound defined by raw soul vocals, hypnotic organ grooves, and explosive spiritual jazz improvisation to the Joe Henderson Lab on November 20th.

Born blind and raised in Kansas City before establishing deep creative ties across the Bay Area music scene, the visionary singer, keyboardist, and composer makes a triumphant return to Northern California. Performing works from her album Black Thunder, Davis draws on African rhythms, spoken-word storytelling, and hard-grooving funk. Having earned widespread acclaim from NPR and SPIN, Davis balances emotional vulnerability and social consciousness with raw instrumental command.

Date(s): Friday, November 20th, 2026
Set Time(s): 7:00 PM & 8:30 PM

Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/26-27/brittany-davis/

10/27/2026

“I see him as such a full-fledged artist...and he happens to play guitar.” – Julian Lage on John Scofield

October is officially guitar month at SFJAZZ! Fresh off Julian Lage’s incredible performance at Davies Symphony Hall last week, we’re now gearing up for John Scofield’s ‘Electrospective’ residency this weekend featuring drummer Adam Deitch, organist Larry Goldings, and bassist Oteil Burbridge running October 30th-November 1st.

Check out this clip from our Drop The Needle series, where Lage reacts to Scofield's signature sound!

Get John Scofield tickets at SFJAZZ.org

Watch the full episode of Drop The Needle w/ Julian Lage now on SFJAZZ At Home.

10/26/2026

SFJAZZ welcomes Holly Bowling, delivering a sound praised by Rolling Stone as "heady, layered improv-rock excursions distilled into crystalline solo piano pieces" in the Joe Henderson Lab.

Fusing classical virtuosity with the spirit of the jam band ethos, Bowling built a devoted following through her complex piano transcriptions of Phish's legendary live jams and her celebrated interpretations of Grateful Dead classics. Her recordings have earned accolades from Billboard and Relix, leading to direct stage collaborations with founding Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh as well as Warren Haynes, John Scofield, and Branford Marsalis. In this exclusive engagement, she translates iconic jam anthems into nuanced, sprawling acoustic dialogues.

Experience a masterclass in solo piano performance and fearless structural arrangement.

Date(s): Friday, November 13 – Sunday, November 15, 2026
Set Time(s): 7:00 PM & 8:30 PM (Fri/Sat), 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM (Sun)

Reserve your tickets before remaining sets sell out!

https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/26-27/holly-bowling/

10/26/2026

Calling all students, educators, and Bay Area nonprofit industry members! Ahead of the November Hot Seats drop this Friday, October 30 at 12 PM at the SFJAZZ Center Box Office, we wanted to talk to some industry professionals about our new initiative.

Catch world-class live jazz from the Left Terrace in Miner Auditorium for just $10 per ticket.

Where to buy: In person at the SFJAZZ Box Office (201 Franklin St)

When: Friday, Oct 30 starting at 12 PM

Limit: Up to 2 tickets per eligible patron per day

What to bring: Valid school or employee ID

Tickets are limited and sold on a first-come, first-served basis—so come early and grab yours before they sell out!

10/26/2026

Explore the Great American Songbook with Tierney Sutton & Tamir Hendelman on November 7th and 8th at SFJAZZ!

Performing in our intimate Joe Henderson Lab, this duo brings a refined, conversational sound built on luminous vocal clarity, sophisticated harmonic accompaniment, and spontaneous lyricism. A nine-time GRAMMY nominee hailed as one of the most lauded vocalists of her generation, Sutton pairs her pure jazz spirit with the elegant touch of acclaimed pianist Tamir Hendelman. Together, they reimagine beloved standards from their duo album SPRING, balancing warmth, wit, and subtle improvisational finesse.

Do not miss this display of musical chemistry and timeless songcraft.

Date(s): Saturday, November 7 – Sunday, November 8, 2026
Set Time(s): 7PM & 8:30 PM (Sat), 6PM & 7:30 PM (Sun)

Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/26-27/tierney-sutton-tamir-hendelman-duo/

10/23/2026

Today, October 23rd we celebrate Bobby Hutcherson Day in San Francisco!

The most accomplished vibraphonist and composer to emerge in the latter half of the 20th Century, redefined the role of the instrument in modern jazz, bringing new levels of technical mastery and harmonic sophistication. He enjoyed an unprecedented 24-year association with the Blue Note Records label, making indelible contributions to over 250 albums during his Blue Note tenure and leading 23 recordings that introduced the world to the standards “Little B’s Poem,” “Bouquet,” “Components,” “Montara,” and others.

In 2010, the National Endowment for the Arts named Bobby an NEA Jazz Master for his lifetime of contributions to the art form – the highest honor the U.S. bestows on jazz musicians. A great friend and artist with a long history performing on SFJAZZ stages, beginning with a performance at the very first Jazz in the City Festival in 1983, Bobby was a founding member of the SFJAZZ Collective – composing, arranging, and performing with the band from its inception in 2004 through 2007.

Address

201 Franklin Street
San Francisco, CA
94102

Website

https://www.sfjazz.org/, https://linktr.ee/SFJAZZ

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