Jazz Police - SF Bay Area

Jazz Police Home

SF Bay Area Save on Hotels Hotels

and Cruises Cruises

“So until we see you again, bright moments and keep searchin’ for your mystery note on the universal piano of life.” - Roland Kirk

Home \| CD Reviews \| Interviews \| SF Bay Area \| Chicago \| Los Angeles \| New York \| Twin Cities, MN \| More Cities \| Festivals \| FAQ \| News \| Contact \| Video of the Week \|

Main Menu

San Francisco Musicians, Venues, Reviews and Calendar

KCSM Jazz91 Jazz Datebook

Who's Online
We have 164 guests online and 3 members online

Visitors: 12003394

SF Bay Area

Jazz calendar and club listings for the SF Bay Area

Written by -

Travel guides and travel resources for San Francisco: For jazz calendar listings, Jazz Police recommends the KCSM Jazz91 Jazz Datebook, click here to view it within Jazz Police , and click here to open KCSM Jazz91 Jazz Datebook in a new window .

Guides to live music (musicians, jazz clubs, etc.) in the San Francisco Bay Area:

Poncho Sanchez plays Yoshi's in San Franciso and Oakland - honors Cal Tjader

Contributed by Ronaldo Oregano
Poncho Sanchez Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band plays Yoshi's in San Fracisco, Thursday, May 8th through Sunday, 11th then he moves to Yoshi's in Oakland to pay tribute to Cal Tjader from Thursday, May 15th through Sunday, May 18th. Seasoned, versatile, finely meshed, and deeply, masterfully percussive, the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band is perhaps the premier Latin jazz ensemble working today. They’ve recorded prolifically for the Concord label and have been honored with a Grammy and three Grammy nominations. An evening with Sanchez and his band promises to be a rhythmic, musical pleasure for body and soul. The band consists of longtime members Francisco Torres (trombone), Ron Blake (trumpet), Javier Vergara (saxophones), David Torres (piano), Tony Banda (bass), George Ortiz (timbales), Alfredo Ortiz (bongo, tres), and of course the master conguero himself, Poncho Sanchez. Before conguero Poncho Sanchez started his Latin Jazz Band he served an important apprenticeship with Cal Tjader, a pioneering Latin jazz bandleader since the 1950s. Sanchez worked in Tjader’s group from the beginning of 1975 until Cal’s death in May 1982. Now he’s put together a group of fellow Tjader friends and alumni—bassist Rob Fisher, drummer Vince Lateano, and Roger Glenn on vibes—to pay musical tribute to Cal, their friend and colleague, and a towering figure in Latin jazz.
Read more...

Javon Jackson Band featuring Les McCann, May 7-9 at Yoshi's in Oakland

Contributed by Ronaldo Oregano

"Javon adds a modern twist to the music we grew up with. Everybody get ready for a funky good time." - Branford Marsalis

Javon Jackson

The Javon Jackson Band featuring the legendary Les McCann with a three night stand in Oakland. Les McCann and Eddie Harris’s Swiss Movement, and especially its exuberant, hard-grooving lead track “Compared to What,” was one of those indelible albums that became part of the soundtrack of its time. Recorded in 1969 at the Montreux Jazz Festival, it enjoyed phenomenal popularity—and after more than 40 years has lost none of its edge or jubilation. Tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson and pianist Les McCann will revisit that magical music with David Gilmore (guitar), Kenny Davis (bass), and Rudy Royston (drums) on Wednesday, May 7 through Friday, May 9th at Yoshi's at Jack London Square in Oakland.

Javon Jackson was born in Carthage, Missouri and raised in Denver, Colorado. Sonny Stitt's music inspired Javon to pick up saxophone at a young age. Jackson began working professionally in local jazz clubs at age 16, playing with former Max Roach Quintet pianist Billy Wallace. During this time, Javon met and was befriended by Branford Marsalis, who encouraged Javon to attend the Berklee School of Music. Two of Javon's instructors at Berklee were saxophonist Billy Pierce and pianist Donald Brown, two former members of Art Blakey's legendary Jazz Messengers. One of the seminal groups of the hard bop movement of the 50's and 60's, the Messengers provided a training ground for the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, and Javon's early mentor, Branford Marsalis.

Contributed by Ronaldo Oregano

Kim Nalley

"Nina Simone was a singer, a social commentator, and a fighter. Often called the High Priestess of Soul, she was revered for her command of folk, blues, protest songs, and show tunes. So is it any wonder that Kim Nalley's show She Put a Spell on Me: Kim Sings Nina has been so popular? Nalley, whose hand in reopening the North Beach hot spot Jazz at Pearl's has made her into something of a hero in her own right, seems the perfect choice to interpret and pay tribute to the late, great Dr. Simone." -San Francisco Weekly

In what may be Jazz at Pearl's final month (their lease has only been extended trhough May), Kim Nalley will present her tribute to Nina Simone starting on April 29th and continuing every Tuesday in May. Nalley's musical tribute is interspersed with historical commentary and unabashed delivery of the more controversial songs of Nina Simone's repertoire. In addition to Kim Nalley on vocals the band will feature Tammy Hall on piano, Josh Workman on guitar, Michael Zisman on bass, Kent Bryson on drums. Pianist Tammy Hall, another musician heavily influenced heavily by Nina Simone, worked closely with Nalley to help develop the sound, spirit and repertoire for this glorious Simone tribute. Kim Nalley's Tribute to Nina Simone has enjoyed four sold out runs in various venues since Dr. Simone's death and all the reviews have been exuberant. Kim Nalley, recently nominated as one the 10 most influential African Americans in the Bay Area, is a must see in this rare tribute. Advance tickets are highly recommended as the show is expected to sell out.