SFJAZZ Spring Season 2011 by SFJAZZ

February 24 — June 25 Official Program Book

SFJAZZ Spring Season 2011 sfjazz experience Calendar About Us Membership SFJAZZ Center SFJAZZ Hotplate SFJAZZ Collective SFJAZZ Education

Keynotes 2 5 6 8 10 11 12

14 15 16 17

18 19 20 20

global village Hugh Masekela Yasmin Levy John Santos Max Raabe & Palast Orchester CéU Ana Moura Youssou N’Dour & Angelique Kidjo

21 22 22 23 24 24 25

string things Marc Ribot Assad Brothers Jake Shimabukuro John Scofield Lionel Loueke Trio Lee Ritenour

26 26 27 28 29 29

soulful singers Patricia Barber Jane Monheit Madeleine Peyroux Lavay Smith Nikki Yanofsky Steve Tyrell

35 36 36 37

Go Home Adam Theis Proverb Trio Rova Saxophone Quartet

38 38 39 39

new orleans nights

power shift Kenny Werner with Randy Brecker & David Sánchez SFJAZZ Collective Ambrose Akinmusire Roy Hargrove with Cedar Walton

leading edge

living legends Randy Newman Buddy Guy Rickie Lee Jones Tony Bennett

Marcus Roberts Trio Dr. Lonnie Smith & Barbara Dennerlein Trio Gerald Clayton Trio Gabriela Montero Eliane Elias Trio

30 30 31 32 32 33

Preservation Hall Jazz Band Irma Thomas Ellis Marsalis A Night in Treme

40 41 41 42

tickets & more Tickets & venue info SFJAZZ merchandise Sponsors & underwriters

43 44 45

catalog production

Mike Charlasch Ronnie Shapiro Megan Mock Mark Ulriksen Rusty Aceves Andrew Gilbert Teddy Hutcherson Justin Walters Quad Graphics

Copywriting, editing & creative direction Art direction & design Design Cover illustration Editing & copywriting Copywriting Production Box office Printing

legal stuff 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.

Variety — the spice of life. Greetings! It’s my pleasure to introduce the incredible 2011 SFJAZZ Spring Season artist roster. Journalists often say SFJAZZ has “something for everyone” and they’re right! This season provides a real case in point. As usual, we’ve divided the 40 performances into eight major groups, from String Things to Global Village and Living Legends to Keynotes. Within and across these themes, the creative diversity is truly mind-boggling: Living Legends — The word “legend” is often used loosely, but not by SFJAZZ. Undoubtedly the foremost interpreter of the American songbook is Mr. Tony Bennett. Bluesman Buddy Guy has influenced generations of guitarists, from Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Randy Newman’s musical depth and literary quality are unique. Meanwhile, Rickie Lee Jones performs Rickie Lee Jones and Pirates, two albums that made her the rage of the early ‘80s. String Things — Groove master John Scofield works his magic with the acoustics of Grace Cathedral. Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele virtuoso, returns by popular demand. One of the fathers of contemporary jazz, Lee Ritenour, expertly applies 6 String Theory. Groundbreaking guitarist Lionel Loueke takes a break from touring with Herbie Hancock. Plus, the amazing Assad Brothers explore new classics and Marc Ribot interprets Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid. New Orleans Nights — The HBO program Treme has everyone talking about the Crescent City once again. A Night in Treme brings those sounds to Davies Hall for a rollicking, joyous show. This fabulous series also includes the Marsalis patriarch himself, Ellis Marsalis; New Orleans soul queen Irma Thomas; and the unadulterated, real deal — Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Global Village — Max Raabe takes us on a journey through 1930s Berlin with his entertaining Palast Orchester. Western and African music intersect in the jubilant sounds of both Hugh Masekela and Angelique Kidjo. Other exciting inhabitants include CéU (Brazil), Ana Moura (Portugal), Yasmin Levy (Israel) and John Santos (USA), with the world premiere of Filosofía Caribeña. Power Shift — This powerful series includes the fiery SFJAZZ Collective as they revisit Stevie Wonder’s immortal songs. Expect a night of sheer beauty with Roy Hargrove and Cedar Walton in duet. Phenomenal pianist Kenny Werner leads a true all-star band, while young trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire shows us what’s really new. Soulful Singers — We present a broad spectrum of world-class vocalists this spring. Steve Tyrell, Jane Monheit, Lavay Smith and 16-year old wunderkind Nikki Yanofsky are deeply rooted in American classics, while singer-songwriters Madeleine Peyroux and Patricia Barber have each blazed their own iconoclastic path. Keynotes — Diversity rules, with a series featuring both acoustic piano and the Hammond B3. Check out the tremendous Marcus Roberts, classical pianist Gabriela Montero and rising star Gerald Clayton’s burning trio. Organ wizards Lonnie Smith and Barbara Dennerlein co-star in a B3 bash. And Brazilian keyboardist Eliane Elias will delight SFJAZZ Members in an exclusive event. Leading Edge — This series promises to be a fascinating stunner. Featured artists are Go Home (with Ben Goldberg and Charlie Hunter), the Proverb Trio (with Dafnis Prieto and Jason Lindner), Adam Theis (with the premiere of his Jazz Mafia String Quartet) and the ROVA Saxophone Quartet (with DJs Olive and P-Love). Wow. Detailed descriptions of all these great shows begin on page 14. Also, please help us as we build the SFJAZZ Center! See pages 8-9 to learn how you can join the Giant Steps program — and play a part in the making of jazz history. Enthusiastically,

Randall Kline Executive Artistic Director & Founder

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

26 Hugh Masekela pg. 21

Gerald Clayton pg. 36

Preservation Hall Jazz Band pg. 40

04 SFJAZZ Collective pg. 19

09 Marc Ribot pg. 26

10 Marcus Roberts Trio pg. 34

Yasmine Levy pg. 22

Go Home pg. 38

17 Jane Monheit pg. 30

Kenny Werner Randy Brecker David Sánchez pg. 18

SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo pg. 12

Patricia Barber pg. 30

18 Adam Theis String Quartet pg. 38

19 Jake Shimabukuro pg. 27

Irma Thomas pg. 41

april

sfjazz experience

Friday

Miguel Zenón Listening Party pg. 6

march

february

Sunday

John Santos pg. 22

02 Madeleine Peyroux pg. 31

Assad Brothers pg. 26

Ellis Marsalis pg. 41

Dr. Lonnie Smith Barbara Dennerlein pg. 35

Proverb Trio pg. 39

Randy Newman pg. 14

Buddy Guy pg. 15

25 sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353

28 Note: presence of an icon

22 John Scofield pg. 28

Max Raabe and Palast Orchester pg. 23

23 Lavay Smith pg. 32

on this calendar indicates that

SFJAZZ Spring Season 2011 we’ve got something for everyone! so make your plans to hear the world’s best music. Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Jazz Orchestra pg. 12

Friday CéU pg. 24

06 Lionel Loueke pg. 29

Eliane Elias pg. 37

Ambrose Akinmusire pg. 20

Rickie Lee Jones pg. 16

Saturday

may

Gabriela Montero pg. 36

Thursday

21 Tony Bennett pg. 17

Lee Ritenour pg. 29

Rova Saxophone Quartet pg. 39

june

Steve Tyrell pg. 33

A Night in Treme pg. 42

Youssou N’Dour & Angelique Kidjo pg. 25

Nikki Yanofsky pg. 32

Roy Hargrove w/ Cedar Walton pg. 20

18 Ana Moura pg. 24

SFJAZZ MEMBER events

EDUCATION events

Just for our Members

Pre-Concert Talks

Family Matinees

Discover Jazz Classes

F ebruary 24: Miguel Zenón Listening Party

March 18: April 2: April 10: April 17: May 20: June 18:

March 13: Blues Matinee 1 In the Beginning

February 10: The Art of Swing February 17: Sonny Rollins February 24: John Coltrane March 3: Wayne Shorter March 10: Modern Jazz Masters

March 11: SFJAZZ Collective Post-Concert Reception May 21: Eliane Elias Trio Members-Only Concert See page 6 for details.

Go Home John Santos Assad Brothers Ellis Marsalis Lionel Loueke Nikki Yanofsky

April 2: Blues Matinee 2 Telling Stories May 21: Blues Matinee 3 Hearing & Feeling It

See pages 12–13 for details.

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.

Now available for iPhone and Android

sfjazz experience

SFJAZZ Mobile Apps

Take the SFJAZZ experience wherever you go. Our app is a great tool to help you get the most out of SFJAZZ. It’s a fun and easy way to learn about upcoming shows and create your personal “must-see” schedule. Just go to the iTunes app store or the Android market to get the SFJAZZ app — it’s free! A few of the key features:

• Explore festival schedules by month or genre • Read artist biographies and press quotes • Hear song samples and watch video clips • Confirm dates, times and prices • Add artists to your personal schedule • Receive SFJAZZ Facebook and Twitter feeds • See Google maps with venue locations • Link to our website to purchase tickets • Access the SFJAZZ playlist on Slacker radio

Get it via download:

Get it via barcode scan:

1. Go to the iPhone app store or Android Market 2. Search for “SFJAZZ” 3. Download! iPhone

Android

About Us 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 spectacular and unique programs. These include: SFJAZZ Spring Season 40 or more world-class music events, February–June.

THE SFJAZZ EXPERIENCE HAVE FUN. GET MORE MUSIC. SAVE MONEY. and SUPPORT AN AUTHENTIC AMERICAN ART FORM.

SFJAZZ Community

San Francisco Jazz Festival A Bay Area tradition for over a quarter of a century, offering a phenomenal array of jazz and world music concerts from September to November.

SFJAZZ Collective A true all-star band, currently featuring Miguel Zenón, Mark Turner, Avishai Cohen, Robin Eubanks, Stefon Harris, Edward Simon, Matt Penman and Eric Harland. Commissioned by SFJAZZ, this extraordinary ensemble performs a new repertoire of original compositions each year, as well as the works of a modern master — Stevie Wonder in 2011. The band’s limited edition 3-CD set Live 2010, featuring Horace Silver’s music, is available at sfjazz.org.

SFJAZZ Education Year-round education programs for youth and adults, such as the award-winning SFJAZZ High School All-Star program, Family Matinees and our Discover Jazz classes.

SFJAZZ is far more than just another concert promoter. We represent a vital community that maintains and builds a strong future for jazz — America’s authentic art form — in San Francisco and beyond. Your tax-deductible contribution lets us: Bring great artists to the Bay Area — via the San Francisco Jazz Festival and SFJAZZ Spring Season.

Support a vibrant local music scene

Celebrate jazz as a living art form — by commissioning new works and premiering them with artists such as the SFJAZZ Collective.

Encourage young musicians

Honor Bay Area jazz leaders

— in our SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Jazz Orchestra and Combo.

— through the SFJAZZ Beacon Award and presenting music legends at our annual Gala.

To learn about the many benefits of SFJAZZ Membership, please see pages 6-7.

Stay connected to SFJAZZ facebook.com/sfjazz youtube.com/sfjazzonline

SFJAZZ Summerfest Free concerts showcasing top local artists in beautiful outdoor settings.

— through our Jazz in the Middle program, Family Matinees and Discover Jazz classes.

— with our Summerfest and Hotplate series.

SFJAZZ Hotplate A monthly series featuring the Bay Area’s hottest musicians paying tribute to jazz legends, as well as local DJs spinning deep cuts — more info at the all-new sfjazzhotplate.org.

Foster new fans

twitter.com/sfjazz

Get exclusive access to seats at all price levels, weeks before the general public. Tickets go on sale just to Members on December 11.

»» No ticket service fees

Enjoy huge savings when you combine:

sfjazz experience

John Santos, Saturday, April 2 (page 22) Dr. Lonnie Smith & Barbara Dennerlein Friday, April 15 (page 35) John Scofield, Friday, April 29 (page 28) Steve Tyrell, Friday, June 3 (page 33)

mem

bers

25%get off

• 10% off orders of 10 or more tickets ›› Any combination of shows is eligible, within a single purchase

SFJAZZ Collective: Post-Concert Reception Friday, March 11 8pm performance War Memorial Green Room

Eliane Elias Trio: Members-Only Concert Saturday, May 21, 8pm Yerba Buena Center Forum

Hailing from Brazil, Eliane Elias is one of the world’s great jazz pianists — and has the voice of an angel. See page 37 for more.

behind the scenes rehearsal Spring reception Premium reserved seating personalized ticket service intimate events with artists

Additional Leaders Circle benefits available at higher support levels.

To become a Member, visit sfjazz.org or call 415-788-7353.

Leaders circle $1200 and up

Patron $600

san francisco jazz festival poster

Fall reception

Enjoy access to “insider” events not open to the general public. Some of our offerings this spring:

sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353

contributor $120

free ticket exchanges

Stevie Wonder is an icon of modern music, with influence in every genre including jazz. Join SFJAZZ Collective saxophonist Miguel Zenón in a guided listening, as he shares insights on Wonder’s career and how the Collective has tackled his compositions for their upcoming tour. The event includes a complimentary wine and dessert reception with Zenón. Limit of two FREE tickets per Member household!

benefactor $300

additional members card

sfjazz program book listing

Miguel Zenón Listening Party: The Music of Stevie Wonder Thursday, February 24, 7pm SF Conservatory of Music

individual $60

Members-Only events

»» Members-only events

Mingle with the artists, get your CDs signed, and meet other SFJAZZ Members over complimentary wines and desserts. FREE for Members!

up to 35% off tickets

10% discount on SFJAZZ merchandise

• 25% off tickets to: ›› ›› ›› ››

best seats first

no ticket service fees

A savings of up to $7.50 per ticket.

»» Deep discounts—up to 35% off

household $75

»» Best seats first

Your membership practically pays for itself.

Student $25

Join SFJAZZ and get more of the music. Membership lasts a full year and there’s no limit to the number of tickets you can buy. Some of the exciting benefits Members will enjoy during the SFJAZZ Spring Season include:

membership levels senior $50

SFJAZZ Membership

Take it up a notch. The SFJAZZ Leaders Circle is a community of kindred spirits who share a passion for the music and a desire to have a greater impact on our mission with annual gifts starting at $1,200. In addition to receiving all the Membership benefits shown on page 6, Leaders Circle members also enjoy special perks which include:

»» VIP service and seating

Eileen and Thurman White Jr. meet legendary drummer Roy Haynes.

Prime seats, personalized ticket service, and free exchanges.

»» Exclusive events

Complimentary fine wine at intermissions of select performances and post-performance parties (see below).

»» Brushes with greatness

Receptions with the finest artists in the world and intimate performances in private homes.

To join the Leaders Circle, contact Katie Neubauer at 415-283-0326 or kneubauer@sfjazz.org

sfjazz experience

David Landis and Sean Dowdall share a laugh with Cheryl Bentyne of Manhattan Transfer.

Leaders Circle Spring Season Exclusive Events In addition to all the Members events listed on page 6, you’ll also enjoy: Open Rehearsal with the SFJAZZ Collective Get a sneak peak as these allstars prepare for their spring tour. We’ll send them off with a stylish reception, Monday, March 7. A benefit at $600+.

Leaders Circle Lounges

Annual Directors’ Dinner

Complimentary fine wine and desserts at all Palace of Fine Arts and Herbst Theatre intermissions. A benefit at $1,200+.

An intimate gourmet dinner at Hayes Street Grill with stars from the SFJAZZ Spring Season, hosted by our Executive Directors. A benefit at $10,000+.

Spring Season Celebration — A Night in Treme Come party after the concert that celebrates historic and culturally rich New Orleans, on Friday, June 10. A benefit at $1,200+.

Annual Leaders Circle Salon Bring the music into sharp personal focus at an intimate performance in a private home. A benefit at $2,500+.

Omara Portuondo gets a hug from Andy Rumer after her performance.

sfjazz experience

“For the first time, jazz in America will have a counterpart to the symphony hall, an edifice that proclaims the value of jazz to anyone who sees it on the street.”

— The Chicago Tribune

By any measure, SFJAZZ is already a world leader and key reference point for jazz presentation, education and creation. But now, we have an extraordinary opportunity to literally “build” on this legacy and embark on the next stage of our journey with the building of the SFJAZZ Center. The SFJAZZ Center will be built specifically for the growth of jazz music and audiences alike. It will be the first concert hall of its type in the United States: a freestanding, high-quality performance venue with flexible seating and staging for artists of every stature. Designed by awardwinning architect Mark Cavagnero and located in San Francisco’s vibrant cultural corridor, the SFJAZZ Center will be comprised of 35,000 square feet in a transparent, freestanding LEED Certified structure. With this spectacular new building, SFJAZZ will take its place alongside the Symphony, the Opera and other major institutions, as a permanent home for jazz — America’s original, indigenous art form. Please visit our site at sfjazz.org/center to learn more.

sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353

Help build the future of SFJAZZ We’ve made remarkable progress in a short time — launching the World is Listening campaign; attaining more than half of our financial goal; purchasing the site at Franklin & Fell streets; and obtaining strong community support. But, we still have a long way to go in order to open the doors to our first planned performance in 2012. Support the World is Listening campaign with a gift and help us build the SFJAZZ Center. To learn more about opportunities to participate via cash donations, planned giving and gifts of appreciated stocks and other assets, please contact:

Kevin Causey Director of Development 415-283-0306 • kcausey@sfjazz.org

“The SFJAZZ Center is ambitious in its vision to present the diverse spectrum of jazz at a first-rate facility.” — San Francisco Chronicle

Become a Founding Member of the SFJAZZ Center. Join Giant Steps now and be there every step of the way as we make history with the building of the SFJAZZ Center — our permanent home dedicated to jazz performance and education. Make a three-year membership commitment at any level from $300 Benefactor up through our Leaders Circle and you’ll be a part of Giants Steps, enjoying all the core benefits of SFJAZZ membership — plus participating in once-in-a-lifetime moments of the building’s construction — from groundbreaking to the grand opening.

Giant Steps gives you all the benefits of SFJAZZ membership at your selected level (page 6), plus: »» Your name inscribed on the SFJAZZ Center (Limited opportunities — please act quickly) »» An invitation to the Groundbreaking Event in Spring 2011 »» An invitation to the Grand Opening Celebration in Fall 2012 »» The satisfaction of playing a part in jazz history!

To join Giant Steps, visit sfjazz.org/giantsteps or call 415-283-0325.

“Everything in the building will be adjusted for SFJAZZ’s top priority: music.”

— The New York Times, Bay Area Blog

“The SFJAZZ Center represents a major transformation for SFJAZZ.” — Srinija Srinivasan Chair of the SFJAZZ Board of Trustees

sfjazz experience

Giant Steps

where locals meet legends

sfjazz experience

January 13 Jarret Cherner plays Keith Jarrett

February 10 The Afrofunk Experience plays Maceo Parker

March 10 Karyn Paige plays Nina Simone SFJAZZ Hotplate is a monthly series showcasing the exciting Bay Area jazz scene in a low-cost, low-key environment. Each month features a new local artist re-imagining the music of a jazz legend, along with the Guardian’s “Best Local DJ,” Vinnie Esparza, spinning classic cuts throughout the night. Plus, you can win cool SFJAZZ merchandise, free memberships and tickets to upcoming SFJAZZ concerts. Just $5 at the door!

2nd Thursday of every month DJ at 8PM Bands at 9PM $5 cover

sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353

visit the NEW sfjazzhotplate.org Check out our fantastic, all-new Hotplate website! Finally, an online experience worthy of this great series, with full artist bios, photos, videos and a blog. We’re proud of this site and hope it serves as a resource for anyone interested in the local jazz scene — or the low-down on key jazz icons.

“A stunning example of what can happen when eight extremely talented and versatile musicians lay aside their egos for the common goal of creating a fantastic work of art.” — All About Jazz

sfjazz experience

Launched in 2004, the SFJAZZ Collective has become 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, New Zealand and Israel, the Collective’s multicultural 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. For 2011, the Collective steps outside of the jazz tradition to re-imagine the timeless music of pop icon Stevie Wonder. In addition to reinterpreting classics, each band member is commissioned by SFJAZZ to write a piece specifically for the ensemble. These original compositions will appear along with the Stevie Wonder material on a new multi-CD set, Live 2011. The 2011 SFJAZZ Collective: 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

See page 19 for the Collective’s Spring Season appearance on Friday, March 11 — featuring the music of Stevie Wonder.

Live 2010: 7th Annual Concert Tour The music of Horace Silver plus original compositions.

2009 Small Group Ensemble of the Year

— Jazz Journalists Association

sfjazz education FAsciNATiNG JAZZ mOmeNTs FOr sTUdeNTs OF ALL AGes. vibrANT, iNFOrmATive ANd FUN!

SFJAZZ High School All-Stars

SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Jazz Orchestra From New Orleans to Now

For their annual Spring Season appearance, the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars, led by director Paul Contos, will focus on music that captures the spirit of Bourbon Street. Having been specially selected to perform at the 2011 Jazz Education Network Conference held in New Orleans, the All-Stars present stunning pieces that define the feeling, the grooves and the exuberance of the Big Easy, along with cutting-edge compositions. THURSDAY, MAY 5, 7:30PM • JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER of sf $15 GENERAL ADMISSION ADULTS; $10 ADULTS WITH CHILDREN; $5 CHILDREN AND SENIORS

SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo

Avishai Cohen, Edward Simon and Cory Combs discuss Horace Silver and the SFJAZZ Collective.

Pre-Concert Talks During 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. spring schedule:

The SFJAZZ High School All-Stars presents its first official, dedicated combo, directed by renowned saxophonist and educator, Dann Zinn. Comprised of the best of the best high school students from across the Bay Area, this small ensemble plays original compositions and arrangements along with exciting works by the SFJAZZ Collective. Expect to be wowed by impressive musicianship, forward thinking and a creative approach to the standard jazz repertoire, by the next generation of jazz musicians. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 8PM • SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL $15 GENERAL ADMISSION ADULTS; $10 ADULTS WITH CHILDREN; $5 CHILDREN AND SENIORS

sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353

March 18: Go Home (pg. 38) April 2: John Santos (pg. 22) April 10: Assad Brothers (pg. 26) April 17: Ellis Marsalis (pg. 41) May 20: Lionel Loueke (pg. 29) June 18: Nikki Yanofsky (pg. 32)

Family Matinees Sonny Rollins

Herbst Theatre $15 General Admission adults; $10 adults with children; $5 children and seniors

»» Matinee 1: The Blues — In the Beginning

Sunday, March 13, 11AM From work songs, field hollers and spirituals came “call and response” — a key musical and lyrical ingredient in blues music. In this matinee, families engage in call-and-response and learn about New Orleans, a city steeped in the history of the blues.

»» Matinee 2: The Blues — Telling Stories

Saturday, April 2, 11AM Blues music has long been a means of expressing stories of hardship, heartbreak, passion and politics, as well as passing along oral history. This matinee explores both the African American oral tradition and its relationship to the blues.

»» Matinee 3: The Blues — Hearing & Feeling It

Saturday, May 21, 11AM Blues is the foundation of jazz as well as the prime source of rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll and country music, so being able to recognize it enriches all music experiences. This matinee helps the audience hone their “blues” listening skills through an interactive, howthings-work approach.

Wayne Shorter

Michael Brecker John Coltrane

Discover Jazz Jazz history, live performance, classic audio and exciting video make Discover Jazz the most distinctive jazz appreciation course available for adults. We’re pleased to announce our Discover Jazz offering for this spring. mem

Jazz and American Culture Through the Lens of the Great Tenor Saxophonists (5-class series)

bers

25%get off

Thursdays, 7–9PM, february 10–march 10 Jewish Community Center of San Francisco • Cory Combs, Instructor Non-Members: $25 per class; $100 full course SFJAZZ & JCCSF Members: $18 per class; $75 full course Jazz music, like American culture itself, is constantly evolving. Through each era, from early jazz to hard bop and beyond, the tenor saxophone exemplifies an inherent maverick spirit, and provides an excellent lens to view the broader picture of jazz and its cultural context. In the spring Discover Jazz series, participants will take a look at jazz history’s unique timeline, and the most important and influential tenor saxophonists associated with each era. Series taught by composer and bassist Cory Combs.

»» February 10: Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and the Art of Swing Swing music dominated American culture in the 1930s and ‘40s. Here the jazz soloist took on a prominent role in the big band, and three of the greatest tenor players in jazz history rose to stardom.

»» February 17: Sonny Rollins — Bebop, Hard Bop and the “Saxophone Colossus”

After stints with Art Blakey and Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins emerged to become the most enduring tenor player of the bebop and hard bop eras. His original voice and concept have cemented his place as a living legend.

»» February 24: John Coltrane — The Master of Innovation

John Coltrane’s tireless pursuit of musical and spiritual depth helped him become not only one of the most influential saxophonists in jazz, but one of the most important figures in music history.

»» March 3: Wayne Shorter — Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Weather Report and Beyond

After Coltrane left to develop his own group, Miles went through many tenor players before finding his creative match in the great Wayne Shorter. Shorter went on to co-lead Weather Report and blaze a brilliant solo path.

»» March 10: Dewey Redman, Joe Lovano, Michael Brecker and the Modern Jazz Masters

Too many jazz history books end with Wayne Shorter. Doing so leaves out modern tenor pioneers, including Dewey Redman, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, and more recently, Joshua Redman and Chris Potter. Each player has brought a new spark to the tenor saxophone tradition.

sfjazz education

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 spring, the Marcus Shelby Trio hosts our Matinee series, showcasing one of America’s great musical treasures, the Blues. Enjoyed individually or as a series, these Family Matinees will change the way you hear jazz.

John Coltrane

“One of the great American songwriters” — Boston Globe

living legends

“Newman’s approach is so rich and distinctive that ‘Newmanesque’ has become a common term for describing music that has both humor and a point of view.”

“Randy Newman…is among the treasures of modern pop music.” — Los Angeles Times

— Los Angeles Times

» April 22: Newmanesque

Randy Newman, solo Occupying a singular niche in American music, Randy Newman combines Brill Building pop craftsmanship with rock ‘n’ roll irony in songs that have been lovingly covered by a breathtaking array of artists, from Ray Charles, Etta James and Peggy Lee to Dusty Springfield, Aaron Neville and Joe Cocker. He’s probably best known as a prolific Oscar-winning Hollywood tunesmith who’s contributed signature songs and scores to more than a dozen hit films including The Natural, Monsters, Inc., and Toy Story. Part of what sets Newman apart is his incisive and sometimes caustic take on contemporary American life. With deep family ties to New Orleans, he has often drawn deeply on the city’s deep rhythmic traditions. It’s no coincidence that his song “Louisiana, 1927” from his landmark 1974 album Good Old Boys became a Crescent City anthem in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Drawing on his gem-laden repertoire for this rare solo concert, Newman brings his vast menagerie of sharply drawn characters to life. A major event, as always. Friday, April 22, 8PM Davies Symphony Hall 25 / 45 / 65 / 85 premium

sfjazz.org • Public 866-920-5299 • Members 415-788-7353

Living Legends Larger than life, cultural institutions. American exports to the world.

» April 23: Deep Impact

Buddy Guy In an art form that’s practically been defined by the rediscovery of long neglected artists, Buddy Guy stands alone in recent decades as a giant reclaimed from obscurity. An ace session player for Chess Records throughout the 1960s who backed Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson and Koko Taylor, Guy was largely sidelined during the years that should have been his prime. The Muddy Waters protégé eventually came to define second-generation Chicago blues with his wild performances and screaming, feedback-laden solos. His influence was profound across the Atlantic, where British blues lovers like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page absorbed his style. But Guy languished under-recorded and under-employed until the late 1980s,

“Without Buddy, there would be no Stevie Ray.” — Stevie Ray Vaughan “There is no more skillful blues guitarist or all-around versatile blues singer and performer alive.” — Chicago Tribune

“Buddy Guy is by far and without a doubt the best guitar player alive.” — Eric Clapton

when constant praise from Clapton and the widespread emergence of high-profile blues festivals helped catapult Guy into the headlines. His definitive 1991 album, Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues, officially launched his ascendance, and he’s been making the most out of his late-blooming fame ever since. His new Silvertone release, Living Proof, is a tour-deforce featuring fellow legends B.B. King and Carlos Santana. A five-time Grammy-winner and 2005 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Buddy Guy remains an iconic force on guitar whose incandescent solos reveal the searing, uninhibited soul of the blues. He will Rock Davies! Saturday, April 23, 8PM Davies Symphony Hall 20 / 35 / 50 / 65 premium

living legends

“One of the most intriguing, idiosyncratic vocalists of our time.” — USA Today

» May 27: Return of the Duchess

Rickie Lee Jones Jazz has always figured prominently in the world of Rickie Lee Jones. From the very beginning of her career scuffling in Venice Beach dives and Sunset Boulevard nightspots in the mid-1970s, she put her own cool stamp on American Songbook standards with her supple, laid-back phrasing. When she later became a pop star and hugely influential singer-songwriter, she brought jazz-tinged sophistication to her vivid character-driven songs, most memorably with the hit “Chuck E.’s in Love.” Her brilliant 1979 debut album, Rickie Lee Jones, earned five Grammy nominations and the award for Best New Artist, featuring guest appearances by Randy Newman, Michael McDonald, and Dr. John (with whom she won another Grammy for their playful rendition of “Makin’ Whoopee”). Her latest album, Balm in Gilead, is a creative triumph, and landed on many 2009 top-10 lists. For this SFJAZZ date, Jones revisits the material from Rickie Lee Jones and Pirates (1982). These two records will be performed in their entirety and original track sequence, re-creating the sound of those classic releases. Many of these songs will be heard live for the first time in decades, featuring their original instrumentation and some of the same players. Talk about an event! Friday, May 27, 8PM Davies Symphony Hall • 20 / 35 / 50 / 65 premium

“The beauty of its melodies and the wisdom of its words soothe the soul and remind us what a peculiar treasure Jones is, a fact too easily forgotten in the rush of passing fashions.” — Boston Globe

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“Mr. Bennett has steadfastly remained the embodiment of heart in popular music.” — The New York Times

» May 28: The Ultimate American Songbook

Tony Bennett of his pop star peers had long since faded from the scene, his appearance on MTV’s “Unplugged” series (and the resulting 1994 album) brought Bennett to the attention of a new generation. A priceless treasure whose expressive power is undimmed at 84, he has recorded some of his best work in recent years, including a duets session featuring everyone from Paul McCartney and James Taylor to Diana Krall, Stevie Wonder and k.d. lang. If there is one concert not to miss, this is surely it. Saturday, May 28, 8PM davies symphony hall 75 / 95 / 125 / 150 premium

“The epitome of cool, Tony Bennett is second only to Frank Sinatra as an interpreter of classic jazz-inflected American song.” — Rolling Stone

living legends

“One of the great interpreters of the standard songbook.” — Wall Street Journal

F. Scott Fitzgerald famously quipped that there are no second acts in American life, but he didn’t count on Tony Bennett. In a twist worthy of one of the Jazz Age writer’s masterly short stories, it’s the music from Fitzgerald’s own era that has sustained and fueled Bennett’s resurgence as a major force in American music. The consummate interpreter of standards, Bennett built his career on the bedrock of the American Songbook. Time has lent his voice a husky, burnished quality that adds a tinge of rue to his deep-seated optimism; an ebullient sense of swing that has earned him a staggering 15 Grammy Awards and the supreme honor of being named an NEA Jazz Master in 2006. At a time when most

power shift BALANCING A PROFOUND RESPECT FOR TRADITION WITH A SEARCH FOR NEW MODES OF EXPRESSION, THESE ARE THE STANDARD BEARERS OF JAZZ.

“A pianist who tempers fearsome technique with a questing spiritualism.” — The New York Times

Kenny Werner

» March 5: Effortless Mastery

Kenny Werner Quintet featuring Randy Brecker and David Sánchez

Randy Brecker

“Randy Brecker’s ideas always push against and alter expectation.”

— JazzTimes

One of the most fearlessly creative pianists in jazz, Kenny Werner knows the secret of transforming familiar-looking instrumental lineups into sleek vehicles for extraordinary improvisational flights. His new multigenerational quintet is a case in point. At 65, trumpeter Randy Brecker is a revered veteran with a huge, ringing tone and wicked, stinging wit. Puerto Rican saxophonist David Sánchez is at the forefront of a dazzling generation of Latin American musicians who’ve infused Caribbean rhythms more deeply than ever into jazz’s fundamental DNA. Powering the quintet is the sensational rhythm section of bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez, who’ve turbo-charged bands led by luminaries such as Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, and Michael Brecker. With his rare gift for spinning unexpected melodic lines and rarified harmonic connections, Werner deftly guides the proceedings. A heavyweight player since the mid-1970s, he’s performed and recorded with an array of jazz giants, including Lee Konitz, John Abercrombie, Joe Henderson, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland and most recently Toots Thielemans. Werner’s bestselling book, Effortless Mastery, is a landmark guide for aspiring musicians, and his latest recording, No Beginning, No End, won the 2010 Guggenheim Fellowship Award. Saturday, March 5, 8PM Herbst Theatre • 25 / 45 / 65 Premium

“Sánchez plays with unforced authority and a searching, smoldering cadence.” David Sánchez

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— The New York Times

“They blew the place apart.”

— The New York Times

» March 11: Music of Stevie Wonder power shift

SFJAZZ Collective The SFJAZZ Collective performance is always a highlight of our Spring Season, as the all-star unit premieres the fresh, innovative compositions and arrangements developed during their San Francisco residency. In years past, the Collective has paid tribute to legendary figures from jazz history, but this year marks a departure for the much-heralded octet. For the first time, the group approaches the work of an artist outside of the jazz tradition, but one whose sophisticated songcraft and timeless melodies are more than worthy of exploration: the incomparable Stevie Wonder. A star at age 11, Stevie released a string of classic albums that fused the soul music of Detroit with elements of R&B, jazz and reggae into a singular vision that was both wildly successful on the charts and respected by critics and musicians of all genres. The 2011 SFJAZZ Collective: 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

With members hailing from Puerto Rico, Venezuela, New York, Philly, New Zealand and Israel, the Collective’s multi-cultural lineup mirrors the global evolution of jazz in the 21st century and boasts multiple Grammy Awards, Guggenheim Fellowships and MacArthur genius grants among them. While each musician is a top-shelf composer and instrumentalist, as a unit, the SFJAZZ Collective has proven to be far more than the sum of its formidable parts. They are future of jazz — a constantly evolving, ever-relevant and quintessentially modern art form. Friday, March 11, 8PM • Herbst Theatre • 25 / 45 / 65 Premium post-concert reception (sfjazz members only — see page 6)

“Something of a latter-day Jazz Messengers.”

— All About Jazz

“Believe the hype for once…Akinmusire’s hypermodern yet shapely themes are not so much performed as lived and breathed by a brilliant young group.” — Evening Standard

» May 22: The Man with the Horn

power shift

Ambrose Akinmusire With the announcement last year that Blue Note had signed Oakland-raised trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, Bay Area music lovers enjoyed yet another surge of regional pride. A standout in the Berkeley High Jazz Band, he started gigging as a teenager with bandleaders Howard Wiley and Marcus Shelby, and later attended the Manhattan School of Music on full scholarship. He catapulted to widespread recognition with his 2007 triumph at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, duly impressing a panel of brass royalty including Terence Blanchard, Quincy Jones, Clark Terry and Roy Hargrove. Possessing a huge, warm tone and daunting technique, Akinmusire is in the thick of the creative action, performing and recording with a litany of rising stars, such as bassist Linda Oh, tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III and the ubiquitous Esperanza Spalding. As a bandleader, he’s rapidly developing a distinctive group sound marked by graceful melodies, charged lyricism and supple, inventive harmonies. Sunday, May 22, 7PM • YBCA Forum 20 general admission / 35 Premium ga

“…a fiercely gifted young trumpeter.” — The New York Times

» June 19: Traditions in Transition

Roy Hargrove & Cedar Walton Roy Hargrove

“Ever-stretching into more challenging and colorful ways to flex his musical chops, Hargrove has left indelible imprints in a vast array of artful settings.” — All About Jazz

Cedar Walton

At 41, trumpeter Roy Hargrove is a mid-career master, a tried and tested horn star who’s fruitfully investigated Cuban clave, R&B, hard bop, African soul, hip hop and post-bop. Since emerging in the late 1980s as a preternaturally gifted player with boundless technique and bountiful charisma, Hargrove has led a series of striking ensembles. When most brass players his age were sowing wild oats and blasting high notes, the Dallas-raised prodigy was soaking up musical wisdom from his elders, tempering his blues-drenched swagger with a beatific lyricism. For his Spring Season performance,

Hargrove joins forces in a memorable duet with piano maestro Cedar Walton, a savvy composer responsible for nearly a dozen jazz standards and leader of one of the most durable piano trios in jazz. Since breaking in with the Benny Golson/Art Farmer Jazztet more than half a century ago, Walton has recorded with an unbeatable roster of legends, including Art Blakey, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon and Milt Jackson. Sunday, June 19, 7PM herbst theatre 25 / 45 / 65 Premium

“Walton can always be counted on for excellence, he should also be studied closely. To let the beauty he produces slip away would be a crime.” — JazzTimes

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global village Discover the heartbeat of diverse cultures, from ancient to modern, through the shared language of music.

“A musician of phenomenal grace and power: intricate and fiery on flugelhorn and still blessed with a voice that can strip the leaves from the trees.” — The Independent

» March 4: Still Grazin’

Hugh Masekela

“Hugh Masekela is still one of the most thrilling live performers around.” — Rolling Stone

Far more than a world-jazz visionary, Hugh Masekela turned music into a potent and joyous force in the international struggle against apartheid. Over half a century, the 71-year-old South African trumpeter has amassed a stunning array of achievements, from his chart-topping 1968 hit “Grazing In the Grass” to his crucial role midwifing the acclaimed musical Sarafina!, which brought the anti-apartheid movement to Broadway. He heeded Dizzy Gillespie’s advice and forged a singular path, blending the rhythms and songs of his township youth with American jazz and R&B. While the infectiously grooving sound made him a pop star, his musical interests evolved as quickly as his address changed in the 1970s and 80s, when he bounced between Guinea, New York, Los Angeles, Liberia, London, Ghana and Botswana. His latest album, 2009’s Phola, is an introspective meditation on life, love, politics and social consciousness, while his new band reflects the bristling energy of a rising generation of Cape Town jazz musicians. There is no finer representative from the “Global Village” than Hugh Masekela. Friday, March 4, 8PM Palace of Fine Arts Theatre • 25 / 40 / 60 Premium

» March 20: Culture Crossing

global village

Yasmin Levy

For the luminous Israeli vocalist Yasmin Levy, exploring a forgotten treasure trove of songs dating back to 16th century Spain isn’t just an avenue for connecting with her culture. While breathing new life into Ladino, the language of Sephardic Jews scattered by forced exile in 1492, she’s also in spiritual communion with her father, a revered cantor, composer and musicologist who collected hundreds of traditional melodies before his death in 1975, the year she was born. In finding her voice as an artist, Levy has greatly expanded the ancient Sephardic tradition by melding Ladino melodies with vibrant cadences of flamenco, a style with shared roots in Spain’s Moorish past. Her debut album, 2000’s Romance & Yasmin, introduced her inventive arrangements featuring Middle Eastern instruments, earning her a BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards nomination as Best Newcomer. Her first North American release, 2009’s Mano Suave, is her most expansive session yet, featuring a cast of brilliant musicians from Iran, Armenia, Greece, Paraguay, Israel, Turkey and Spain, including a stunning Arabic/Spanish duet with Natacha Atlas.

“On stage Levy is confident, seductive, and playful. She oozes passion.” — The Independent

Sunday, March 20, 7PM • Herbst Theatre • 25 / 45 / 65 premium

» April 2: Filosofía Caribeña

John Santos Since the 1970s, no one has done more to maintain and advance the Bay Area’s singular synthesis of Caribbean rhythms and postbop forms than percussionist John Santos. A charismatic bandleader, captivating improviser, dedicated educator and four-time Grammy Award nominee, Santos is a master of folkloric traditions from Cuba, Puerto Rico and Haiti who’s consistently found distinctive ways to merge Latin grooves with jazz orchestration. He became an international force with Machete Ensemble, a talent-laden band that collaborated with legendary players from Cuba, Puerto Rico and the US. In recent years, Santos has focused on writing and arranging for his sextet, an exceptional combo featuring

“Here surely is the next world music superstar.” — The Guardian

“Santos is one of the most creative musicians I’ve ever had an opportunity to work with; he’s a joy for me to listen to…” — Max Roach “The Latin music Renaissance man.” — San Francisco Chronicle

flutist/pianist John Calloway, an essential musical partner for more than three decades. This is the world premiere of material from the new album Filosofía Caribeña, a tremendously exciting session featuring an array of guests, from lithe Colombian vocalist Claudia Gomez and influential Cuban guitarist Pável Urkiza to Puerto Rican percussion master Joey Deleón and Bay Area percussion great Javier Navarrette. Saturday, April 2, 8PM Herbst Theatre non-members: 25 / 40 / 60 Premium members: 19 / 30 / 45 premium pre-concert talk

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25%get off

“An androgynous figure in white tie and tails, he projects an air of elegant nonchalance as he stands poised before his fox-trotting orchestra.” — San Francisco Chronicle

» April 9: Tonight or Never

In the 1920s and early 30s, Berlin was a roiling cauldron of creative energy where avant-garde art movements intersected with popular culture, birthing theatrical and musical forms that continue to influence our world today. Walking a narrow line between madcap kitsch and sublime musicality, Max Raabe and Palast Orchester evoke the heady, dancing-on-knife-point mood of the Weimer Republic. A conservatorytrained baritone besotted with the Weimar era vocal style exemplified by the Comedian Harmonists, Raabe interprets vintage hits while also writing original songs and reinventing contemporary pop tunes in a retro style, such as “Oops!... I Did It Again” from Britney Spears and “Sex Bomb” by Tom Jones. With his slicked back hair and ingratiating stage presence, Raabe is a master entertainer whose irony-laced performances combine arresting spectacle with sophisticated, jazz-steeped arrangements. The resulting music is consistently dizzying, delightful and devilishly catchy. While winning a widespread following, Raabe has also cornered the market when it comes to cinematic portrayals of Weimar nightlife, appearing in numerous period German films such as Werner Herzog’s Invincible and Wenzel Storch’s Die Reise ins Glück. And don’t be surprised if the Paramount audience dresses up, in true Art Deco style! Saturday, April 9, 8PM Paramount Theatre, Oakland • 25 / 40 / 60 / 80 premium

“In the grand style of performers from Germany’s Weimar Republic, Max Raabe likes to party like it’s 1929.” — The New York Times

global village

Max Raabe and Palast Orchester

» May 6: Brazilian Beauty

“CéU ranks among the most innovative Brazilian artists to emerge in America in years, blending samba, jazz, soul, R&B and electro-pop into a uniquely appealing whole.” — National Public Radio

global village

CéU As a restless teenager growing up in Sao Paulo, Maria do Céu Whitaker Poças desperately wanted to step outside Brazilian culture to experience American music firsthand. At 18, she moved to New York City, immersing herself in jazz, blues and R&B. By the time she returned to São Paulo a year later, where she eventually emerged as the single-name sensation CéU, she had forged deep creative ties with a coterie of fellow Brazilian musicians working in the Big Apple. It took leaving home for her to find her voice as a Brazilian artist. Now the most visible young Brazilian singer on a scene teeming with alluring vocalists, CéU has released a string of Latin Grammy-nominated albums on San Francisco-based Six Degrees Records. Her star is still ascending as she makes new creative connections, for instance appearing on Herbie Hancock’s 2010 album The Imagine Project, singing a beloved Afro-samba by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes.

“The future of Brazilian popular music.” — Caetano Veloso

Friday, May 6, 8PM • Herbst Theatre • 30 / 50 / 75 premium

» June 25: Princess of Portugal

Ana Moura

“She [makes] each song a series of small dramatic surges: glimmers of hope, hints of sensuality, passages of melancholy, glints of determination.” — The New York Times

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Akin to the blues in its heroically stoic response to suffering, loss, longing and the vicissitudes of fate, the Portuguese style known as fado is in the midst of a glorious renaissance, and the music’s brightest young star is Ana Moura. Her luxuriant voice and passionate stage presence have won her an international following, a rapidly expanding fanbase drawn by her ability to cross over into other styles while retaining fado’s deep emotional commitment. Her ascendance to global stardom has made fans and collaborators of The Rolling Stones and Prince, who travelled to Lisbon to work with Moura and made a surprise backstage appearance during her

SFJAZZ performance last year. Her fourth album, Leva-me aos Fados, was a world music sensation — a delectably sensual journey featuring traditional fado instrumentation. Ana Moura is pouring her heart and soul into an ancient style, earning fado a well-deserved seat at the world’s bountiful musical feast. Saturday, June 25, 8PM Herbst Theatre 25 / 45 / 65 premium

“Moura honors the tradition of fado even as she peers into its future.” — Global Rhythm

“Mr. N’Dour can sing short, catchy pop melodies, but at any moment his voice can sail into the long, improvisational lines of griots and Islamic muezzins. His voice merges power and tenderness.”

— The New York Times

global village

» June 17: African Alliance

Youssou N’Dour Angelique Kidjo West Africa has never cast a larger shadow on the international music scene, a rising profile that can be traced directly to the two giants on this truly extraordinary double bill: Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour and Benin’s Angelique Kidjo. A supremely charismatic singer and expert percussionist, Youssou N’Dour conquered the world in the 1980s with his percussion-driven mbalax sound, a combination of West African polyrhythms, rock, and reggae. He rose to yet higher international prominence for his memorable work with Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel. Most recently, N’Dour was the subject of 2010’s I Bring What I Love, an acclaimed feature documentary about the uproar and celebration surrounding his recent Grammywinning album, Egypt. Following in N’Dour’s footsteps, Kidjo has become a bona fide pop star and activist with a highly personal mix of Western and African styles. Her soulful sound seamlessly blends driving West African grooves, gritty American R&B, surging samba beats and sophisticated jazz harmonies. Whether she’s opening for the Dave Matthews Band or headlining at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Kidjo is a riveting performer with a smoldering stage presence. Her latest album, Õÿö, combines the traditional music of her childhood with classic American soul of the ‘60s and ‘70s, while featuring collaborators such as Dianne Reeves, Bono, John Legend and Roy Hargrove. friday, june 17, 8PM paramount Theatre, oakland • 25 / 40 / 60 / 80 premium

“Currently on the world music stage, no artist shimmers with quite the intensity or artistic integrity of Angelique Kidjo.”

—JazzTimes

» March 16: Jazz & Silent Film

Marc Ribot accompanies

Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid

No guitarist in jazz has traveled a more circuitous creative path than Marc Ribot, a major force on Manhattan’s Downtown music scene since the mid-1980s. Applying his unorthodox technique and vast, percussive sonic palette to a mind-boggling array of musical realms, he’s delved into the classic compositions of the great Cuban sonero Arsenio Rodríguez, explored Albert Ayler’s ecstatic free jazz forays, investigated country music in Nashville with Bill Frisell and Buddy Miller, and collaborated with spiritually charged pianist McCoy Tyner. While often associated with the avant-garde, Ribot can thrive in just about any musical context, for instance contributing prominently to the work of Elvis Costello and Tom Waits, as well as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’s five-time Grammy Award winning 2007 album Raising Sand. His latest project, Silent Film, features compositions inspired by his love of cinema, and for this performance he’s revisiting his score for Charlie Chaplin’s classic 1921 film The Kid, which premiered last year as part of the New York Guitar Festival.

“In a world positively overstuffed with guitarists, Marc Ribot stands out.” — PopMatters

string things

“One of the most individual of guitarists and a master of introverted ironies...” — The Village Voice

Wednesday, March 16, 7:30PM • YBCA Forum 20 general admission / 35 Premium ga

» April 10: Back to the Roots

Assad Brothers Da Volta as Raizes The Brazilian-born brothers Sergio and Odair Assad have long reigned as the world’s most revered classical guitar duo, but they have ranged far and wide beyond the Baroque transcriptions that established their preeminent reputation. They’ve delved into Django Reinhardt’s Gypsy swing with violin master Nadja SalernoSonnenberg, accompanied YoYo Ma playing bossa nova, and investigated Latin American standards with reed maestro Paquito D’Rivera. But their latest project, Da Volta as Raizes, is a stylistic departure. The Assads explore the unexpected rhythmic currents connecting the eastern Mediterranean and Brazil through

“The best two-guitar team in existence, maybe even in history…it was as if they could see inside each other’s heads.” — The Washington Post “A kind of wizardry lies within the playing of Sergio and Odair Assad… they produce a supple, flawless unified sound.” — The New York Times

a captivating collaboration with Sergio’s daughter, acclaimed pianist/singer Clarice Assad, the extraordinary world-jazz percussionist Jamey Haddad, and the hypnotic Lebanese singer Christiane Karam. With Karam setting modern and ancient Lebanese texts to original compositions by Sergio and Clarice, the project is an unprecedented voyage to the Middle East via the sensuous grooves of South America. Sunday, April 10, 7PM Palace of Fine Arts Theatre 25 / 40 / 60 premium pre-concert talk

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string things acoustic. electric. ukulele and guitar. An astonishing assortment of fingerboard genius.

“Shimabukuro is a monster musician and boldly takes the ukulele where no ukulele has ever gone before, dazzling listeners with his blinding speed, melodic invention, and open-ended improvisations of remarkable virtuosity.” — All Music Guide

» March 26: Über-Uke

Jake Shimabukuro

“Like Béla Fleck on the banjo, Jake Shimabukuro is making something up as he goes along — not too many can say that anymore.” — JazzTimes

Widely recognized as a true YouTube star, ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro has maintained and expanded his international fanbase as a sensational performer whose concerts leave audiences awed, dazzled and delighted. Over the past decade, he’s become a one-man army advancing the ukulele cause, turning the four-string axe into a supremely pliable musical vehicle, capable of generating everything from crunching, effects-laden rock to sensuously swinging jazz. Strumming with a hummingbird blur, he coaxes an impossibly big sound out of the little instrument, playing an intoxicating mix of pop tunes, American Songbook standards and lilting originals. He’s released a series of award-winning albums, but surpassed himself with 2009’s Live, a session that accurately captures the joyful intensity of a Shimabukuro concert. It’s a bravura performance that leaves no doubt why fellow string renegades such as banjo star Béla Fleck, fiddle wizard Darol Anger and cello virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma embrace him as one of their own. Saturday, March 26, 7PM/9pm • Palace of Fine Arts Theatre 30 / 50 / 75 Premium

“He possesses one of the most unique guitar voices in modern music. Its bendy brilliance, from twisted country to straight-up bebop and funk-drenched wah effects, represents an eclectic yet historically comprehensive journey for the active listener.”

string things

— All About Jazz

» April 29: Sacred Space

John Scofield, solo

“Scofield combines the chess-champ braininess of his solos with a taste for standard song forms and expansive bursts of volume…a manna for the straight ahead jazz fan.”

— The Boston Phoenix

John Scofield is a philosopher of funk. In a brilliant career dating back to the fusion era of the mid 1970s, the guitarist has investigated just about every greasy, stanky, fuzzy, low down, deep-in-the-pocket groove, while never foregoing his roots as a master improviser who’s accompanied giants such as Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, and Joe Henderson. Over the years he’s honed tight relationships with a multi-generational cast of musicians, including renegades like Medeski Martin and Wood. More recently on 2009’s Piety Street (EmArcy) he distilled the essence of his sound for a celebration of gospel legends like Mahalia Jackson, Thomas A. Dorsey and Dorothy Love Coates, which makes his Sacred Space debut at Grace Cathedral feel particularly apt. It’s a majestic, reverberant setting that provides musicians a rare forum for contemplative spiritual soliloquies, and audiences a supremely intimate musical encounter. For Scofield, the cathedral offers an opportunity to get back in touch with his sanctified side, and a grand space where his bountiful soul can soar. friday, April 29, 8PM • Grace Cathedral mem non-members: 30 General Admission / 50 Premium GA 25 getbers % off members: 22 General Admission / 37 Premium GA Note: Grace Cathedral’s soaring vault produces a natural, seven-second reverberation. This effect, different from typical concert hall acoustics, will be an integral component of this performance.

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» May 20: Brilliance from Benin

Lionel Loueke Trio Lionel Loueke makes a powerful first impression. Born in the small West African nation of Benin, the guitarist won a coveted spot in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in 2001, when he auditioned for a panel of heavyweights including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Terence Blanchard. Blanchard featured the guitarist on his acclaimed Blue Note albums Bounce and Flow, leading to his current association with Hancock, who has showcased Loueke’s guitar work and sonorous vocals on several CDs and world tours. Over the last decade, Loueke has developed a telepathic connection with Hungarian born drummer Ferenc Nemeth and

“Lionel’s musical palette is so broad and varied. He’s not afraid to explore new territory and incorporate influences from his roots in Africa.” — Herbie Hancock

Swedish/Italian bassist Massimo Biolcati. They’ve recorded as the cooperative trio Gilfema and as Loueke’s band (featured on his gorgeous new Blue Note release Mwaliko). In either context, Loueke is a riveting performer who artfully integrates percussive, chiming harmonics, idiosyncratic tunings, and wondrously intricate time signatures. Without question, he is one of the hottest young stars in the jazz world. Friday, May 20, 8PM • YBCA Forum 30 general admission 50 Premium ga pre-concert talk

» June 5: Six String Theory

Lee Ritenour

“They don’t call him ‘Captain Fingers’ for nothing.” — DownBeat

While Lee Ritenour is a supremely fluent straight-ahead jazz improviser, don’t make him choose his favorite guitar style. Dubbed “Captain Fingers” by his legions of fans and admiring colleagues, Ritenour has mastered an array of idioms, from blues and bebop to Brazilian, contemporary jazz, rock, flamenco and country music. Designed to showcase his stylistic breadth, his latest Concord album, 6 String Theory, marks his 50th year as a guitarist. The project features an unimpeachable roster of guitar royalty, including B.B. King, John Scofield, Pat Martino, George Benson, Robert Cray and Taj Mahal. A contemporary jazz pioneer, Ritenour co-founded the hugely popular band Fourplay and has collaborated with a superlative roster of players, including Ernie Watts, Alan Broadbent, John Patitucci, Larry Carlton, Bob James, Patrice Rushen, Dave Grusin, Harvey Mason and dozens more. Sunday, June 5, 7PM • Herbst Theatre • 25 / 40 / 60 premium

“The unique Ritenour perspective [is] a musical outlook that at its best colorfully blurs the lines between imaginative, straight-ahead jazz and foot-tapping instrumental pop.” — Los Angeles Times

string things

“…a new Afro-jazz star who clearly will be with us for a long time.” — DownBeat

» March 19: The Storyteller

Patricia Barber

“Cross Diana Krall with Susan Sontag, and you get Patricia Barber, whose throaty, come-hither vocals and coolly incisive piano are displayed to devastating effect.” — Time Magazine

“Like Joni Mitchell…Barber has taken the genre that is her natural form of expressiveness into dazzling new arenas of lyrical creativity.” — Los Angeles Times

If there’s such a thing as a typical jazz vocalist, Patricia Barber doesn’t fit the profile. What distinguishes the cerebral performer from virtually all of her peers is the keen intelligence of her original material, which is often informed by her literary ambition. Quirky, insistently independent and emotionally cool, she’s won a dedicated following with her rigorous songwriting craft and sly, harmonically deft piano work. She won a Guggenheim Fellowship Award in 2003 to compose an ambitious song cycle based on Ovid’s epic poem “Metamorphoses,” making her the first singer-songwriter to ever receive the prestigious grant. A savvy bandleader whose honed a tight, telegraphic style with her quartet, Barber is known for transforming unlikely pop tunes into a sleek jazz numbers, reinventing Cole Porter, and constantly reworking her impressive book of originals. Her latest album, Monday Night: Live at the Green Mill, captures this dynamic artist before a discerning hometown audience at the famed Chicago club.

soulful singers

Saturday, March 19, 8PM YBCA Forum 30 general admission / 50 Premium ga

» March 24: Return to the Heart

Jane Monheit In 1998, Jane Monheit was jazz’s latest “It Girl,” a beautiful young woman with a ravishing voice thrust into the spotlight by her runner-up finish at the Thelonious Monk Institute Vocal Competition. The career-making triumph resulted in a record deal, a flood of attention and numerous high profile gigs. Many a young artist can’t stand up to the scrutiny and expectations of sudden fame, but Monheit has quietly gone about her business, expanding her repertoire and honing her aesthetic through collaborations with artists such as Brazilian superstar Ivan Lins, vocalist Michael Bublé, and trumpeters Terence Blanchard and Tom Harrell. At 33, she sounds better than ever, and her latest EmArcy album, Home, finds her

“Ms. Monheit has made a career out of silver linings and their pursuit, applying the pristine sensuality of her voice to songs of cozy reverie.” — The New York Times

interpreting an exquisite program of standards. Produced by Monheit, the album features her expert working band and appearances by fiddle legend Mark O’Connor and guitarists Frank Vignola and John Pizzarelli. No longer the ingénue, Monheit is a self-possessed jazz artist of the highest caliber with a sumptuous instrument and unfailing taste. Thursday, March 24, 7:30PM SF Conservatory of Music 30 / 50 premium

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“Blessed with an extraordinarily warm and supple voice, perfect pitch, inventive musicality and an insightful approach to storytelling, she has the capacity to express herself convincingly in virtually any area of the music world.” — Los Angeles Times

soulful singers meLOdic mAsTers ANd sPeLLbiNdiNG sTOryTeLLers iNTerPreT THe LeGAcy OF sONG WiTH PAssiON, GrAce ANd Fire.

» April 8: Bare Bones

Madeleine Peyroux

“She emits a heady aura of places lived and music absorbed that floats around her like a ghostly multiple exposure of faces and voices from the past.” — The New York Times

In 1996, the 23-year-old singer and acoustic guitarist Madeleine Peyroux released her strangely beautiful album Dreamland which surrounded her supple, eerily Billie Holiday-esque voice with some of jazz’s leading young improvisers. Her ramshackle repertoire ranged from Bessie Smith blues to Edith Piaf chanson, with some Patsy Cline twang, Fats Waller sass, and bluesy originals thrown into the mix. Dreamland ended up selling nearly a quarter million copies, a shocking feat for a bona fide jazz session. She returned in 2004 with her stunning, Larry Klein-produced album Careless Love, featuring incisive interpretations of songs by Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Elliott Smith and Hank Williams. Her latest CD, Bare Bones, is a critically acclaimed collection of all-original material, which topped Billboard’s Jazz Album chart on its release and was described by the All Music Guide as “a remarkable work from one of the best artists in vocal jazz.” With each subsequent album, Madeleine Peyroux has displayed growing confidence as a songwriter, delivering deeply emotional songs that offer a glimpse into her mysterious, seemingly timeless world. Peyroux’s last SFJAZZ date sold out, so we suggest early ticket purchase for this one! Friday, April 8, 8PM Palace of Fine Arts Theatre 30 / 50 / 75 Premium

“The jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux has a Mona Lisa voice and a personality to match.” — The New York Times

» April 30: Patsy Cline Tribute

“A lush vocal style recalling both Bessie Smith and Dinah Washington.” — Los Angeles Times

Lavay Smith

Crazy in Love with Patsy Cline

soulful singers

Jazz and country music are often cast as antithetical cultural forces, signifying a blue state/red state divide. But the styles have been kissing cousins since they each took shape early in the 20th century, even forming a blissful union with the rise of western swing in the late 1930s. Lavay Smith knows this history well, and she brings a bracing, bluesy jolt of energy to the jazz/country crossroads with Crazy In Love With Patsy Cline, a project featuring her scorching Red Hot Skillet Lickers and special guest Bobby Black on pedal steel guitar.

In crafting jazz and blues-steeped arrangements of songs associated with Cline, Smith and her band found inspiration in the seminal country & western recordings of Ray Charles, while also drawing on Duke Ellington and Count Basie for horn arrangements. With her big, luscious voice and sassy stage presence, she has what it takes to infuse sultry swing into Cline’s tales of woe. Saturday, April 30, 8PM YBCA Forum 20 general admission 35 Premium ga

“Hands-down the best thing to come out of the jump/swing revival...the gal can sing her tail off.” — Seattle Times

» June 18: Nikkanese

Nikki Yanofsky

“The most talented singer since Judy Garland.”

— Tony Bennett

After Nikki Yanofsky’s sold-out SFJAZZ debut in 2010, it was a sure bet she would return for an encore. At 17, she’s growing at a prodigious rate, a rising star with the poise, chops and lustrous instrument of an artist twice her age. Born and raised in Montreal, Yanofsky made a sensational debut before an outdoor throng of 100,000 at the 2006 Montreal International Jazz Festival. Her debut album, the live session Ella... Of Thee I Swing, earned her Juno Award nominations for “New Artist of the Year” and “Vocal Jazz Album of the Year,” but she became a Canadian icon with her chart-topping rendition of “I Believe,” CTV’s theme for the 2010 Winter Olympics. She’s even coined a term for her personal brand of scat singing: “Nikkanese.” Working with 14-time Grammy Award-winning producer Phil Ramone, Yanofsky released her blockbuster Decca studio debut last year, Nikki, an expansive set of tunes with collaborators Jesse Harris, Ron Sexsmith and Feist. Don’t miss one of the most exciting young talents in jazz. Saturday, June 18, 8PM • Herbst Theatre • 25 / 40 / 60 premium pre-concert talk

“…there’s the exquisite phrasing, the uncanny understanding of the material and the sheer musicality of what she does.” — San Francisco Chronicle

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“Tyrell takes precisely the right tack — actually, quite Sinatra-like — by avoiding macho displays and fitting in perfectly with the arrangements, telling stories that beautifully balance lyrics, music and mood.” — Los Angeles Times

Steve Tyrell While Steve Tyrell first made a name for himself in the music business as a wunderkind songwriter and producer, collaborating as a teenager in the late 1960s with Burt Bacharach and Hal David, he always maintained a parallel path as a singer besotted with jazz and R&B. With a voice as gravelly as Dr. John’s and a laid-back approach that mines Ray Charles’ soul motherlode, Tyrell has recorded a series of popular albums interpreting American Songbook standards, Disney gems and Bacharach/David pop classics. The spark that ignited his latter day singing career was entirely unintended. As an in-demand music director for film and television, he often found himself contributing vocals for soundtracks, and the response was so positive that he released the critically hailed A New Standard — a gracefully swinging session featuring gorgeous solos by jazz stars like trumpeters Harry “Sweets” Edison and Clark Terry, tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson and pianist Joe Sample. His ninth album, I’ll Take Romance, is another captivating program of classic American songs, delivered with his rough-hewn, evocative passion. Friday, June 3, 8PM • Herbst Theatre mem bers non-members: 25 / 40 / 60 Premium 25%get off members: 19 / 30 / 45 premium

“Steve Tyrell brings to classic songs a rough-hewn, raspy vocal style that goes back to his Texas rhythm-and-blues upbringing.” — San Francisco Chronicle

soulful singers

» June 3: The New Standard

keynotes from acoustic piano to the rugged hammond b3, keyboard wizardry in every shape and form.

“Roberts offers something old and new together, making his art powerfully original and compelling.”

— The New York Times

“Marcus Roberts demonstrates his technical virtuosity and passionate intelligence in impressive fashion. And yes, with soul.” — Time Magazine

» March 17: Modern History

Marcus Roberts Trio The entire history of jazz piano resides in the fingers of Marcus Roberts. From the rags and stomps of the early 20th century and the two-fisted stride of Depressionera Harlem rent parties to the cascading horn-like runs of bebop and the dancing dynamics of Ahmad Jamal and Oscar Peterson, Roberts has devised a keyboard approach that encompasses just about every development in the mainstream jazz tradition. This stylistic breadth is a remarkable achievement in itself, but what makes Roberts such a singular figure is that he’s translated his ambitious concept into a group setting with his long-time trio

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featuring bassist Roland Guerin and drummer Jason Marsalis (the youngest of illustrious New Orleans siblings). Their recent release, New Orleans Meets Harlem, showcases the group’s expansive reach, infusing the work of Ellington, Joplin, Monk and Fats Waller with vigorous new life. Quite simply, this is one of the most electrifying and erudite ensembles in jazz. thursday, March 17, 7:30PM YBCA forum 30 general admission 50 Premium ga

“Smith’s academic credentials may raise eyebrows, but the ever-turbaned one’s skill at the Hammond B3 organ is undeniable.” — The New Yorker

» April 15: B3 Bash

Barbara Dennerlein Trio Alert the fire department! With two incendiary Hammond B3 masters, the wily veteran Dr. Lonnie Smith and the astounding German organist Barbara Dennerlein, this double dose of soul threatens to ignite a greasy conflagration. Awarded his doctoral honorific by his peers, Smith is a seminal figure in the soul-jazz movement who put the groove into Lou Donaldson’s classic 1967 Blue Note record Alligator Boogaloo. His own 1960s Blue Note sessions such as Think and Turning Point showcased some of the era’s most prodigious players, including Lee Morgan, David “Fathead” Newman and Bennie Maupin. More recently, he’s released a series of acclaimed albums on Palmetto, leading the Jazz Journalists Association to vote him “Organ/Keyboardist of the Year” six times since 2003. Representing the rising B3 tide, Dennerlein quickly ascended to jazz’s top ranks in the mid-1980s, gaining attention in the US with a series of torrid sessions on Enja and Verve featuring extroverted improvisers like Randy Brecker, Ray Anderson, Roy Hargrove, and Jeff “Tain” Watts. With her dexterous footwork and love of fleet tempos, she’s a dynamo who leaves audiences with jaws agape. Friday, April 15, 8PM • Herbst Theatre mem bers non-members: 25 / 40 / 60 Premium 25%get members: 19 / 30 / 45 premium off

“A phenomenal B3 burner who can light up a room with visceral intensity or lay down some of the nastiest funk ever played on an organ.” — JazzTimes

keynotes

Dr. Lonnie Smith

» March 6: Rising Star

Gerald Clayton Trio

“In a generation of technical, and resourceful, wunderkinds, Clayton… stands out for his nuanced touch, precise articulation and the way he constructs a narrative for his solos.”

keynotes

— DownBeat

“Clayton is showing all the signs of becoming one of the most significant young jazz artists…”

— Los Angeles Times

Hailing from one of the most illustrious families in jazz, 26-year-old pianist Gerald Clayton has quickly emerged as a dauntingly accomplished player with a thrillingly interactive group sound. He first gained attention as a teenager in the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the formidable big band co-led by his father, bassist John Clayton, and uncle, saxophonist Jeff Clayton. In 2006, he placed second in the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition. While he continues to keep strong family ties, appearing on last year’s excellent Clayton Brothers album The New Song and Dance, Gerald has focused his attention on his trio — a protean combo steeped in jazz history but utterly alive to contemporary rhythmic currents. The release of his debut as a leader, 2009’s Two-Shade, established him as a major new voice, and earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo. With powerhouse bassist Joe Sanders and Berkeley-raised drummer Justin Brown, the Gerald Clayton Trio has already become a phenomenally cohesive working band. Sunday, March 6, 2PM Gould Theater, Legion of Honor • 25 / 40 premium Note: Ticket includes entry to the museum galleries.

» May 1: Improvised Classics

“Montero shimmers with silken improvisations.” — Seattle Times

Gabriela Montero, solo Centuries before Louis Armstrong transformed jazz into a realm ruled by virtuosic improvisers expressing themselves primarily through solos, European classical music put a premium on impromptu invention. The entrancing Venezuelan-born pianist Gabriela Montero has revived that long dormant tradition, infusing her recitals with beautifully detailed keyboard flights. Montero made her ambitious agenda clear with her eponymous major label debut, a double album featuring brilliant interpretations of the most demanding piano repertoire, plus a second disc with improvisations on themes by many of the same composers. Her 2006 follow-up, the chart topping Bach and Beyond, easily ranked as the most celebrated classical recording of the year, and 2007’s Baroque earned two Grammy Award nominations. Montero cemented her status as a global icon when she performed with Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma and Anthony McGill at the inauguration of President Barack Obama, and her latest release, Solatino, is an inspired collection of works by South American composers. Sunday, May 1, 2PM Gould Theater, Legion of Honor • 25 / 40 premium Note: Ticket includes entry to the museum galleries.

“No matter how complex the variations, the original melody always emerges triumphantly from a musical tapestry that might weave blues, jazz, tango, and Debussy into a multihued framework.”

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— The New York Times

“Elias is among the major jazz pianists of our times.”

— San Francisco Examiner

» May 21: Absolute Artistry

Eliane Elias Trio

“Elias commands the keyboard with a forceful two-handed muscularity that belies her image as a blond younger sister of the mythical Girl From Ipanema.” — The New York Times

Saturday, May 21, 8PM • YBCA Forum 30 General Admission / 50 Premium GA sfjazz members only (see page 6)

“Elias’ strengths as a jazz artist, combined with her roots in São Paulo, make her one of the most impressive interpreters of jazzlinked bossa novas, sambas and choros…” — Los Angeles Times

keynotes

The best of Brazil and New York City come together in pianist Eliane Elias. A prodigy who was weaned on jazz by her mother, a classical pianist, Elias started transcribing and playing along with records by Bud Powell, Art Tatum and Miles Davis before she was a teenager. At 13 she was studying classical music at the Free Center of Music Apprenticeship, one of Brazil’s leading conservatories, and by 15 she was an alumnus hired to teach master classes. Elias made the move ito New York in 1981 and she’s been thriving ever since, whether holding down the keyboard chair in legendary fusion band Steps Ahead, co-leading a hard bop combo with then-husband Randy Brecker, or recording under her own name for a series of fantastic albums on Blue Note. A highly lyrical player with an exquisite touch and breathtakingly subtle rhythmic sensibility, Elias has also emerged in recent years as a sensuous singer who puts her own stamp on beloved Brazilian standards, best exemplified by her most recent release, Bossa Nova Stories, featuring bassist Marc Johnson and guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves. As her many disciples well know, an evening with Eliane Elias is a rare treat — and this one’s for SFJAZZ Members only!

leading edge Ben Goldberg

Ellery Eskelin

Charlie Hunter

Scott Amendola

» March 18: Groove Merchants

Go Home

WiTH A sTrONG seNse OF HeriTAGe, sONic eXPLOrers cHArT NeW direcTiONs iN mUsic.

with Ben Goldberg, Ellery Eskelin Charlie Hunter & Scott Amendola The rise of bebop in the 1940s pushed the clarinet from center stage to the margins, but Ben Goldberg is busy turning the wily reed into an essential 21st century improvisational vehicle. His latest project is the tough, sinewy quartet Go Home, an all-star combo of unmistakable players including Berkeleyraised seven-string guitar star Charlie Hunter and Berkeley-based drum maestro Scott Amendola. While Go Home’s eponymous 2009 album featured trumpeter Ron Miles, for this tour Goldberg recruited heralded saxophone iconoclast Ellery Eskelin, known for his work with tenor luminary David Liebman and New York-based drum master Joey Baron. A longtime Bay Area resident, Goldberg sparked the new Jewish jazz movement in the late 1980s when he combined the rambunctious free jazz of Ornette Coleman with traditional Ashkenazi melodies in the New Klezmer Trio. His determination to work with Hunter inspired him compose the music for Go Home — tunes marked by earthy melodies, spacious harmonies and low down beats.

Friday, March 18, 8PM YBCA Forum 20 general admission 35 Premium ga pre-concert talk “A searching ensemble that welcomes lyrical improvisation while embracing the groove.”  — The New Yorker “Go Home…creates music that is cozy and spacious, pungent and perfumed, virtuosic, sophisticated and pleasingly raw.” — Boston Globe

» March 25: World Premiere

Adam Theis

and the Jazz Mafia String Quartet

“If Adam Theis were compressed into a pill we all could swallow, we’d suddenly see our ability to work expand in four dimensions, allowing us to accomplish more than we ever dreamed possible.”  — San Francisco Chronicle

After turning the SFJAZZcommissioned 50-piece hip hop symphony “Brass, Bows & Beats” into a highlight of the 2010 festival season, with celebrated performances in Montreal, Newport and Monterey, composer, trombonist and Jazz Mafia kingpin Adam Theis is focusing his vivid imagination on a far more intimate setting. The world premiere of “Suite For Trombone and Strings” features Theis’ sundry instruments with the stylistically expansive Jazz Mafia String Quartet. While the project shares the “Brass” agenda of melding jazz, electronic, classical

and improvisational music, the suite translates that iconoclastic sensibility into an acoustic, chamber group setting. Working under the Jazz Mafia rubric, Adam Theis has launched nearly a dozen combos, writing and arranging for outfits such as Realistic Orchestra, Spaceheater and Supertaster (which grooves so hard the band once inspired Stevie Wonder to join a jam session). friday, march 25, 8pm Swedish American Hall 25 General Admission

“Adam Theis…has earned his renegade status…” — Boston Globe

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» April 16: Cuban Combustion

“Dafnis Prieto is easily the most impressive young drummer to come on the jazz scene during the past decade.” — All About Jazz

Proverb Trio

Dafnis Prieto, Kokayi & Jason Lindner composer who’s received prestigious commissions from Chamber Music America and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Prieto’s latest project, the protean Proverb Trio, features versatile pianist Jason Lindner and Grammy-nominated rap artist and vocalist, Kokayi. Combining Prieto’s virtuosic drumming and Lindner’s keyboard textures with Kokayi’s percussive rapping and soul-drenched vocals, the trio has been blazing new creative trails since their debut at the Whitney Museum in early 2009.

“Bedazzlement is a proven strategy for Mr. Prieto, a spectacularly proficient Cuban drummer who arrived in New York a decade ago.” — The New York Times

Saturday, April 16, 8PM Swedish American Hall 30 General Admission

“The polish of this celebrated self-contained unit is matched only by their daring.” — The New Yorker “The only constant in their music is the avoidance of cliché.” — All Music Guide

» June 4: Reeds & Beats

ROVA Saxophone Quartet 33⅓ 3313 with DJ Olive & DJ P-Love

In 1977 the adventurous reed experts Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin, Andrew Voigt and Bruce Ackley came together in San Francisco to form the ROVA Saxophone Quartet. Exactly 33 1/3 years after the quartet’s first gig, ROVA is celebrating the release of a limited edition live LP of last August’s landmark collaboration with John Zorn. An LP that spins at 33 1/3 rpm. Coincidence? Nothing in ROVA’s vast and enthralling creative world is happenstance, though chance figures prominently in the group’s aesthetic. Deeply versed in an array of improvisatory strategies, they draw widely from an international palette of popular and traditional musical forms. For “33 and 1/3rd,” the quartet is working with two seminal turntablists, DJ P-Love, who’s provided grooves and inspiration for situations as diverse as Kid Koala, the Orchestre Métropolitain de Grand Montréal and Amon Tobin, and DJ Olive, a supremely musical artist sought out by sonic explorers such as Dave Douglas, Zeena Parkins, Sexmob, Uri Caine and Medeski Martin and Wood. Consider this a happening! DJ Olive

DJ P-Love

Saturday, June 4, 8PM • Swedish American Hall • 25 General Admission

leading edge

Within months of arriving in New York City in 1999, Cuban drummer Dafnis Prieto was shaking up the Gotham jazz scene with a pan-American rhythmic concept built upon extensive knowledge of the post-bop continuum and the deepest Afro-Cuban grooves. Innovative bandleaders jostled to recruit him for their projects, and he became an essential part of ensembles led by visionaries such as Henry Threadgill, Eddie Palmieri, Steve Coleman, Don Byron and Peter Apfelbaum. Since then he’s established himself as one of the definitive drummers of his generation. The two-time Grammy Award nominee is also a brilliant bandleader and ambitious

New orleans nights step right up and get a taste of the big easy — right here in san francisco.

» March 13: The Genuine Article “The past and promise of American music...” — Rolling Stone

Preservation Hall Jazz Band Bourbon Kings Brass Band

Six years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, Crescent City culture is still struggling to regain a solid footing. Fortunately, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band is one rock upon which New Orleans can build anew. Even as the floodwaters retreated, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band persevered in its mission, touring around the nation, sharing the raucous, soulful sound of traditional New Orleans jazz. Founded in the early 1960s by tuba player Allan Jaffe, the PHJB instantly attracted players linked to the glory days of the 1920s. Now run by Jaffe’s son, tuba player Ben Jaffe, the group features a multigenerational wealth of New Orleans talent, including tailgate trombone expert Frederick Lonzo and trap master Joseph Lastie, Jr., who’s held down the drum chair since 1989. The group’s latest release, Preservation, benefits the Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program and features a huge crosssection of artists, including Terence Blanchard, Pete Seeger, Ani DiFranco, Steve Earle, Angelique Kidjo and Tom Waits. Opening the show will be the Bourbon Kings Brass Band, a home-brewed assemblage of Bay Area all-stars led by renowned drummer Jaz Sawyer. Saturated in the ebullient spirit of New Orleans, the SFBK are committed to the timeless Crescent City credo: “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” (Let the good times roll!) Sunday, March 13, 7PM • Herbst Theatre • 25 / 40 / 60 Premium

“America’s best traditional jazz band...”

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— All About Jazz

“Thomas is in the stylistic neighborhood of Aretha Franklin, with a spark of Southern-fried moxie.”

— Wall Street Journal

» March 27: Soul Woman

Irma Thomas of my Heart” and “Time Is on My Side,” (a single that inspired the more famous version by the Rolling Stones). Since signing with Rounder Records in the mid-80s she’s released a series of acclaimed gospel and soul albums, including 2006’s Grammy Award-winning After The Rain, a session embodying her hometown’s resilience and enduring soul. Sunday, March 27, 7PM Palace of Fine Arts Theatre 25 / 40 / 60 premium

“The woman known as the Soul Queen of New Orleans is a national treasure. “ — People

“The father and guiding spirit of America’s first family of jazz.” — The Washington Post

» April 17: All in the Family

Ellis Marsalis

“A first-call pianist, conversant in the full scope of the jazz tradition...” — The New York Times “Ellis is regarded by many as the premier modern jazz pianist in New Orleans.” — All About Jazz

As the patriarch of the most visible clan in jazz, Ellis Marsalis has spent much of his life nurturing young talent, both in his prodigiously gifted sons and an extended family of New Orleans players, including Terence Blanchard, Harry Connick Jr., and Nicholas Payton. But he’s also a marvelously inventive keyboard master who grew up under the authoritative sway of Oscar Peterson and Nat Cole. Cutting against the Crescent City grain, he eschewed traditional jazz and R&B in favor of swing and bebop, gaining a sterling reputation among his peers for his work with saxophone greats Cannonball Adderley, David “Fathead” Newman and Eddie Harris. His sound continued to evolve as he absorbed new developments from rising stars like Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Kenny Kirkland and Marcus Roberts. At 76, he’s still a passionately engaged artist, as can be heard on last year’s consistently enthralling album An Open Letter to Thelonious. This year, Marsalis and sons Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason are group recipients of the nation’s highest jazz honor, the NEA Jazz Masters Award. Celebrate Father’s Day a little early this year — with the most high-profile “Dad” in jazz history. Sunday, April 17, 7PM • Herbst Theatre • 25 / 45 / 65 Premium pre-concert talk

new orleans nights

A New Orleans R&B icon since the 1960s, Irma Thomas is in the midst of a righteous career revival sparked by renewed interest in Crescent City culture following Hurricane Katrina. The Bay Area has long been hip to the Soul Queen of New Orleans, who sounds magnificent at the age of 70. She put down local roots during a mid-70s East Bay sojourn, and earned a belated Grammy nomination in 1991 with her classic live album recorded at Slim’s. Working with Gulf Coast legend Allen Toussaint, she recorded a string of regional and national R&B hits, including “Ruler

“Music is woven into the narrative like gold thread through a medieval tapestry.” — Los Angeles Times

Donald Harrison

new orleans nights

Rebirth Brass Band

» June 10: Crescent City Sounds

A Night In Treme

Rebirth Brass Band, Donald Harrison, Big Sam Williams, Michael White & more David Simon and Eric Overmyer’s acclaimed HBO series Treme (pronounced Tre-may) isn’t about the New Orleans music scene per se. But as a gritty, affectionate and ground level post-Katrina character study centered on the Crescent City neighborhood that gives the show its name, infectious New Orleans grooves tie the drama together and shine a welcome national spotlight on a place where music is inextricably woven into the fabric of every day life. “A Night In Treme” showcases several of the irreplaceable artists who have appeared on the series as themselves, including the powerhouse Rebirth Brass Band, an institution for nearly three decades. Rebirth will be joined by other New Orleans mainstays, such as vocalist and trumpeter Kermit Ruffins, clarinetist Dr. Michael White, Mardi Gras Indian chief and alto saxophone star Donald Harrison Jr. and trombonist Big Sam Williams. Wendell Piece, who plays the smooth talking trombonist Antoine Batiste on Treme, provides narration on the neighborhood’s history and the struggle to rebuild houses and lives after Katrina. It all adds up to a vivid musical portrait of a city that has shaped American (and international) music for more than a century.

Big Sam Williams

friday, june 10, 8PM davies symphony hall 20 / 35 / 50 / 65 premium Michael White

“Tons of local musicians (Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Kermit Ruffins, etc.) infuse Treme. You can’t watch an episode without feeling the beat of New Orleans” — San Francisco Chronicle

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tickets & More

Ticket info

everyTHiNG yOU Need TO KNOW FOr A sUccessFUL sfjazz spring season

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Web: sfjazz.org

Phone Member Hotline: 415-788-7353 General Public: 866-920-5299

On-sale dates

Box Office

Members: 10AM, Saturday, Dec. 11 General Public: 10AM, Sunday, Jan. 16

General hours:

3 Embarcadero Center, Lobby Level, San Francisco, CA 94111 Monday-Friday 11AM–5:30PM

Member on-sale:

Saturday, December 11 10AM–6PM

Venue Locations

Public on-sale:

Sunday, January 16 10AM–6PM

Service fees: 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 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF SAN FRANCISCO 3200 California Street, San Francisco 94118 LOUISE M. DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco 94102 PALACE OF FINE ARTS THEATRE 3301 Lyon Street, San Francisco 94123 PARAMOUNT THEATRE 2025 Broadway, Oakland 94612 S.F. CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC CONCERT HALL 50 Oak Street, San Francisco 94102 SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL 2174 Market Street, San Francisco 94114 YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS FORUM 701 Mission Street, San Francisco 94103 For more venue information please visit sfjazz.org.

All purchases at our Box Office are exempt from ticket service fees.

Catalog Notes All programs and artist lineups subject to change. Premium GA: open seating within a reserved section.

Pre-Concert Talk

30-minute talks take place on stage one hour before show time. Free to ticketholders for the event to follow.

Family Matinee

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.

SFjazz MERCHANDISE Apparel

SFJAZZ Collective 3-CD Set: Live 2010

Classic threads from SFJAZZ look great and fit right. And commemorative Festival t-shirts make a great collectible!

merchandise

Exclusively available through SFJAZZ, the definitive record of the SFJAZZ Collective’s 2010 international tour features the music of Horace Silver plus the band’s original compositions. This limited edition, hand-numbered 3-CD set is sold only at sfjazz.org and festival venues.

SFJAZZ zip-hoodies

SFJAZZ premium zip-hoodie

Available in: orange on olive, red on charcoal and blue on brown.

White on black.

$40

$35

$50

Featuring SFJAZZ logo baseball caps

SFJAZZ spring season 2011 t-shirt

Yellow or blue lettering on black cap.

Mens: M, L , XL, XXL

Black logo on tan cap.

Womens: S, M, L

$25

One-size-fits-all.

$20

Redeemable for concert tickets, merchandise or membership, an SFJAZZ Gift Card is a fast and flexible way to share the world of jazz with those you love. Ideal for your last-minute gift list!

“The SFJAZZ Collective is a project that does SFJAZZ and the city of San Francisco proud.”

GIFT CARD

Gift Cards

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

— All About Jazz

$ Valid for tickets to San Francisco Jazz Festival, SFJAZZ Spring Season and SFJAZZ merchandise. Gift card can be redeemed online or in person. Not redeemable for cash. Redemption value not to exceed amount on front of card.

Code: To:

Get all seven of the SFJAZZ Collective CD sets from 2004-2010 at sfjazz.org!

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