Official 30th AnniversaryCatalog 1983–2012
Table of Contents
who we are. what we do.
who we are what we do Calendar SFJAZZ Collective About Us Membership SFJAZZ Center SFJAZZ Education
JAZZ continuum 2 4 5 8 10 14
26 27
HAPPENINGS 10.06 Don Byron 10.27 Tamarindo 10.24 Marc Ribot & David Hidalgo 11.17 Dorado Schmitt 12.02 Blind Boys of Alabama
17 18 19
10.04 Septeto Nacional 10.18 Gonzalez Brothers 11.04 Orquesta Aragón 12.01 Arturo Sandoval
36 37
10.10 11.01 10.14 11.18
Monk’s Birthday Robert Glasper Danilo Pérez John Medeski
25
21
SOULFUL SINGERS 28 29 30 31
10.20 Dianne Reeves 10.26 Mary Stallings & Bill Charlap 11.10 Lavay Smith 11.16 Buika
32 33 34 35
TICKETS & MORE 40 41 42
Tickets & venue info SFJAZZ merchandise Sponsors & underwriters
42
38 39
Catalog Production
LEGAL STUFF
please note
Mike Charlasch: Creative direction Ronnie Shapiro: Art direction & design Megan Mock: Design Mark Ulriksen: Cover illustration Rusty Aceves: Editing & copywriting Andrew Gilbert: Copywriting Teddy Hutcherson: Production Justin Walters: Box office Lahlouh: Printing
This official catalog is a publication of SFJAZZ (San Francisco Jazz Organization). No part may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of SFJAZZ. All rights reserved. SFJAZZ is located at Three Embarcadero Center, Lobby Level, San Francisco, California 94111. Phone: 415-398-5655 Online: sfjazz.org
All programs are subject to change.
sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353
23 24
22
PIANISM 36
10.19 Eliane Elias 10.25 Gilberto Gil 11.03 Ivan Lins
20
MÚSICA CUBANA
Jazz Giants 09.30 Sonny Rollins 11.09 Ornette Coleman
08.25 Esperanza Spalding 09.28 Brecker Bros. Reunion 09.29 Miles Smiles 10.05 Branford Marsalis 10.11 Marcus Miller 10.28 Grégoire Maret
BRILLIANCE FROM BRAZIL
43 44 45
30 Years of SFJAZZ
I
t is with great pride that we announce the 30th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival. In the fall of 1983 we presented two concerts at the Herbst Theatre with a simple philosophy: offer the best of jazz music in an environment that showcases the full spectrum and artistry of the art form.
30 years later we have stayed true to this idea, while greatly expanding the scope of our programs — over 100 concerts a year, our own band (SFJAZZ Collective), award winning high school ensembles (SFJAZZ High School All Stars) and extensive educational programming. The arc of these past years will culminate in January with the opening of the SFJAZZ Center, the first stand-alone building devoted to jazz in the country. Just two blocks from the site of our first concerts in 1983, the SFJAZZ Center will truly be a home for jazz — a welcoming environment in which to hear, learn and be inspired. For three decades, the San Francisco Jazz Festival has been a place for legends, a place to introduce emerging artists, and a place to explore the boundaries of jazz. Following are some of the artists appearing this year that have been notable in our history, and some rising stars. Ornette Coleman has changed the course of jazz. He is an artist to whom the label “genius” has attached itself, and for good reason. In 1994 we presented the premiere of his controversial Tone Dialing, and he has performed four times since. He will be appearing with his quartet with two basses, which he debuted at SFJAZZ. The history of jazz and the tenor saxophone is embodied by the colossus Sonny Rollins. His probing solos are legendary. Easily among the most influential jazz musicians alive, he was recently given — by President Obama — the nation’s highest artistic award, a Kennedy Center Honor.
Esperanza Spalding is the new face of jazz. She debuted at the festival four years ago and now returns as a genuine star with her latest project, Radio Music Society. Making his third SFJAZZ appearance is Robert Glasper, a game-changing artist who incorporates modern pop and R&B sounds into his music. On Thelonious Monk’s birthday (10/10), we present Barry Harris, Jacky Terrasson and Alfredo Rodríguez — three generations of superb pianists carrying on the spirit of Monk. Barry Harris is the “voice of Monk,” a veteran who has a closer connection to Monk than any other living artist. Latin jazz trailblazers Jerry and Andy Gonzalez have never performed as a duo before, making this show an “only at SFJAZZ” event. They’re sharing a bill with another duo, the young Cuban pianist Elio Villafranca and percussionist Arturo Stable. San Francisco’s own Mary Stallings is considered by many to be the top vocalist in jazz. She has been an integral part of SFJAZZ’s history, appearing numerous times since 1986. You always feel better after hearing Ms. Stallings sing, and we honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. Another San Francisco jazz singer, Lavay Smith, has also performed numerous times for SFJAZZ. She and her band, the Red Hot Skillet Lickers, are keeping the swing of ’40s Kansas City alive. The Blind Boys of Alabama, founded in 1939, are the seminal gospel group in America. They are returning to rekindle their holiday gospel concert, which has brought the house down four previous times at SFJAZZ. Thank you for coming to the concerts and I hope to see you at many more! Sincerely,
Randall Kline Executive Artistic Director & Founder
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
who we are. what we do.
Saxophonist and clarinetist Don Byron defines eclecticism. He first played the San Francisco Jazz Festival in 1993 with his klezmer tribute to Mickey Katz, and now this musical chameleon returns with his back-to-the-roots New Gospel Quartet. The Sacred Space concerts have been an essential part our presenting since 1986. This fall, Branford Marsalis is performing solo, but matched with the 7-second echo of Grace Cathedral. Branford joins this longstanding SFJAZZ tradition and an esteemed list of saxophonists including Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, Pharoah Sanders and Steve Lacy.
30th Anniversary San Francisco Jazz Festival
Saxophone superstars. Keyboard wizards. Vocal virtuosos. Rare gems from Brazil, Cuba, Puerto Rico, France, Spain, Switzerland and across the USA.
august
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september
SUNDAY
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MONDAY
20
tuesday
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wednesday
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thursday
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friday
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25 Esperanza Spalding p. 17
Discover Jazz Course 1 Aug. 1–Sep. 19 p. 16
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saturday
27
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Thelonious Monk Listening Party p. 8
Brecker Brothers Band Reunion p. 18
Miles Smiles p. 19 Family Matinee p. 15
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Discover Jazz Course 2 p. 16
Septeto Nacional p. 28
Branford Marsalis p. 20
Don Byron p. 36
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Monk’s Birthday p. 40 Discover Jazz Course 2 p. 16
Marcus Miller p. 21
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Discover Jazz Course 2 p. 16
Gonzalez Brothers p. 29
Eliane Elias p. 23
Dianne Reeves p. 32 Family Matinee p. 15
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Marc Ribot & David Hidalgo p. 37 Discover Jazz Course 2 p. 16
Gilberto Gil p. 24
Mary Stallings with Bill Charlap p. 33
Tamarindo p. 36
30
october
Sonny Rollins p. 26
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Danilo Pérez p. 42
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Grégoire Maret p. 22
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sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353
31 Discover Jazz Course 2 p. 16
SUNDAY
MONDAY
wednesday
7
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thursday
12
19
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saturday
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Robert Glasper p. 41
SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo p. 14
Ivan Lins p. 25
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Ornette Coleman p. 27
Lavay Smith p. 34
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Buika p. 35
Dorado Schmitt p. 38 Family Matinee p. 15
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Orquesta Aragón p. 30
11
friday
15
22
november
5
4
tuesday
John Medeski p. 42
Arturo Sandoval p. 31
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SFJAZZ Members-only events Sep. 27: Oct. 26:
Thelonious Monk Listening Party Mary Stallings with the Bill Charlap Trio
See p. 8 for details.
members discount events Oct. 10: Nov. 3: Nov. 17: Aug. –Oct.:
Monk’s Birthday with Barry Harris, Jacky Terrasson & Alfredo Rodriguez Ivan Lins Dorado Schmitt and the Django All-Stars Discover Jazz Courses
8
7
Blind Boys of Alabama p. 39
december
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SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra p. 14
Education events Fascinating jazz moments for students of all ages. Inspiring, informative and interactive! pre-concert talks Sep. 28: Oct. 11: Oct. 14: Nov. 01: Nov. 16: Dec. 01:
Randy Brecker Marcus Miller Danilo Pérez Robert Glasper Buika Arturo Sandoval
See p. 15 for details.
family matinees Sep. 29: Oct. 20: Nov. 17:
About Sonny Rollins About Thelonious Monk About Ornette Coleman
See p. 15 for details.
Discover jazz courses Course 1: Criolla y Sabrosa (8-class series) Aug. 01–Sep. 19 Course 2: Música Cubana (5-class series) Oct. 03–Oct. 31 See p. 16 for details.
note The presence of an icon
on any calendar date indicates that a Member event or Education
event occurs on that date. These events may or may not be related to the main event on that same date.
See p. 8 for details.
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
who we are. what we do.
“The octet boasts as much or more collective talent, firepower and critical acclaim than any other jazz ensemble going.” —DownBeat
“You can propose various definitions for what this band represents, but it’s a superbrain for what serious jazz sounds like now.” —The New York Times THE 2012–13 SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE: Miguel Zenón alto saxophone David Sánchez tenor saxophone Avishai Cohen trumpet Robin Eubanks trombone Stefon Harris vibraphone Edward Simon piano Matt Penman bass Jeff Ballard drums
Go to: sfjazz.org/sfjazzcollective • October tour dates • Buy all 8 multi-CD sets • Read band member bios
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sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353
Launched in 2004, the SFJAZZ Collective is one of the most critically acclaimed groups on the scene — a unit demonstrating how jazz has truly become an international language. Hailing from Puerto Rico, New York, Venezuela, Philadelphia, Santa Cruz, New Zealand and Israel, the Collective’s multi-cultural lineup mirrors the explosion of jazz talent around the globe. These exceptional artists come together to celebrate jazz as a constantly evolving modern art form by honoring the work of a master composer. After their very successful run with the music of Stevie Wonder, the band now turns back to the jazz pantheon. An inspiration to all jazz musicians, the works of keyboard giant Chick Corea will be the focus in Fall 2012. Each band member will also contribute an original composition, commissioned by SFJAZZ. These compositions will appear along with the Chick Corea material on an upcoming multi-CD set. This fall we welcome two new members into the Collective, tenor saxophonist David Sánchez and drummer Jeff Ballard. One of the most celebrated instrumentalists in jazz, David Sánchez has recorded nine albums as a leader and won a Latin Grammy Award for his 2004 Columbia orchestral session, Coral. He’s performed with a roster of greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Haden, Eddie Palmieri, Roy Haynes, Tom Harrell and countless others. Raised in Santa Cruz, Jeff Ballard cut his teeth in the Bay Area jazz scene. His superb musicianship was displayed brilliantly as part of Chick Corea’s Origin sextet and New Trio, along with Ray Charles, Danilo Perez, Mike Stern and many others. Since 2004, he’s been a member of pianist Brad Mehldau’s high-profile trio.
who we are. what we do. celebrating jazz as an ever-evolving art form.
STAY CONNECTED TO SFJAZZ
BRING GREAT ARTISTS TO THE BAY AREA via the San Francisco Jazz Festival and SFJAZZ Spring Season, two multi-month seasons offering a phenomenal array of jazz and world music artists.
SUPPORT A VIBRANT LOCAL MUSIC SCENE with free SFJAZZ Summerfest concerts and monthly SFJAZZ Hotplate shows, showcasing top Bay Area artists.
Mobile apps for iPhone & Android
NURTURE YOUNG MUSICIANS & FOSTER NEW FANS with our year-round education programs, including the awardwinning SFJAZZ High School All-Stars, acclaimed Jazz in the Middle school residency program and interactive Family Matinees.
CELEBRATE JAZZ AS A LIVING ART FORM by commissioning new works and premiering them with artists such as the SFJAZZ Collective, a stellar octet comprised of some of the top names in jazz.
HONOR BAY AREA JAZZ LEADERS through the SFJAZZ Beacon Award, presented in recognition of contributions to jazz and by honoring music legends at our annual Gala.
Check out the all-new
sfjazz.org Join our e-list at sfjazz.org/contact
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
who we are. what we do.
Founded in 1983, SFJAZZ is the largest nonprofit jazz presenting and educational institution on the West Coast, serving audiences of over 100,000 annually through a variety of programs. We’re far more than just a concert promoter. Our year-round education programs help maintain and build a strong future for jazz — America’s authentic art form — in San Francisco and beyond. The generous, tax-deductible contributions of donors let us:
Three decades of SFJAZZ
After the Loma Prieta earthquake, the show goes on with Carlos Santana, Don Cherry and more.
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At Davies, Tony Bennett celebrates 30 years of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
“Creatively programmed, top-notch, and immensely successful.”
The Ellington Orchestra revisits Concert of Sacred Music at Grace, 25 years after its debut there.
“The San Francisco Jazz Festival seems well on its way to world class status.” —JazzTimes
6
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97 19
Sonny Rollins, Charlie Haden, Paco de Lucía, Zakir Hussain and the Diana Krall Trio.
—DownBeat
The first SFJAZZ commission, Anthony Braxton premiers “No. 132” at Grace Cathedral.
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Tenor man Charlie Rouse performs his last concert, a tribute to Thelonious Monk.
B-3 organ wizard Jimmy Smith, Charlie Hunter and others rock the 11th Street Block Party.
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Tony Williams, Bobby Hutcherson, Pete Escovedo, the Kronos Quartet and many others.
The Festival moves to October and Bobby McFerrin performs solo.
—Chicago Tribune
Trumpet legend Dizzy Gillespie and his big band perform a red-hot salute to bebop.
95
—SF Chronicle
The “Jazz in the City” festival debuts in June, with an eclectic 3-day lineup.
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—San Jose Mercury News
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who we are. what we do.
“The San Francisco Jazz Festival towers over all its American rivals.”
“Nine days of music celebrating the richness and diversity of Bay Area talent.”
“A noteworthy idea.”
Celia Cruz, Cuba’s “Queen of Salsa” storms the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
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Saxophone giant Joe Henderson makes his first of many Festival appearances.
A young Joshua Redman opens the Festival with guitarist Pat Metheny as a sideman.
Avant-garde jazz icon Ornette Coleman debuts Tone Dialing at the Masonic Center.
highlights: 1983–2012
Keyboard giant Joe Zawinul helps SFJAZZ expand into its first official “Spring Season.”
“The SFJAZZ Collective is the best kind of jazz laboratory...”
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Taj Mahal appears with Keb’ Mo’ in a blue bash at the Masonic.
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The SFJAZZ Collective debuts with a lineup including vibes great Bobby Hutcherson.
The SFJAZZ Center groundbreaking takes place with much fanfare on May 17.
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Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker, Jimmy Smith and many others.
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SFJAZZ presents Brazilian vocal star Caetano Veloso at the 25th Anniversary Festival.
Superstar Esperanza Spalding kicks off the 30th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival.
—All About Jazz
A new “Swing into Spring” program begins with Bill Frisell, Etta James and more.
A “Jazz Women” series features Cassandra Wilson and Maria Schneider.
“The best thematic programming in an American jazz & world music festival.” —The NY Times
Legendary pianist Keith Jarrett plays solo at the War Memorial Opera House.
Tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders continues the Sacred Space tradition at Grace.
“The #1 jazz festival in the world.” —London Observer
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
who we are. what we do.
Latin jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri on a triple-bill with Cachao and Tito Puente.
Sitar star Ravi Shankar returns to SFJAZZ with daughter Anoushka, at Davies.
The vocalists of Verve include Abbey Lincoln, Shirley Horn and Dee Dee Bridgewater.
Debut of the SFJAZZ High School All-Star Ensemble.
FOR MORE HIGHLIGHTS GO TO SFJAZZ.ORG/30
»» No ticket service fees
A savings of up to $7.50 per ticket.
»» Deep discounts — up to 35% off
Enjoy huge savings when you combine:
who we are. what we do.
• 25% OFF TICKETS TO: ›› Monk’s Birthday with Barry Harris, Jacky Terrasson & Alfredo Rodriguez, Wednesday, Oct. 10 (p. 40) ›› Ivan Lins, Saturday, Nov. 3 (p. 25)
no ticket service fees Members-Only events 10% discount on SFJAZZ merchandise additional members card
›› Discover Jazz courses, starting Aug. 1 & Oct. 3 (p. 16)
san francisco jazz festival poster
»» Members-only Events Enjoy access to events not open to the general public: The Music of Thelonious Monk— A Listening Party with Larry Goldings Thursday, september 27, 7PM jewish community center of sF Join keyboardist Larry Goldings in conversation with SFJAZZ Executive Director Randall Kline as they discuss the legacy of one of jazz’s most influential pianists and composers, Thelonious Monk. Goldings will spin seminal Monk recordings and share insights from his perspective as one of the most in-demand musicians in jazz and rock. This event is FREE for Members (limit, two tickets) and includes a complimentary wine and dessert reception. Mary Stallings with the Bill Charlap Trio Members-only Concert Friday, October 26, 8PM Herbst Theatre Writing about Mary Stallings, The New York Times declared that “Perhaps the best jazz singer alive today is a woman almost everybody seems to have missed.” Here she’s paired with Bill Charlap, one of the most respected keyboardists in jazz and the leader of a truly telepathic trio. This promises to be an evening of rare beauty. (See p. 33 for more info.)
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up to 35% off tickets
free ticket exchanges
›› Any combination of shows is eligible, within a single purchase.
best seats first
›› Dorado Schmitt and the Django All-Stars Saturday, Nov. 17 (p. 38)
• 10% OFF ORDERS OF 10 or MORE TICKETS
sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353
sfjazz program book listing Fall reception behind the scenes rehearsal Spring reception Premium reserved seating personalized ticket service intimate events with artists
Your membership practically pays for itself!
To become a Member, visit sfjazz.org or call 415-788-7353.
Patron $600
Leaders circle $1200 and up
benefactor $300
Get exclusive access, weeks before the general public, to seats at all price levels for both the 30th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival and the inaugural season in the new SFJAZZ Center, opening January 2013!
household $75
»» Best seats first
contributor $120
Student $25
Enjoy a full year of insider access to all of our programming with benefits that include:
individual $60
membership levels
senior $50
SFJAZZ Membership —be the beat.
SFJAZZ Leaders Circle —be the soul. The members of our Leaders Circle are the philanthropic soul of SFJAZZ and with us they are building the future of this music. Join those who believe in jazz by making an annual gift of $1,200 or more. You will receive all the Member perks on page 8, plus these great benefits:
»» Creating the future of jazz
Being a proud and important part of the music by supporting its creation, education and presentation.
Carol Batte & Aaron Neville
»» VIP service and seating
Prime seats and personalized ticket service.
»» Brushes with greatness Receptions with the world’s finest artists and special intimate performances.
Leaders Circle Events In addition to the Member events listed on page 8, you’ll also enjoy these complimentary gatherings: Leaders Circle Lounges
Benny Green & Mark Zitter
Fine wine and desserts at select Palace of Fine Arts and Herbst Theatre intermissions. For all Leaders Circle members and their guests. A benefit at $1,200+.
Leaders Circle Salon Bring the music into sharp personal focus at an intimate performance in a private home. The SFJAZZ Salon Series is sponsored by Northern Trust. Leaders Circle donors of $2,500+ receive an invitation each year.
Joshua Redman & the Bedecarré-Ernst family
To join the Leaders Circle, contact Katie Neubauer at 415-283-0324 or kneubauer@sfjazz.org A salon with the SFJAZZ Collective
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
who we are. what we do.
The World is Listening Campaign for the SFJAZZ Center
Campaign for the SFJAZZ Center $60M
GOAL: $63 MILLION
$50M
$40M
100% 90% 80% 70%
RAISED: $53 MILLION
60% 50%
$30M
40% $20M
30% 20%
$10M
10%
See construction photos at sfjazz.org/center
who we are. what we do.
Data as of May 17, 2012
scan here:
Work is underway— help us finish the SFJAZZ Center. Inspired by an anonymous lead gift of $20 million, the largest ever given to a jazz organization, the SFJAZZ Center has broken ground in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood at the corner of Franklin and Fell Streets. As the first concert hall of its type in the western U.S. built for both jazz performance and education, the new SFJAZZ Center represents a milestone for this authentic American art form — and the city of San Francisco. Designed by award-winning, SF-based architect Mark Cavagnero, the SFJAZZ Center comprises 35,000 square feet in a transparent, freestanding structure. Here are some of the facility’s key features: »» 700-seat concert hall, with 500-seat and 350-seat configurations »» 80-person, multi-purpose ensemble room for education and intimate performances »» Digital music lab for rehearsals, recording and production »» Practice rooms for musicians and the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars
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We can finish this historic campaign if you give today! Scan the QR code to contribute or visit sfjazz.org/contribute. Contact Kevin Causey, Development Director, at kcausey@sfjazz.org or call 415-283-0306.
Announcing the
grand opening of the SFJAZZ Center
»» Café and SFJAZZ administrative offices
Martin Luther King Day January 21, 2013
»» Convenient location within walking distance of Civic Center and Van Ness public transit stations and along bus routes
Check sfjazz.org/blog for updates!
sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353
Name a seat— forever.
Have your name inscribed on a seat in the SFJAZZ Center!
Every donor and every dollar matters to the future of jazz performance and education. Support the SFJAZZ Center, the first freestanding facility in the western U.S. built specifically for this timeless music. Please donate $10, $150, $1,000 or whatever you can afford to the World is Listening campaign at sfjazz.org/contribute.
Step up—and be immortalized. Celebrate your passion for the music, honor a loved one or your favorite jazz artist, or simply commemorate the opening of the SFJAZZ Center by naming a seat in the glorious Robert N. Miner Auditorium. When you make a gift of $5,000 or more, a plaque bearing your dedication will be permanently affixed to a seat in our state-of-the-art home for jazz.
More ways to get involved
View the construction site with our webcam: sfjazz.org/center
Watch videos of major artists talking about the SFJAZZ Center: sfjazz.org/videos
Here’s how. Please visit sfjazz.org/seat to learn more about this exciting new phase of the World is Listening campaign. Or, contact Katie Neubauer, Individual Giving Director, at kneubauer@sfjazz.org and 415-283-0324.
Tell us what jazz means to you and enter to win tickets to SFJAZZ Center inaugural season shows: areyoulistening.me
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
who we are. what we do.
Every donor & every dollar matters.
who we are. what we do. 12
“The moment is perfect, because the generation of jazz musicians today is like a second “Golden Age” and it’s a worldwide phenomenon.”
“I think the concert hall is a beautiful idea for the jazz and the education of the new generations.”
“It sounds like a very exciting proposition. I’m all for music and jazz and the more venues we have, the better it is for everyone.”
—MICHEL CAMILO, PIANO
—Chucho Valdés, piano
—Randy Brecker, trumpet
“It’s going to be a new step in the jazz world, where we’re going to have a new space that is artistfriendly and public-friendly.”
“It will really add a lot for the young musicians who need places like that… to hear musicians from all over the world.”
“It’s very important to have spaces like the one that is being created — for jazz, for education and for performance, keeping the whole… vision of jazz moving forward.”
—ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO, VOCALS
—URI CAINE, KEYBOARDS
—Gretchen Parlato, vocals
THE WORLD IS LISTENING
“It’s the kind of thing that every city really needs. I’ve fantasized about this forever… it sounds rather on a grand scale and I wish you all the best.” —DAVE HOLLAND, BASS
“For musicians, our job is to create community. A place dedicated to the music… elevates the quality of life. It’s very significant.”
“We have a similar thing in New York…so I think it’s a great idea to have the same thing happen out here. I look forward to performing there.” —Kenny Barron, piano
“The world needs nice venues, where people can go hear jazz, respect jazz. We don’t have enough stages. I think it’s very, very important.”
—WYNTON MARSALIS, TRUMPET
sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353
—ANAT COHEN, CLARINET
“Sounds like a fantastic idea. Way overdue. It’s great.” —Chris Potter, saxophone
“Wow… I think everybody who participates in this idea should be very proud, because jazz is the most beautiful art form created in this country.” —PAQUITO D’RIVERA, SAXOPHONE
“I think it’s great that there’s this initiative in place, because we really need more infrastructure to support this music.”
“To be engaged with the community, to have a place that is a meeting point for the people in the city… it should be amazing.”
—Vijay Iyer, piano
—ESPERANZA SPALDING, BASS & VOCALS
—JASON MORAN, PIANO
“It’s really a good idea. It’s good to have an initiative to tell people we are ready, we are still here, and we want to move forward.”
“Amazing. It makes total sense, but it’s not that common for this music to have this kind of larger support and a venue, so it’s just super-exciting.” —BILL FRISELL, GUITAR
—YOUSSOU N’DOUR, vocals
“I’m really encouraged by this amazing news, especially because it’s going to be working towards the future, educating kids and the next generation…” —Danilo Perez, piano
With the new SFJAZZ Center, we are building the future of jazz — and here’s what some of the musicians are saying about it! Visit sfjazz.org/videos to see interviews and areyoulistening.me to join the conversation.
“I’ve been watching SFJAZZ for some years now and it’s a pretty unique organization. It’s great that you’re going to have a home.” —JOHN SCOFIELD, GUITAR
“The SFJAZZ Center is a great project for jazz in general. We need more of this type of action everywhere in the U.S., so it’s good it’s happening here.” —LIONEL LOUEKE, GUITAR
“This is an awesome initiative… for jazz, for fado, for world music. It’s really great.” —ANA MOURA, VOCALS
“I think it’s fantastic that San Francisco has it together enough to get people to support music like this. It’s kind of hard to imagine.” —JOHN MEDESKI, KEYBOARDS
“We certainly need it. It helps, especially for all the young people to get involved in the music. It builds character and integrity.” —ROY HARGROVE, TRUMPET
“It’s exciting. I love that they have rehearsal rooms to encourage musicians to develop their work and help bring it into the community.” —ANOUSHKA SHANKAR, SITAR
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
who we are. what we do.
“Having a space where local artists, visiting artists can share their music with audiences, is much appreciated. So that’s exciting.”
sfjazz education » November 2
SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo
FAsciNATiNG JAZZ mOmeNTs FOr sTUdeNTs OF ALL AGes. inspiring, iNFOrmATive ANd interactive!
Interplay
sfjazz education
The SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo features eight of the best high school musicians in the Bay Area, led by renowned musician and educator, Dann Zinn. For this fall Festival, the Combo will explore some of the principal themes of the jazz language: communication, interaction and expression. By exploring standard repertoire, original compositions by band members and contemporary songs and styles, the ensemble continues to display individual creativity and talent within a group dynamic. Come experience this stellar lineup of award-winning young jazz musicians and composers! FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 8PM • THE JAZZSCHOOL $15 GENERAL ADMISSION ADULTS; $10 ADULTS WITH CHILDREN; $5 CHILDREN AND SENIORS
“Testimony to the continuing persistence of the creative spirit.” —Los Angeles Times
» December 7
SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra The Magic of Monk
Much has been said of the music and the legacy of Thelonious Monk. His unique and superlative way of taking simple yet recognizable elements and crafting them into musical masterpieces deserves to be studied and celebrated. This season, the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra honors the lasting heritage of Monk’s music by presenting beautiful arrangements of some of his most infectious compositions, including “Misterioso”, “Evidence”, “Well You Needn’t” and exquisite ballads such as “Ruby, My Dear.” A rich palette of Monk’s work will be expressed through the sonic tapestry of the All-Stars Orchestra, featuring the Bay Area’s most skilled young jazz performers and directed by renowned saxophonist and educator Paul Contos.
“These kids are amazing…jazz has a future!” —San Jose Mercury News
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 8PM • YBCA FORUM $15 GENERAL ADMISSION ADULTS; $10 ADULTS WITH CHILDREN; $5 CHILDREN AND SENIORS
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Family Matinees Both fun and educational, Family Matinees provide a window into the exciting world of live jazz. Each one-hour matinee features live performance, audience participation, Q&A and amazing music. Although designed for elementary school students, our Family Matinees are open to music fans of all ages. This fall, the Marcus Shelby Trio hosts our Matinee series, highlighting the music of the great jazz masters – two of whom will appear at this year’s Festival: Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk and Ornette Coleman. Enjoyed individually or as a series, these Family Matinees will change the way you hear jazz.
»» Matinee 1: Sonny Rollins
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 11AM
Tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins is considered as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. Many of his compositions have become standards in the jazz lexicon, including “St. Thomas,” “Oleo,” “Doxy” and “Airegin.” Throughout his prolific career he performed and recorded with many of the greats such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker, inspiring generations of musicians with his signature style, as well as pioneering the sound of the “pianoless” trio.
Marcus Shelby at a Family Matinee
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 11AM
Pianist and composer Thelonious Sphere Monk is unique among the jazz giants, developing a singular sound on his instrument while creating some of the most compelling compositions in modern music. Together with Dizzy Gillespie and Charles Mingus, Monk propelled the bebop movement and developed a distinct improvisational style. His many compositions – including “’Round Midnight,” “Straight No Chaser” and “Blue Monk” – have remained iconic in the standard repertoire, making Monk one of the most recorded composers in jazz. Features a performance by the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra.
Rebeca Mauleón, Bill Morrison & Bill Frisell
Pre-Concert Talks
»» Matinee 3: Ornette Coleman SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 11AM
Tenor saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Ornette Coleman is one of the major innovators of the “free jazz” movement of the 1960s. In his early career he began playing a plastic saxophone, and later explored electronic and other experimental textures as well as funk, evolving his sound into what is generally considered the “avant-garde” side of jazz. While controversial at times, Coleman is without a doubt a leading figure in America’s music.
saturdays, September 29–november 17, 11am • herbst theatre $15 General Admission adults; $10 adults with children; $5 children and seniors
Every season, SFJAZZ Education hosts intimate conversations with international performing artists prior to select performances. Free to ticket holders, Pre-Concert Talks provide deep insight into the performer’s music and creative process. They begin one hour before show time.
Fall Schedule: SEPT. 28:
Randy Brecker (p. 18)
OCT. 11:
Marcus Miller (p. 21)
OCT. 14:
Danilo Pérez (p. 42)
NOV. 1:
Robert Glasper (p. 41)
NOV. 16:
Buika (p. 35)
DEC. 1:
Arturo Sandoval (p. 31)
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
sfjazz education
»» Matinee 2: Thelonious Monk
Discover Jazz Courses
Made possible through the generosity of Charles & Margaret Charnas
Jazz history, live performance, classic audio and exciting video make Discover Jazz the most distinctive jazz appreciation course available for adults. Our fall offerings include two courses: DISCOVER JAZZ COURSE #1 CRIOLLA Y SABROSA: LA MÚSICA PUERTORRIQUEÑA (8-class series)
sfjazz education
Jesus Cepeda
Ray Barretto
Jerry Gonzalez
WEDNESDAYS, AUGUST 1–SEPTEMBER 19, 7-9PM MUSEUM OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA (MOAD) • JOHN SANTOS, INSTRUCTOR NON-MEMBERS: $25 PER CLASS; $180 FULL COURSE SFJAZZ, YBCA & MOAD MEMBERS: $18 PER CLASS; $130 FULL COURSE Criolla y Sabrosa: La Música Puertorriqueña (Puerto Rican Music: Creole and Tasty) is an eight-week lecture series by five-time Grammy-nominated historian and producer John Santos that delves into the origins, evolution and relevance of Puerto Rican music, encapsulating the folk and popular trends of this tiny, yet highly expressive Caribbean nation. European, African, and indigenous roots — and an often violent political history — form the foundation of Puerto Rican traditional and popular music, setting the stage for the birth of salsa in New York’s Puerto Rican community. Mr. Santos will illuminate Puerto Rico’s musical evolution from a socio-political perspective, through audio examples from his legendary collection, video clips, and historical background based on his lifetime of immersion in Puerto Rican music. The eight two-hour sessions will cover a variety of themes and may be enjoyed as a series or individually. Co-presented in partnership with the Museum of the African Diaspora and the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
DISCOVER JAZZ COURSE #2 MUSICA CUBANA: JAZZ IN CUBA AND BEYOND (5-class series)
Machito
Chucho Valdés
Chano Pozo and Dizzy Gilepspie
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WEDNESDAYS, OCTOBER 3–31, 7-9PM JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, SF • REBECA MAULEóN, INSTRUCTOR NON-MEMBERS: $25 PER CLASS; $100 FULL COURSE SFJAZZ & JCC MEMBERS: $18 PER CLASS; $75 FULL COURSE Of all the Antilles, no island has done more to influence the outcome of American jazz than Cuba… from the infectious mambo to modern-day timba and beyond. Jazz, too, made its indelible mark on the island’s music, exploring the perfect marriage of luscious harmony and dance-churning rhythms, and finding a host of innovators along the way who would share the wealth of this “new” music, much of which would evolve far to the north in New York City. From the classic sounds of Machito and Mario Bauzá, Dizzy Gillespie and Tito Puente to the explosive modernists such as Chucho Valdés, Irakere and Emiliano Salvador, jazz and Cuban music continue to walk — and dance — hand in hand. Taught by award-winning pianist, musicologist and SFJAZZ Director of Education Rebeca Mauleón, this fiveweek series will explore the remarkable history of jazz in and out of Cuba, and will feature live performances by Mauleón herself along with many special guest artists! This course may be taken as a series or individually.
sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353
jazz continuum FROM RISING STARS TO LIVING LEGENDS, THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF MODERN JAZZ ARTISTRY.
“Esperanza Spalding will restore your faith in music.” –Time
» August 25: 21st Century Superstar
Esperanza Spalding Radio Music Society
“There are many gifted singers in jazz today, and no shortage of accomplished acoustic bass players. But few jazz artists can be both.” —NPR
A world-class acoustic and electric bassist, an enchanting singer, a savvy composer and charismatic bandleader — Esperanza Spalding is a bona fide star for the 21st century. With her triumph at the 2011 Grammy Awards, where she became the first jazz player ever to win Best New Artist, Spalding has quickly emerged as one of the era’s defining musicians. Debuting at #10 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, Esperanza’s latest genre-bending gem, Radio Music Society, is a project that binds her love of Brazilian music with threads of gospel, soul and big band swing. She brings largely the same ensemble to SFJAZZ, with fiery alto saxophonist Tia Fuller as musical director. Born and raised in Portland, Spalding discovered the upright bass as a teenager and soon immersed herself in blues, funk, hip hop, jazz and Latin American genres. At only 20, she became the youngest-ever professor at the Berklee College of Music and performed in 2009 at President Obama’s Nobel Prize acceptance ceremony. Still just 27, Esperanza is now an international pop icon with collaborators including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joe Lovano, Milton Nascimento and other giants. Only SFJAZZ has presented her four times in the Bay Area and we’re justifiably proud of this new tradition! Saturday, August 25, 8PM Paramount Theatre, oakland 30 / 40 / 60 / 75 premium Note: Tickets to this event went on sale to the public May 24.
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
jazz continuum
“Spalding has made her mark not just as a virtuoso jazz bassist or an effortlessly nimble singer but as an exotic hybrid of the two.” —The New York Times
“Randy Brecker has a star-studded, single-spaced, 16-page scroll on his web site that practically maps the history of recorded music during the past five decades.” —JazzTimes
Randy Brecker
» September 28: Some Skunk Funk
jazz continuum
Brecker Brothers Band Reunion
With Randy Brecker, Mike Stern & Dave Weckl The loss of 57-year-old tenor saxophone titan Michael Brecker from leukemia in 2007 left a gaping hole that can’t be filled. His longest running collaboration was with his older brother, trumpet great Randy Brecker. They were already well-traveled jazz improvisers when first joining forces as the Brecker Brothers in the mid-70s, infusing the era’s predominant jazz/rock fusion with a heaping helping of funk. Their 1975 debut was followed by five more sessions for Arista through the early ‘80s, even scoring a Top 40 UK single with “East River” (from Heavy Metal Be-Bop). The brothers reunited in 1992, recording two superb albums for GRP that picked up where they left off, combining sensational chops with infectious electronic grooves. Their final release, 1994’s Out of the Loop, won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance. Randy Brecker has now assembled a true supergroup with deep Brecker Band history, including incendiary guitar slinger Mike Stern, keyboard wizard George Whitty, first-call bassist Neil Jason and the massively influential drummer Dave Weckl. Walking in Michael’s huge footsteps is Italian rising star saxophonist Ada Rovatti. The band’s reunion marks a rare occasion, one you’ll only experience at SFJAZZ, and is timed to coincide with the release of their new record. Friday, September 28, 8PM Herbst Theatre • 30 / 50 / 70 premium
Mike Stern
“Mike Stern has very few peers among modern musicians in general, and electric guitarists in particular.” —JazzTimes
Dave Weckl has maintained a reputation among fans, peers, and the international music community as one of the great living drummers.” —JazzTimes Dave Weckl
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“One of the best band leaders in the music.” —The New York Times Wallace Roney
» September 29: ‘80s Miles Revisited
Wallace Roney, Bill Evans, Robben Ford, Joey DeFrancesco, Darryl Jones & Omar Hakim Bill Evans
“Evans possesses the rare ability to make even the most serious music sound joyous and optimistic.” —All About Jazz
More than 20 years after his death, jazz megastar Miles Davis continues to cast a long shadow over the music world. Miles Smiles features some of most prodigious players who thrived in Davis’s final bands, coming together to pay sizzling tribute to their legendary employer. Wallace Roney is the only trumpeter Davis ever mentored and he held down the trumpet chair in the great Tony Williams quintet. Saxophonist Bill Evans had a spectacular run, appearing on six Miles albums in the early ‘80s. Joey DeFrancesco was 17 and unknown outside of Philadelphia when Davis recruited him, a spotlight that revived the flagging fortunes of the Hammond B3 organ. Robben Ford, one of the era’s dominant contemporary jazz guitarists, put in a memorable stint with Davis in the mid-80s. Electric bassist Darryl Jones landed his first touring gig with Davis, filling the formidable shoes of Marcus Miller before moving onto work with Sting and the Rolling Stones. Drummer Omar Hakim, a veteran of Weather Report, appeared on the landmark Davis albums Tutu and Amandla. This gathering of Davis alums qualifies as a monumental jazz event. Wow! Saturday, September 29, 8PM herbst Theatre • 30 / 50 / 70 premium
Robben Ford
“A master of sophisticated jazz and blues...” —Guitar Player
“The finest jazz organist on the planet.” —DownBeat
Joey DeFrancesco
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
jazz continuum
Miles Smiles
jazz continuum
“Marsalis has been one of the best-known and most powerful players in his line of work for decades.” —NPR
“Marsalis stands as one of the most imposing tenor and soprano saxophonists in jazz today, the comprehensive nature of his virtuosity matched by the substantive quality of his tunes.” —Chicago Tribune
» October 5: Sacred Space
Branford Marsalis, solo
“The highest echelon of jazz tenor saxophonists.” —Los Angeles Times
Branford Marsalis became a jazz star in the 1980s on the strength of his brash and fiery improvisational flights. But the virtuoso’s projects also display a unique talent for melodic invention. Now Marsalis takes the ultimate step toward concert intimacy, shedding all accompaniment for his debut solo performance at Grace Cathedral. It’s a match made in heaven – a supremely gifted soloist and the hallowed halls where Duke Ellington premiered his Concert of Sacred Music in 1965. Branford joins an exalted constellation of saxophone legends who’ve performed solo in the resonant sanctuary as part of the SFJAZZ Sacred Space series since 1986, including Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, Charles Lloyd, Steve Lacy, Pharoah Sanders, Dewey Redman and others. In many ways Marsalis is heir to their lineage, yet there is no doubt this performance will be a singular listening experience. Friday, October 5, 8PM Grace Cathedral 30 general admission / 50 premium GA
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“A true musical hyphenate… an essential figure in the history of the electric bass…” —JazzTimes
Marcus Miller Marcus Miller’s new Concord album Renaissance could easily refer to the bassist himself — a true Renaissance man who has made an indelible mark on the music as a performer, producer and composer. While still in his early 20s Miller came to prominence with his “slapping” fretless bass technique and a high-profile association with Miles Davis, producing and appearing on landmark recordings such as Tutu, Amandla and Music from Siesta. Since then he’s collaborated with an incredible array of jazz and R&B stars, including Wayne Shorter, Grover Washington Jr., David Sanborn, Bob James, Luther Vandross and Chaka Khan. As a composer, he’s written scores for more than a dozen films, such as House Party, Boomerang, Above the Rim, and more recently the Chris Rock TV series, Everybody Hates Chris. Miller is a studio legend, heard as a sideman on over 500 albums, but he’s also found time to put forth 16 records as a leader. Expect material from his latest release and an exciting new band. Thursday, October 11, 7:30PM Herbst Theatre 30 / 50 / 70 premium
“Marcus is so hip and into the music that he even walks in tempo.” —Miles Davis
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
jazz continuum
» October 11: Renaissance Man
“Maret plays the chromatic harmonica with the chops of Toots Thielemans and the soul-searing expression of Stevie Wonder.” —JazzTimes
“He’s one of the most creative musicians around.”
jazz continuum
—Herbie Hancock
» October 28: Carrying the Torch
Grégoire Maret Quartet With Toots Thielemans making a guest appearance on Grégoire Maret’s new album, the symbolism couldn’t be more apparent. The elder harmonica legend has passed the torch to a brilliant new star with a growing international reputation. Over the past decade, the Swissborn Maret has become the world’s most sought-after harp master, recording and touring with everyone from Youssou N’Dour and Meshell Ndegeocello to Steve Coleman, Jacky Terrasson, Marcus Miller and Herbie Hancock. A long-time member of the Pat Metheny Group, he earned a Grammy for his contribution to the band’s 2005 Nonesuch album, The Way Up. Maret recently made his debut as a bandleader on Koch with an ambitious self-titled release, Grégoire Maret, that features high-profile guests including Thielemans, Miller, Cassandra Wilson and Gretchen Parlato. Earlier this year he performed for SFJAZZ in an all-star tribute to Thielemans, instantaneously gaining a throng of Bay Area fans. For Maret’s triumphant return, he brings an electrifying quartet featuring pianist Federico Gonzalez Peña. Sunday, October 28, 2PM Florence Gould Theatre, Legion of Honor 25 general admission / 40 premium ga Note: Ticket includes entry to the museum galleries.
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brilliance from brazil For over 50 years, the history of jazz and Brazilian music intertwine.
“Eliane Elias has come to epitomize a cool, sophisticated jazz sensibility, especially on the bossa nova songs of her native Brazil.” —All About Jazz
Eliane Elias
“Elias commands the keyboard with a forceful twohanded muscularity that belies her image as a blond younger sister of the mythical Girl From Ipanema.” —The New York Times
A captivating performer who combines the sensuous, sun-splashed melodicism of Brazil with the harmonic sophistication of New York City, São Paulo-born Eliane Elias brings together the best of two extravagantly rich musical worlds. The masterly pianist and ethereal singer returns with a stellar band featuring guitarist Rubens de la Corte, drummer Rafael Barata, and famed bassist Marc Johnson (best known for his long stint with piano legend Bill Evans). Transcribing and playing along with records by Bud Powell, Art Tatum and Miles Davis before she even reached high school, Elias made an immediate splash in New York when she settled there in 1981. Soon after, she appeared in the original Steps Ahead group, along with the likes of jazz giants Michael Brecker and Peter Erskine. Elias has been thriving ever since, most importantly as a bandleader with a series of wonderful Blue Note albums. Her latest recording for Concord, Light My Fire, features expansive repertoire, from collaborations with Gilberto Gil to a supremely hip interpretation of the Doors’ title track. Join us for an enchanting evening with one of Brazil’s greatest exports. Friday, October 19, 8PM Herbst Theatre 25 / 45 / 65 premium
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
brilliance from brazil
» October 19: Absolute Artistry
“Mr. Gil’s music dances in the space between local and international, between home-grown tradition and global information.” —The New York Times
brilliance from brazil
» October 25: Forró Party!
Gilberto Gil From musical revolutionary to international pop star to beloved statesman, Gilberto Gil has lived a life worthy of a Hollywood thriller. As a founding member of Brazil’s Tropicália movement, Gil and fellow Bahians Caetano Veloso and Gal Costa radically reinvented Brazilian popular music in the mid-60s by combining Beatlesque psychedelia, art rock and Brazil’s northeastern roots rhythms. Since returning to Brazil from his London exile in the early 1970s, Gil has held center stage as a charismatic performer, songwriter and interpreter of the music of Bob Marley. With several dozen standards to his credit, he has been interpreted by just about every major Brazilian artist of the past four decades. In recent years Gil once again found inspiration in the joyful, upbeat accordiondriven forró style of music and dance, starting with his soundtrack to the award-winning 2000 film Me You Them. After serving as Brazil’s Minister of Culture from 2003-2008, he went on to explore classics by forró heroes Luiz Gonzaga and Jackson do Pandeiro on his latest album, Fé Na Festa– Ao Vivo. Expect a party — and expect to dig deeply into Brazil’s musical heritage with one of the country’s major cultural icons. Thursday, October 25, 7:30PM Paramount Theatre, oakland 25 / 45 / 65 / 85 premium
“Since he was mixing global ingredients as part of the Tropicalismo movement in the ‘60s, Gil has surfed the world while digging deep into Brazilian roots.” —JazzTimes
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“Arguably the best Brazilian songwriter since Antonio Carlos Jobim.” —Los Angeles Times
—Herbie Mann
» November 3: Brazil Unplugged
Ivan Lins 67-year-old Ivan Lins reigns as the preeminent Brazilian composer of his generation, on a par with icons including Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Though Lins didn’t release an album in the U.S. until 1986, his tunes had already made a huge impact on American music. After Quincy Jones scored a Grammy with his version of the pianist’s “Velas” on his 1981 album The Dude, the floodgates opened. Jazz giants including Sarah Vaughan, Joe Pass, Carmen McRae and Ella Fitzgerald began recording Ivan’s songs, as did pop stylists Barbra Streisand, Take 6 and Sting. In 1986, jazz singer Mark Murphy recorded an entire album of Lins compositions, Night Mood, and trumpeter Terence Blanchard’s 1996 collaboration with Lins produced a gorgeous Columbia session, The Heart Speaks. A marvelously inventive pianist and captivating singer, Lins is one of the best interpreters of his own songbook. For SFJAZZ, he makes a rare unplugged appearance on acoustic piano, performing the hits that have made him a legend. Saturday, November 3, 8PM Palace of Fine Arts Theatre non-members: 25 / 40 / 60 premium members: 19 / 30 / 45 premium
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
brilliance from brazil
“Lins is the genius of lyrical music in Brazil, a magician with harmony... on the same par as Gershwin, Kern, Rodgers and Hart, as well as Debussy and Ravel.”
jazz giants LArGer THAN LiFe. sPANNiNG GeNres aNd GeNerATiONs. UPHOLdiNG ANd beNdiNG THe TrAdiTiONs OF JAZZ.
A concert by the tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins is one of the great American adventures.”
jazz giants
—The New York Times
» September 30: Saxophone Colossus
Sonny Rollins
“One of the greatest tenor saxophonists of all time, Sonny Rollins ranks at the top along with Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and John Coltrane.” —JazzTimes
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After winning every possible distinction including 2011 Kennedy Center Honors (saluted by Barack Obama, broadcast on CBS), the NEA Jazz Master title, Montreal’s Miles Davis Award, the National Medal of Arts, multiple Grammys and honorary doctorates, what is there left for Sonny Rollins to do? Plenty. At 82, the tenor sax titan just keeps raising the bar, delivering performances of stunning brilliance and intensity. The music world is still abuzz over Road Shows Vol. 2, which includes four tracks from his epochal 80th birthday celebration at New York City’s Beacon Theatre. It’s the latest treasure from Rollins since he launched his own label, Doxy, with the acclaimed studio recording Sonny, Please. From his early career as a sideman with legends Bud Powell, Miles Davis and Clifford Brown to his unrivaled solo career that produced such jazz cornerstones as Saxophone Colossus, Tenor Madness, Way Out West, The Bridge and East Broadway Rundown, Sonny Rollins continues to chart a course as a true giant and perhaps the greatest living improviser in jazz. We’re proud that his performances have been a glorious part of SFJAZZ tradition across the past two decades. Sunday, September 30, 8:30PM Davies Symphony Hall 30 / 45 / 65 / 95 premium
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“He blazed onto the scene like some alien object hurtling into the atmosphere, and the force of his impact shook the ground.” —JazzTimes
“One of the last of the truly imposing figures from a generation of jazz players that was full of them.” —The New York Times
jazz giants
» November 9: Sound Grammar
Ornette Coleman More than 50 years after Ornette Coleman changed the course of music with The Shape of Jazz to Come, the avant-garde patriarch remains an elusive genius whose work defies neat categories. While he coined the term “free jazz” with his classic 1960 double quartet album Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation, he’s a composer of expansive ambition whose tunes have become essential touchstones in the jazz canon. His melodic imagination often seems limitless, as he regularly introduces dozens of new tunes with slippery, careening singsong lines. And though he’s known as one of the most sophisticated and controversial innovators in jazz, his music is equally steeped in the raw looseness of the blues. He has performed often for SFJAZZ, including the 1994 premiere of his dazzling multimedia work, Tone Dialing. Attesting to the timeless influence of his compositions, the SFJAZZ Collective chose Coleman as tribute artist during their 2004 inaugural season. In 2007, he became only the second jazz musician ever to win a Pulitzer Prize. Ornette’s quartet of the past eight years, powered by his son, drummer Denardo Coleman, and featuring bassists Tony Falanga and Greg Cohen, produces some of the most memorable music of his epic career.
“He remains a restless free spirit on the frontiers of jazz.” —People
Friday, November 9, 8PM Davies Symphony Hall 25 / 45 / 65 / 85 premium
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
música cubana
música cubana
the epicenter of latin jazz, cuba takes the spotlight with its biggest stars.
“It is this classic group that paved the way for countless others in the course of Cuban music history.” —JazzTimes
» October 4: Heart of Havana
Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro de Cuba In a country with a dazzlingly rich history of innovative musical ensembles, Cuba’s Septeto Nacional boasts the grandest, most far-reaching legacy. Founded by legendary Afro-Cuban songwriter Ignacio Piñeiro in 1927, the group played an essential role in transforming son, a rural style created by troubadours in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba, into urbane dance music that transfixed Havana nightclubs. Pineiro’s band introduced clarion vocal harmonies and sophisticated orchestration while retaining the insistent pulse known as clave. The foundational style of much Cuban music, Septeto Nacional’s son influenced musical developments from Chicago to Mexico City to Kinshasa, and eventually gave birth to salsa. George Gershwin was so impressed by Septeto Nacional on a trip to Cuba in 1932 that he quoted Pineiro’s hit “Échale salsita” in his piece “Cuban Overture.” Over the years, the group has featured a succession of powerhouse vocalists who introduced Piñeiro’s classic songs to new generations. Now led by Eugenio “Raspa” Rodríguez and Frank “El Matador” Oropesa, the group focuses on its time-tested Piñeiro standards, but the contemporary arrangements reflect the sensibilities of Cuba’s modern musicians. Thursday, October 4, 7:30PM Jewish Community Center of San Francisco 30 general admission / 45 premium ga
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“There’s no antiquarian dust on Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro… a pioneer of the Cuban son.” —The New York Times
“There are still real innovators wandering throughout the world and Jerry Gonzalez is one such musical nomad. –All About Jazz
“Andy and Jerry Gonzalez changed the face of Latin jazz —in fact, they defined that hybrid.” —Arturo O’Farrill Jerry Gonzalez
» October 18: Puerto Rico meets Cuba
Elio Villafranca & Arturo Stable
Andy Gonzalez
Arturo Stable
Featuring a pair of Nuyorican visionaries and a duo of rising Cuban stars, this double-bill offers a glimpse at both the past and future of Latin jazz. Introduced to Afro-Caribbean music by their father, renowned singer Jerry Gonzalez Sr., the Gonzalez brothers have been two of the most influential musicians in Latin jazz since the early 1970s. Jerry Gonzalez gained essential knowledge as a percussionist with Latin jazz patriarchs Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente. He joined forces with his bassist brother Andy Gonzalez in Conjunto Libre, a band Andy co-led with timbales master Manny Oquendo. But the brothers made their biggest impact with Jerry on trumpet, leading the Fort Apache Band, which helped pave the way for the onslaught of Latin American talent that has energized the US jazz scene since. This SFJAZZ date marks their first major appearance as a duo. Opening the concert are two Cuban-born, New York-based masters: Elio Villafranca, a Grammy-nominated pianist, teams up with percussionist Arturo Stable. Together they have performed widely as Dos y Mas, a superb worldjazz duo that has recently released their debut album. Thursday, October 18, 7:30PM herbst Theatre • 25 / 40 / 55 premium
“Loaded, technically superior, sharp and romantic pianism...” —JazzTimes
Elio Villafranca
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
música cubana
Jerry & Andy Gonzalez
» November 4: Cha-Cha-Cha!
“One of Cuba’s grandest, longest-established bands.” —The New York Times
música cubana
Orquesta Aragón As Cuba’s most venerable charanga band, Orquesta Aragón has been a cornerstone of Cuban culture for seven decades, prospering in the heady, profligate days before Fidel Castro came to power and then thriving after the revolution transformed the country’s music industry. Through all the personnel, stylistic and political changes, Aragón has kept its focus, spreading irresistible Cuban rhythms around the world. Always looking to make dancers happy, the band has cultivated a highly flexible approach that allows it to keep up with changing fashions while staying true to its basic sound. Founded in 1939 by bassist Orestes Aragón, the group came together in the faded colonial town of Cienfuegos. After popularizing cha-cha-cha in the mid-1950s, the group reached the height of its fame in 1965, when it joined other leading ensembles in a highly publicized international tour. The 1982 death of Aragón leader Rafael Lay in a car crash sidelined the band for several years, until Rafael Lay Jr. polished the old repertoire and re-formed the ensemble. With several other sons of key Aragon musicians now in the band, Orquesta Aragón has regained its reputation as one of the foremost interpreters of classic Cuban popular songs. Sunday, November 4, 7PM Palace of Fine Arts Theatre • 25 / 45 / 65 premium
“Not just a revival band, but modernists expanding the repertoire of charanga music.” —JazzTimes
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—The New York Times
Arturo Sandoval If Arturo Sandoval was only the most prodigious Cuban trumpeter of his generation, given to gravity defying improvisational flights, his spot in the jazz pantheon would be assured. But the six-time Grammywinning musician isn’t content with sending rival horn players running for cover. More than anything, Sandoval is a crowd-pleasing artist who has forged his own bold synthesis of bebop and Cuban styles. Indeed, he played a central role in revolutionizing Cuban music as leader and founding member of Irakere, the most exciting band to come out of Cuba in the early 1970s. His trumpet hero Dizzy Gillespie helped spread Sandoval’s reputation by showcasing his awesome chops in the United Nations Orchestra. Sandoval’s latest Concord release, Dear Diz, Everyday I Think of You, pays tribute to his late mentor with a heartfelt showcase of the bebop legend’s greatest compositions. When he’s not leading his blazing jazz combo, Sandoval can be found performing with the finest symphony orchestras around the world. Whenever he picks up his horn, you can be assured that fireworks will soon follow. Saturday, December 1, 8PM herbst theatre 35 / 55 / 75 premium
“He’s one of the best. He has a very athletic style, but can play softly too. He’s got bull chops!” —Dizzy Gillespie
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
música cubana
» December 1: Dear Diz
“His playing is unabashedly spectacular, yet he uses his technique with dramatic finesse.”
soulful singers sPeLLbiNdiNG sTOryTeLLers use nature’s instrument for a fresh take on THe LeGAcy OF sONG.
soulful singers
“She has an enormous voice and an enormous talent, and she offers it up to stun her audience.” —The New York Times
» October 20: Vocal Virtuosity
Dianne Reeves
“She roams and explores, growls and catches at notes and phrasings. It is this audacity that makes Reeves’ voice an awesome instrument.” —People
We may not confer royal titles like the old days, when jazz was led by a Duke, a Count, and a Lady, but Dianne Reeves is today’s uncontested jazz vocal queen. She’s a glorious singer with a sumptuous sound, who has for three decades proudly carried the torch kindled by Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Reeves is the only artist ever to win the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocals in three consecutive years (20012003), while. her stunning 2006 soundtrack to George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck netted a fourth. Ever since she was discovered in high school by the legendary trumpeter Clark Terry, Reeves has sought the widest possible array of musical experiences. Though her jazz roots run deep — pianist George Duke is a cousin — she first made her mark in the early ‘80s touring with Brazilian star Sergio Mendes. It wasn’t long before Harry Belafonte recruited Reeves, and traces of both experiences still reverberate in her music. Along with Dee Dee Bridgewater and Cassandra Wilson, Reeves was recently selected to perform in a Kennedy Center tribute to the late Abbey Lincoln. For her return to SFJAZZ expect a blockbuster set from perhaps the greatest jazz singer alive. Saturday, October 20, 8PM Herbst Theatre 35 / 55 / 85 premium
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“Soul is a quality that can’t be bought or borrowed, faked or sold, which probably explains why Mary Stallings has emerged once again as one of the most distinctive and compelling jazz singers on the scene.” —DownBeat
» October 26: Bill Plays, Mary Sings
Each generation, it seems, discovers Mary Stallings anew. A supremely soulful jazz singer, the San Francisco native has appeared alongside jazz greats including Cal Tjader, Dizzy Gillespie and the Count Basie Orchestra. With her supple sense of swing, blues-inflected phrasing, and gift for empathic interpretation, it’s easy to see why The New York Times declared “perhaps the best jazz singer alive today is a woman almost everybody seems to have missed.” Not SFJAZZ, however, where Stallings has performed many times over the years. In fact, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at our 2011 Gala. For the Herbst date she’s paired with world-class pianist Bill Charlap, in a project that both have eagerly anticipated. Charlap has established himself as one of the most respected keyboardists in jazz and leader of a truly telepathic trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. The extraordinary pairing of Stallings and Charlap promises an evening of rare beauty — and one you can only find at SFJAZZ. Friday, October 26, 8PM herbst theatre • 25 / 40 / 55 premium sfjazz members only (see page 8)
“Charlap approaches a song the way a lover approaches his beloved... when he sits down to play, the result is an embrace, an act of possession.” —Time Magazine
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
soulful singers
Mary Stallings with the Bill Charlap Trio
soulful singers
» November 10: The Real K.C.
“Hands-down the best thing to come out of the jump/swing revival... the gal can sing her tail off.” —Seattle Times
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
Swingin’ the Blues: The Kansas City Sound
“A singular ensemble that puts a soulful stamp on a huge swath of American music.” —Boston Globe
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San Francisco vocalist Lavay Smith brings a touch of the blues to everything she sings. Now, the sensuous chanteuse and her hard-swinging band work their alchemy on a program that explores the real Kansas City sound. As a wide-open town that served as a hub for territory bands crisscrossing the Midwest in the 1930s, Kansas City boasted one of the nation’s formative jazz scenes, eventually giving rise to the famed big bands of Jay McShann and Count Basie. Backed by her evergrooving Skillet Lickers, with some of the Bay Area’s best musicians, Smith interprets the bawdy and uproariously swinging blues made famous by clarion vocalists like Big Joe Turner and Jimmy Rushing. The Skillet Lickers are led by pianist, arranger and founding member Chris Siebert, a bona fide authority on swing, jazz and blues. The band also features Danny Armstrong, a tremendous trombonist and singer, and ferocious saxophone battles between Robert Stewart and Jules Broussard, the latter a Bay Area jazz hero since the 1960s. Like several other artists in this 30th Anniversary Festival, Lavay Smith has appeared with SFJAZZ many times across the decades. Saturday, November 10, 8PM • YBCA Forum 20 general admission / 35 premium GA
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“Though compared to Nina Simone, Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf, she sounds like no one but herself.” —Los Angeles Times
» November 16: One of a Kind
Buika
friday, November 16, 8PM herbst theatre 25 / 45 / 65 premium
“Her music is the rare fusion that honors all its sources.” —The New York Times
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
soulful singers
Only a unique confluence of cultural influences could produce an artist as strikingly original as Buika, who has earned a devoted cadre of fans and collaborators ranging from celebrated filmmaker Pedro Almódovar to musicians Seal, Rachelle Ferrell, Anoushka Shankar and Nelly Furtado. Born in Spain to parents in political exile from Equatorial Guinea, she grew up on the Spanish island of Mallorca. She was exposed to great jazz singers by her mother and forged a breathtaking, souldrenched vocal style combining traditional Spanish coplas with the Gypsy laments of flamenco and jazz improvisation. A commanding performer with a husky, crushed-velvet voice, Buika saw her career catch fire in 2009 with El Último Trago, a collaboration with Cuban piano giant Chucho Valdés. And during Chick Corea’s recent monthlong residency at the Blue Note in New York, Buika was featured in his stunning flamenco ensemble. Don’t miss one of the world’s most exciting young talents. This date marks the SFJAZZ debut of an important new figure in world music.
» October 6: Hallelujah!
Don Byron
happenings
New Gospel Quintet
“Byron has carpentered an extraordinary career precisely by obliterating the very idea of category.” —Time
Clarinetist Don Byron thrives as the iconoclastic wild card of jazz, an intrepid musician who always finds exhilarating and unexpected avenues to explore. He displays a restless intelligence, interpreting a wildly diverse range of styles and artists from funk-drenched R&B to klezmer and Duke Ellington to Junior Walker. Byron’s latest project is the New Gospel Quartet, a passionate, spiritually charged tribute to gospel legend Thomas A. Dorsey and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The recent Savoy album Love, Peace, and Soul is the result of Byron’s investigation into the blues-based sacred music of white and black Southern gospel. As on the record, Byron will be joined by a stellar group featuring the brilliant young pianist Xavier Davis, resourceful bassist Brian Jones and exploratory drummer Pheeroan akLaff — who first collaborated with Byron on 1992’s Tuskegee Experiments. Byron has always raised the roof across his many SFJAZZ appearances — songs of praise and glory provide the perfect vehicle to do so once more.
“He’s not just a jazz musician doing gospel — he is somebody who is really engaging with the subject matter...”
Saturday, October 6, 8PM YBCA Forum 25 general admission / 40 premium ga
—BBC
» October 27: New York’s Finest
Tony Malaby’s Tamarindo
“A fountain of creative and energized improvising.” —The New York Times
with William Parker & Mark Ferber
An improviser possessing a seemingly infinite store of bracing ideas, 48-year old saxophonist Tony Malaby has quietly ascended the ranks of the jazz elite over the past two decades. He’s contributed to some of the era’s most celebrated ensembles, including Charlie Haden’s Liberation Orchestra, Paul Motian’s Electric Bebop Band, and the Fred Hersch Quintet. As a leader, he’s assembled several bands featuring New York’s “downtown” crème de la crème. Introduced on the 2006 album Tamarindo, his trio with bassist William Parker and drummer Nasheet Waits is one of Malaby’s most flexible ensembles. A player revered on free jazz frontiers, Parker has collaborated with the jazz vanguard from Cecil Taylor and Rashied Ali to Peter Brötzmann, Matthew Shipp and John Zorn. For SFJAZZ, the gifted Moraga-raised drummer Mark Ferber, known by his work with guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg and saxophone icon Lee Konitz, replaces Waits. Playing within rough and tumble forms and without, Tamarindo delivers an ever-evolving conversation marked by quicksilver dynamic shifts, unusual harmonic twists and brusque lyricism. Saturday, October 27, 8PM Swedish American Hall • 25 general admission
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“One of New York City’s most in-demand tenor saxophonists, Tony Malaby has also become one of the most distinctive artists of his time.” —All About Jazz
happenings RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. UNIQUE EVENTS IN MUSIC, BROUGHT TO YOU BY SFJAZZ.
“A one-of-a-kind guitarist equally adept providing an atmospheric backdrop for Tom Waits as he is calling down the heavens with skronky free jazz.” Marc Ribot
—Los Angeles Times
» October 24: Border Music
Marc Ribot & David Hidalgo
David Hildalgo
Wednesday, October 24, 7:30PM Palace of Fine Arts Theatre 25 / 40 / 60 premium
“David Hidalgo still amazes as a multiinstrumentalist, easily moving from violin to accordion, then unleashing emotionsoaked electric guitar leads.” —Hollywood Reporter
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
happenings
The West Coast debut of the Border Music project brings together two supremely cosmopolitan guitarists, Marc Ribot and David Hidalgo, the latter of Los Lobos fame. As lead guitarist and vocalist of the legendary East LA band, Hidalgo has been a creative force straddling the border of rock, R&B, cumbia, Tex-Mex and country for four decades. In the 1990s he co-led the wildly experimental roots band Latin Playboys with fellow Los Lobos member Louie Pérez. Ribot, meanwhile, is a celebrated denizen of New York’s wild and wooly “Downtown” scene, where his Los Cubanos Postizos (The Prosthetic Cubans) devised ingeniously bent arrangements of classic Arsenio Rodriguez tunes. In addition to serving as an instrumental muse to Elvis Costello, Tom Waits and John Zorn, Ribot has also launched iconoclastic ensembles including Ceramic Dog. In creating the Border Music project, Ribot and Hidalgo have mashed up their two primary bands, with Los Lobos drummer Cougar Estrada joining Postizos bassist Brad Jones, keyboardist Anthony Coleman and percussionist EJ Rodriguez. The amalgam is rootsy and mercurial, thoughtful, soulful and hugely entertaining.
happenings
“Mr. Schmitt has the springy phrasing and effusive flow of a Djangoloist; he’s clearly born to the style.” —The New York Times
» November 17: Celebrating Django Reinhardt
Dorado Schmitt
and the Django All-Stars
“... lightning-fast finger work, powerful strumming, wild sweeps across the fingerboard and astonishingly fast tempos.” —Los Angeles Times
Pioneering Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt lamented that he might be neglected by history, but today the ebulliently swinging “jazz manouche” sound he created with French violinist Stéphane Grappelli is more pervasive than ever. And no one has done more to ignite interest in the idiom than dazzling French guitarist and violinist Dorado Schmitt. Born to Gypsy parents near the German border in Lorraine, Schmitt was weaned on traditional Roma music and Gypsy jazz, but rebelled as a teenager by taking up electric guitar and emulating Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana. After a decade of leading his own trio, he was nearly killed in a car crash, and spent years in physical therapy to regain his unrivaled guitar prowess. By the mid-90s he was a leading figure on the international Gypsy jazz scene, where he continues to represent the art form at its highest level. He’s joined by a cast of fiercely swinging compatriots, including the brilliant jazz accordionist Ludovic Beier and violinist Pierre Blanchard, who was tapped by Grappelli himself as a worthy successor. SFJAZZ has presented Schmitt many times over the years and his performances are always among our most popular. Saturday, November 17, 8PM • Herbst Theatre non-members: 25 / 40 / 60 premium members: 19 / 30 / 45 premium
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Blind Boys of Alabama
—Rolling Stone
Go Tell It on the Mountain
“Seeing the Blind Boys of Alabama in concert is part living history, part concert, all uplifting experience...” —The Washington Post
More than a gospel institution, the Blind Boys of Alabama are a cultural force that has swept up musicians from every stylistic precinct, including Prince, Willie Nelson, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan and Ben Harper. With five Grammy Awards (including one for lifetime achievement) and a sumptuous repertoire of soaring anthems, the group is a gospel standard bearer that has crossed over without adopting secular songs. Formed by a group of elementary students at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in the late 1930s, the quintet made a series of fine recordings in the post-war years that assured their place in the gospel pantheon. Refusing to jump on the soul and R&B bandwagons, the group broke through to non-gospel audiences in the early 1980s through their crucial role in the hugely successful Obie Award-winning musical, The Gospel at Colonus. The Blind Boys have become known worldwide with celebrated albums including the star-studded 2003 Christmas release, Go Tell It on the Mountain, which they revisit for this special holiday program. The Blind Boys have performed often for SFJAZZ and we can promise an evening of truly sanctified spirit! Sunday, December 2, 7PM Herbst Theatre 35 / 55 / 75 premium
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
happenings
» December 2: The Holiday Gospel Show
“The fusion of the Blind Boys’ Deep South gospel with New Orleans funk, R&B and jazz creates a superweapon of roots-music uplift… will raise goose bumps even on the tatted-up arms of resolutely futurist hipsters.”
“Barry Harris’s commitment to the pianists of the bop era, particularly Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, has been unequaled.” —The New York Times
“Uptempo tunes contain sudden intervallic leaps and huge spikes in amplitude. Terrasson’s concept of solo piano is orchestral.” —JazzTimes
» October 10: Solo Piano 10-10
painism
Monk’s Birthday: Three Generations
Barry Harris, Jacky Terrasson & Alfredo Rodriguez Barry Harris
Jacky Terrasson
Celebrating Thelonious Monk’s birthday each year has become yet another tradition at SFJAZZ. This triple bill features an audacious collection of piano masters from three generations, each with a solo performance to explore Monk’s ingenious book of compositions. Now 82, Barry Harris absorbed bebop directly from Charlie Parker and he’s heard on classic sessions by Dexter Gordon, Yusef Lateef, Lee Morgan and Cannonball Adderley. Harris is one of Monk’s contemporaries and foremost interpreters. In fact, the two pianists often played together and both lived at the New Jersey home of Pannonica, the “Jazz Baroness,” where Harris continues to reside today. Born in Berlin and raised in Paris, Jacky Terrasson, 45, has been a major force since he won the Monk Institute’s coveted piano competition in 1993 and toured with Betty Carter. More recently he demonstrated a real gift for solo expression on Mirror, a deeply probing Blue Note album. Meanwhile, Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez, 26, is simply one of the brightest young stars in jazz. A conservatory-trained player, Rodriguez cites Monk as a primary influence while combining technical virtuosity with Cuban soul. Wednesday, October 10, 7:30PM • Herbst Theatre non-members: 25 / 40 / 60 premium members: 19 / 30 / 45 premium
Alfredo Rodriguez
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“Young Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez sounds the way Monk might have sounded if he had been born in Chick Corea’s body and raised on a diet of Bach, Chopin and Stravinsky in a Havana conservatory.” —San Jose Mercury News
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pianism iNTeNse. rOmANTic. iNTerAcTive ANd iNsPiriNG. beHOLd THe PiANO’s rANGe OF eXPressiON among these TrUe virTUOsOs.
» November 1: The Vibe
Robert Glasper Experiment
pianism
“He hasn’t merely got chops to burn. He’s also got a unique voice that sets him apart from the crowd.” —Boston Globe
“While his roots are definitely in jazz, the bandleader knows no boundaries.” —Billboard
Pianist and composer Robert Glasper is on a mission to reconcile modern jazz with hip hop and R&B. And his latest Blue Note recording, Black Radio, is a bold manifesto. The album is an incisive commentary on urban music, weaving together the disparate strands of a career that took off shortly after he migrated from Houston to New York City in the mid-90s. Glasper became a go-to keyboardist for some of the era’s defining hip hop and R&B stars, touring as music director for Mos Def and appearing with Kanye West, Erykah Badu, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jay-Z and Maxwell. At the same time, Glasper made a name for himself as an insightful post-bop pianist through stints with jazz masters such as Russell Malone, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove and Terence Blanchard. He’s released a series of accomplished sessions, including 2009’s Double Booked, which contrasted his acoustic straight-ahead trio tracks with the slinky, plugged-in funk of the Experiment — a telepathic ensemble featuring saxophonist and vocalist Casey Benjamin, bassist Derrick Hodge and influential drummer Chris “Daddy” Dave. Poised to become the next instrumental superstar, Robert Glasper is truly the sound of now. Thursday, November 1, 8PM Palace of Fine Arts Theatre • 25 / 40 / 60 premium
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
“Perez weaves an astonishing, evocative web out of the many distinctive and colorful threads that make up Latin music.” —New york Daily News
» October 14: Pride of Panama
Danilo Pérez Trio
painism
Panama-born piano virtuoso Danilo Pérez has established himself as one of the preeminient jazz musicians of his generation. He’s won every conceivable award and even serves as Panama’s goodwill ambassador to UNICEF, but Pérez is best known as a member of saxophone legend Wayne Shorter’s quartet with John Patitucci and Brian Blade — perhaps the greatest working band in jazz. Danilo also concentrates on his own formidable trio with bassist Ben Street and drummer Adam Cruz. First documented in 2005 on Live at the Jazz Showcase, the interplay between Pérez and Cruz is nearly telepathic, as each of them is equally versed in various Latin American and jazz idioms. Adam’s multifaceted rhythmic fluency has led to recordings with masters including Chick Corea, Tom Harrell, Paquito D’Rivera and Eddie Palmieri, while Street has toured and recorded with luminaries such as Lee Konitz, James Moody, Dave Douglas and Kurt Rosenwinkel. The trio has developed its own volatile dynamic, one that’s “very unpredictable,” says Pérez, “leaving a lot of space for freedom, but keeping connected to some of the Latin ideas about rhythm.”
“No one in the mainstream is playing more freely than this trio.”
Sunday, October 14, 7PM • s.f. Conservatory of Music 25 general admission / 40 premium ga
—Boston Phoenix
Funding provided by
» November 18: MMW Minus 2
John Medeski, solo
“What other player can get a room full of people to dance to freakin’ keyboard jazz?” —Rolling Stone “Like a mad scientist who’s been stuck in his lab for months, Medeski proudly shows off the results of his experiments… The doctor is in session.” —All About Jazz
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Jazz fans put John Medeski in a box at their own risk. The keyboardist is best known for his groove-inflected work with jamband juggernaut Medeski Martin & Wood, but he first made his mark as a budding improviser through gigs with Dewey Redman, Billy Higgins and the celebrated Boston big band Either/Orchestra. A stylistic omnivore, Medeski is as comfortable exploring the outer reaches with John Zorn and David Fiuczynski as he is producing an album by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. He’s delved into the sacred side of the funk equation as a member of gospel-drenched quartet The Word and brought his trademark sound to Spectrum Road, the all-star band that celebrates drumming legend Tony Williams. For this rare solo gig Medeski may draw from a number of traditions, but it’s a safe bet he’ll re-interpret MMW, perhaps a dash of Ellingtonia and of course some Thelonious Monk — who was a primary influence. Naturally, the intimate Florence Gould Theatre is the perfect venue for this performance, and you can expect an album of solo piano to follow. Sunday, November 18, 2PM Florence Gould Theatre, Legion of Honor 25 general admission / 40 premium ga Note: Ticket includes entry to the museum galleries.
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tickets & More
Ticket Info
everyTHiNG yOU Need TO KNOW FOr A fabulous san francisco jazz festival.
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Web: sfjazz.org
Phone [Members: please use the Member hotline!]
On-sale Dates Members: Saturday, June 30 General Public: Sunday, July 22
Venue Locations
Member Hotline:
415-788-7353
General Public:
866-920-5299
Box Office
3 Embarcadero Center, Lobby Level, San Francisco, CA 94111
General hours:
Monday–Friday, 11AM–5:30PM
Member on-sale:
LOUISE M. DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco 94102 FLORENCE GOULD THEATer, LEGION OF HONOR 100 Legion of Honor Drive, San Francisco 94121 GRACE CATHEDRAL 1100 California Street, San Francisco 94108 HERBST THEATRE 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco 94102 the Jazzschool 2087 Addison Street, Berkeley CA 94704 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF SAN FRANCISCO 3200 California Street, San Francisco 94118 museum of the african diaspora (MOAD) 685 Mission Street, San Francisco 94105 PALACE OF FINE ARTS THEATRE 3301 Lyon Street, San Francisco 94123 PARAMOUNT THEATRE 2025 Broadway, Oakland 94612 SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC 50 Oak Street, San Francisco 94102 SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL 2174 Market Street, San Francisco 94114 YBCA FORUM 701 Mission Street, San Francisco 94103 For more venue information please visit sfjazz.org
Public on-sale:
Sunday, July 22, 10AM–5PM
Service fees:
All purchases at our Box Office are exempt from ticket service fees.
Catalog Notes All programs and artist lineups are subject to change. General Admission: open seating. Premium GA: open seating within a reserved section.
Pre-Concert Talks
30-minute talks take place on stage one hour before show time. Free to ticketholders for the event to follow.
Family Matinees
Each one-hour matinee features live performance, audience participation, Q&A and amazing music. Although designed for elementary school students, our Family Matinees are open to music fans of all ages.
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
tickets & more
Saturday, June 30, 10AM–5PM
SFJAZZ Merchandise Classic threads from SFJAZZ look great and fit right. And SFJAZZ Gift Cards are perfect for your favorite jazz head! A
SFJAZZ Collective 3-CD Set:
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merchandise
NEW!
The definitive record of the SFJAZZ Collective’s 2011 U.S. tour features the music of Stevie Wonder plus the band’s new original compositions. This incredible hand-numbered 3-CD set is just $35 at sfjazz.org and festival venues. Digital downloads are available on iTunes, Amazon, eMusic and more.
SFJAZZ logo long sleeve t-shirts
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Available in: blue on brown, orange on olive and red on charcoal • $40 Premium hoodie available in white on black • $50 Available in men’s & women’s sizes. • $25
Yellow or blue lettering on black cap. Black logo on tan cap. Black logo on black beenie. One-size-fits-all. • $20
Features four illustrations by the great Mark Ulriksen. 3” x 3” and 225 sheets. • $12
Featuring Miguel Zenón alto saxophone Mark Turner tenor saxophone Avishai Cohen trumpet Robin Eubanks trombone Stefon Harris vibraphone Edward Simon piano Matt Penman bass Eric Harland drums Get all 8 of the SFJAZZ Collective CD sets from 2004-2011 at sfjazz.org
Redeemable for concert tickets, merchandise or membership.
SFJAZZ Members: Take 10% off Discount applies at sfjazz.org or at our Embarcadero Center store.
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in-kind donors
Autodesk Aaron Copland Foundation The Capital Group Co. Charitable Foundation
sfjazz is generously supported by
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volunteer at sfjazz
You can support either SFJAZZ’s annual operations or target any of our diverse musical programs, which include the acclaimed San Francisco Jazz Festival and the SFJAZZ Spring Season, as well as innovative community and education initiatives. For more information on supporting jazz, please contact:
SFJAZZ volunteers are a big-hearted group of people who are central to our efforts to bring world-class jazz to the San Francisco Bay Area. Over 400 volunteers annually share their time and expertise with us in a variety of capacities during the San Francisco Jazz Festival and SFJAZZ Spring Season
Laura Hamilton Institutional Giving Director 415-283-0303 lhamilton@sfjazz.org
To learn more, call the SFJAZZ Volunteer Hotline at 415-283-0314 or email glarson@sfjazz.org.
Columbia Foundation Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund Bill Graham Supporting Foundation Goldman Sachs Grants for the Arts - San Francisco Hotel Fund The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Koret Foundation Stanley S. Langendorf Foundation National Endowment for the Arts San Francisco Foundation U.S. Bank Wells Fargo Foundation
And a very special thanks to SFJAZZ Members and volunteers!
30th Anniversary 1983–2012
sponsors
Bruce De Benedictis Google, Inc. Hood & Strong Jeremiah’s Pick Coffee Roederer Estate Seyfarth Shaw Shartsis Fries LLP Vintage Berkeley
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San Francisco Jazz Organization Three Embarcadero Center, Lobby Level San Francisco, CA 94111
JAZZ continuum 08.25 Esperanza Spalding 09.28 Brecker Bros. Band Reunion 09.29 Miles Smiles 10.05 Branford Marsalis 10.11 Marcus Miller 10.28 Grégoire Maret
MÚSICA CUBANA 10.04 Septeto Nacional 10.18 Gonzalez Brothers 11.04 Orquesta Aragón 12.01 Arturo Sandoval
PIANISM 10.10 10.14 11.01 11.18
Monk’s Birthday Danilo Pérez Robert Glasper John Medeski
SAN FRANCISCO, CA PERMIT #1782
BRILLIANCE FROM BRAZIL
Jazz Giants 09.30 Sonny Rollins 11.09 Ornette Coleman
10.19 Eliane Elias 10.25 Gilberto Gil 11.03 Ivan Lins
SOULFUL SINGERS
HAPPENINGS
10.20 Dianne Reeves 10.26 Mary Stallings & Bill Charlap 11.10 Lavay Smith 11.16 Buika
tickets on sale
10.06 Don Byron 10.24 Marc Ribot & David Hidalgo 10.27 Tamarindo 11.17 Dorado Schmitt 12.02 Blind Boys of Alabama
Members: Saturday, June 30 Public: Sunday, July 22 Web: sfjazz.org Members: 415-788-7353 Public: 866-920-5299
“The crown jewel among American jazz festivals.” —chicago tribune