"Kumar is on the cutting-edge of blues today. He is highly respectful of blues traditions, yet understands how to interpret it in innovative ways. I think we will look back in 20 years and realize we witnessed something very special in the evolution of the blues." Michael Kinsman, San Diego Blues Festival

Charlie Musselwhite-endorsed Aki Kumar proves to traditionalists that singing in Hindi can co-exist with Chicago blues conventions. This Indian-American’s intense sense of musical discovery as an able vocalist and harmonica player drives worry-and-regret makeovers of Bollywood film songs and adds bounce to a reggae version of “Watermelon Man.” Boosted by top West Coast blues personnel and cross-cultural extras, Kumar proves that the integrity of his music marks the difference between novelty and substance.

Kumar was born and grew up in Mumbai, where his parents' upbringing and eclectic tastes—his father spoke Kannada, his mother Telugu—exposed him to a broad range of sounds—everything from rock 'n' roll and pop to the more traditional sounds of Bollywood film scores and Indian classical music. In his youth, he studied both keyboards and tabla, and acquired his first harmonica from his father. He listened to "everything from Bach to John Denver, from Stevie Wonder to the Police" in addition to music that dominated the Indian subcontinent.

He moved to the US in 1998 to study computer science, initially in Oklahoma City and then at San Jose State University in Silicon Valley. He was first attracted to American oldies radio, and then discovered the blues by visiting nightclubs and bars in the Bay Area.Soon after completing a degree, he went to work at Adobe. He has now turned to music full-time.

Kumar's harmonica playing is rooted in the classical style invented by Little Walter and others, but his blues style is eclectic.He developed his skills by studying with David Barrett, who operates the School of the Blues in San Jose. He played regularly in the band Tip of the Top for several years before forming his own band and launching a solo career.

Kumar expresses his pride in his Indian heritage by blending melodies from Hindi movies and Indian classical music with American blues, creating a fusion of East and West that he calls "Bollywood blues".

Tickets at Aki Kumar

Award-winning Int'l jazz vocalist Nicolas Bearde brings his Virgo Celebration to the Sound Room with Virgo Bluesmaster Alvon Johnson

Singer/songwriter and actor, Nicolas Bearde is the definitive jazz vocalist whose hip and refreshing musicality blurs the lines between Jazz, Blues and Soul, and whose style is influenced by the likes of Lou Rawls, Bill Withers, Nat King Cole and Joe Williams. His smooth baritone sound, wit and engaging rapport, honed by years on the road, draws audiences across the globe into his live performances.

The Jazz Examiner says, “his sophisticated, revelatory vocals are simply stunning in their bare essence” and Jazz Times says, “Bearde’s interpretations are as affecting as they are elegant”

In a career that has spanned over 3 decades, Bearde, born and raised in Nashville, TN has earned a unique place in the contemporary male vocal jazz scene. He has performed, toured and/or recorded with jazz legends such as Nat Adderley Jr, Bobby McFerrin, Eric Alexander, Steve Turre, Vincent Herring and Bernard Purdie, and his concerts showcase songs from his many projects and collaborations, including his 6 solo CD’s that have won accolades from critics and jazz audiences worldwide.

As a solo artist he has headlined venues from San Francisco, Miami, Savannah and New York to London, Paris and Moscow… been the featured vocalist of Big Bands, on both sides of the oceans, such as the Savannah Jazz Orchestra and the Ebony Big Band in Berlin, and…has travelled the US and Europe as the vocalist/narrator for sax legend, Vincent Herring’s “Story of Jazz Orchestra” (a 10 piece ensemble of jazz luminaries) presenting 100+ years of recorded jazz.

For this run Nicolas will be joined by Grammy-award winning pianist Glen Pearson, bassist Ruth Davies, and drummer Leon Joyce, Jr.

Joining this band is Alvon Johnson- one of the most versatile musicians, singers, and entertainers on the music scene today. He travels the world singing and swinging jazz standards with Big Bands. He also gallops the globe performing the songs that he performed while working with the rock and roll hall of fame group, The Coasters. When he travels to Russia he is referred to as the “King of the Blues” and the “Ambassador of the Blues”. His love and respect for the American Art form is shared by large and enthusiastic audiences all over the world.

Tickets at Nicolas Bearde Band

Take some influence from B.B. King, Albert King, Ray Charles, and a pinch of Albert Collins. Add in dazzling blues and jazz guitar chops, a rich soulful baritone vocal delivering original, often wry and beleaguered lyrics with sophisticated chord changes and instrumentation, and skills on various horns and keyboards, all delivered with an uptown cool that never lacks searing passion. It all adds up to the one and only Chris Cain, who has gone from being a newcomer phenomenon bursting onto the blues scene in 1987 with a classic debut release, to being a legend, inspiration and long-established member of the blues pantheon.

His jazz-informed blues guitar playing is fiery, emotional and always unpredictable. His vocals—gruff, lived-in and powerful—add fuel to the fire. His indelible original songs keep one foot in the blues tradition and both eyes on the future. The pure joy Cain brings to his playing and singing is palpable, and draws fans even closer in.

"Hands down my favorite blues player on the scene today. He’s an absolute blinder of a guitarist, with the voice of B.B. King and the chops of Albert King." –Joe Bonamassa

"Chris Cain? Now that boy can PLAY the guitar!" –B.B. King

"Chris Cain is a hot-shot guitarist and a singer with the maturity of blues masters like Bobby Bland and B.B. King." –The Washington Post

Tickets at Chris Cain

Oakland Samba Revue is the San Francisco Bay Area’s premiere banda de gafieira. Featuring a full horn section with tightly crafted original arrangements featuring 3 vocalists, O.S.R. draws on the sounds of samba de gafieira; an eclectic form of traditional samba from Brazil. O.S.R.’s unique brand of samba de gafieira includes heavy does of jazz, funk, forró, bolero and more.

O.S.R. is a product of Grupo Falso Baiano co-founder Brian Moran – “Morangão” (guitar/cavaquinho/vocals and arrangements), backed by a rotating cast of some of the Bay Area’s best jazz and latin jazz musicians including vocalists/percussionists Catia Machado Lund and Katiana Vilá, Zack Pitt-Smith and Marçelo Meira (reeds), Erik Jekabson, Henry Hung and Ethan Pires (trumpets), Jeff Cressman and Remee Ashley (trombones), Brendan Neutra (bass), Fabio Reis and Dillon Vado (drums).

Erik Jekabson on trumpet and Sylvia Cuenca on drums will be joining for this performance!

Tickets at Oakland Samba Revue

Flamenco is an artistic expression fusing song (cante), dance (baile) and musicianship (toque). Andalusia in southern Spain is the heartland of Flamenco, although it also has roots in regions such as Murcia and Extremadura. Cante is the vocal expression of flamenco, sung by men and women, preferably seated, with no backing singers. The gamut of feelings and states of mind – grief, joy, tragedy, rejoicing and fear – can be expressed through sincere, expressive lyrics characterized by brevity and simplicity.

Flamenco baile is a dance of passion, courtship, expressing a wide range of situations ranging from sadness to joy. The technique is complex, differing depending on whether the performer is male (heavier use of the feet) or female (gentler, more sensual movements). Toque or the art of guitar playing has long surpassed its original role as accompaniment. Other instruments, including castanets, hand-clapping and foot-stamping are also employed.

Flamenco is performed during religious festivals, rituals, church ceremonies and at private celebrations. It is the badge of identity of numerous communities and groups, in particular the Gitano (Roma) ethnic community, which has played an essential role in its development. Transmission occurs through dynasties, families, social groups and Flamenco clubs, all of which play a key role in its preservation and dissemination.

Featuring:   Marina Elana - dance.   Navy Encinias - dance.  Azriel "El Moreno" - vocals.  Marlon Aldana - percussion.  David McLean - guitar

Tickets at Flamenco

For the last 13 years Oakland-based vocalist Jefferson Bergey has been a musical chameleon for-hire across the Bay Area. Now he’s taking on his most challenging musical costume yet, covering arguably the greatest singer of the 20th Century, Frank Sinatra. Sinatra may have been the greatest singer, but he was far from a perfect man. Bergey is pulling no punches as he tells sordid stories of the singer’s life against the musical backdrop of some of the best-known songs of the Great American Songbook.

Bergey has spent the past decade zig-zagging through multiple genres of music and comedy. He’s been channeling the voice of Gregg Allman in Freestone Peaches: A Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band for a decade. As a solo act and live-looper, he’s negotiated thousands of covers in an anything-goes show at Belle Cora in North Beach since the pandemic. He’s a featured vocalist with Jazz Mafia’s Grateful Brass and will soon be taking on the David Byrne role in a Talking Heads tribute in the fall. As a vocalist and bandleader he’s lead hundreds of bands on private and corporate events all over the Bay Area as well as corporate events in Barcelona, Hawaii, Cancun, Dallas, and Arizona. Based on a handbook he wrote inspired by his dynamic and colorful experiences at the helm as a wedding singer, Bergey conducts training seminars all over the west coast where he teaches young bandleaders the ropes on running a tight ship under the pressure of high-end private events.

When asked why Sinatra, Bergey says “It feels like everything I’ve done professionally over the past decade including the music-comedy, the gameshow hosting, MC-ing large events, and singing music from the past 75 years has funneled me into finding the music of Sinatra and the Rat Pack. The music has pulled me all of the way in. There’s something so classic and timeless about the songs and the way that he sang them. But then I started to learn about his life and that sent me down a rabbit hole that I’m still digging deeper into and I’m eager to share the stories and my discoveries with an audience.”

He also warned that this is not a classic, note-for-note tribute. “I’m not doing a Frank Sinatra impression. I won’t be wearing a fedora or tuxedo. If I quote him, it will be in context of a story I’m telling about the man and these will not be well-known stories! I’m singing his songs, but I’m also telling tales that are not the normal, bland fanfare and publicist-approved points that would introduce him on a prime time television show in the 60’s. This show will present both the bright accolades and the dark sins of a nuanced artist while showcasing the songs that make him undeniable for any generation.”

Bergey will be backed by some of the best of the Bay Area including Andrew Dixon on tenor sax and all three of the incredible Hogan Brothers. Expect some very-special musical guests as well.

Tickets at Sinatra’s Saloon

SOLD OUT

Gage & Gold is thrilled to present the music of Dionne Warwick. As an internationally-celebrated music icon, Ms. Warwick has impacted millions with her classic recordings, and provided a soundtrack of love and life for generations of music lovers.From “Alfie” to “Walk on By”, enjoy the top hits from Dionne’s catalog, as well as some hidden gems you know and love.

This concert features chic Bay Area band Gage & Gold. Born from the creative minds of leaders Jackie Gage & Kevin Goldberg, this dynamic group features an ever-rotating cast of the Bay’s top players.

San Francisco’s Jackie Gage cut her musical teeth in the New York music scene, performing with luminary jazz artists like Theo Croker, Marc Cary, Kim Nalley, and many others.Bassist and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Goldberg holds a firm belief that music drives social change, and has honed his craft with a host of artists such as Tammy L. Hall, Denise Perrier, Tiffany Austin, and Michael Zilber.Join us in celebrating Dionne Warwick’s enduring legacy!

Tickets at Gage & Gold

Join us for our monthly Blues Blowout. You won't want to miss these!

Jules Leyhe might look like your everyday, average, unassuming guy, but he’s one of the world’s foremost blues slide-guitar players—so much so that even Premier Guitar magazine called his music “the best blues slide licks since Derek Trucks, maybe even Duane Allman.” Those might sound like some big boots, but this Oakland native not only fills them, he wears them out and has to order new ones. This year, he is showcasing a new blues series at the Sound Room, where Leyhe and his Family Jules Blues Blowout will be joined by local blues players from around the Bay each month.

This month they pay tribute to the recently departed guitar icon, Jeff Beck. Beck rose to prominence as a member of the rock band the Yardbirds, and afterwards founded and fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, he switched to an instrumental style with focus on an innovative sound, and his releases spanned genres and styles ranging from blues rock, hard rock, jazz fusion and a blend of guitar-rock and electronica. Beck was ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone and other magazines' lists rankings of the greatest guitarists. He was often called a "guitarist's guitarist". Rolling Stone described him as "one of the most influential lead guitarists in rock".

Beck earned wide critical praise and received the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance six times and Best Pop Instrumental Performance once. In 2014, he received the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: first as a member of the Yardbirds (1992) and secondly as a solo artist (2009).

Tickets at Jules Leyhe & The Family Jules pay tribute to Jeff Beck

The big guy from out West and larger than life energy (he’s also 6’5’) performer, guitarist, singer, banjoist, songwriter, composer, entertainer, musical historian and teacher Mitch Polzak wears his heart on his sleeve and his playing in his heart.

Polzak performs rockabilly and 60’s country music with the religious fervor of Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash and delivers a Honky Tonk ballad with the sincerity of Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings. Mitch will bring a room to a fevered pitch of joyous energy on the dance floor and then tell you a story in a song like two old friends sitting at a kitchen table at midnight.

His virtuosic guitar skills and influences range from the blazing flying fingers of Joe Maphis, Marty Stuart, Roy Clark, and Don Rich to the timeless dreamlike state of “Sleepwalk” by Santo and Johnny along with the vast valleys of deep rumbling twang associated with Duane Eddy.

There is not one singular definition of Polzak’s music but that is very specific to what he does. Being fluent in the musical languages of Country, Rockabilly, Honky Tonk, The Bakersfield Sound, Surf, early Rock and Roll, Bluegrass, Cajun, Blues, and Truck Driving music gives Polzak the unique voice of the melting pot of the American musical experience. This is why he consistently connects with so many people directly at every show.

Polzak’s abundant joy in communicating with people through music leaps off the stage through every fiber of his being. His near-constant genuine smile can be seen clear across the room and invites you in without any pretense or judgements. Some call him “The Honky Tonk Mister Rogers”!

Make no mistake though. Underneath that smile is a deep and reverent respect for the history and integrity of the music and musicians who came before him and created the sounds and told their stories.

Tickets at Mitch Polzak

In the year 2000, trombonist, bassist, composer, arranger, and producer Adam Theis co-founded Jazz Mafia – an eclectic artist collective of forward-thinking and accomplished players in Electro, Hip-Hop, World, Classical, and Jazz. Twenty years in the making, Jazz Mafia is a prolific staple of the quintessential San Francisco sound, uniting creative and accomplished Bay Area instrumentalists, vocalists, MCs, composers, and arrangers.

The collective quickly garnered a reputation for its collaborative and risk-taking spirit, and over the years has worked with Roy Ayers, Lyrics Born, Zion-I, Rebelution, Latyrx, Galactic, Ledesi, Blackalicious, and Jackie Greene, to name a few. Recently, the collective performed sold out residencies at the SFJAZZ Center and served as the house band in The Soiled Dove – its large-scale cirque-inspired collaboration with The Vau de Vire Society. Jazz Mafia has also recently collaborated with the Oakland Symphony at Paramount Theatre of the Arts, as well as with GRAMMY-winning composer Mason Bates and his Mercury Soul project at the Kennedy Center in DC. Jazz Mafia also curates musical experiences for Stanford University, Oakland Art & Soul Festival, and many other presenters.

This event featuring The Hogan Brothers and Jazz Mafia Horns: Daniel Casares & Adam Theis

Herbert Jeffrey Hancock is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the post-bop sound. In the 1970s, Hancock experimented with jazz fusion, funk, and electro styles. It was during this period that he released perhaps his best-known and most influential album, Head Hunters

Tickets at Jazz Mafia Celebrate Herbie Hancock Headhunters

Acclaimed saxophonist and composer George Brooks, known for his masterful blend of jazz and Indian classical music, is coming to Oakland’s Sound Room on August 22nd for an evening of genre defying music.

Brooks will be joined by a powerhouse ensemble featuring longtime allies Kai Eckhardt, on bass, Frank Martin on piano, Deszon Claiborne on drums and in her premiere performance with the group, vocalist Roopa Mahadevan (fresh off her debut with Winton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra).

George Brooks Brooks is a pioneer in the world of Indian fusion. He has collaborated with Indian music giants Zakir Hussain and Hariprasad Chaurasia, jazz greats John McLaughlin and Larry Coryell, R+B superstar Etta James and minimalist pioneer Terry Riley. His compositions are praised for their depth and beauty and his improvisational skills are nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Kai Eckhardt brings an unparalleled level of energy and creativity to the stage. He has been a foundational member of groups led by John McLaughlin, Trilok Gurtu, Billy Cobham, his own Garaj Mahal and Brooks’ super-group Summit. His distinctive bass work is the perfect complement to Brooks' saxophone.

Bay Area first call pianist Frank Martin is lauded for his work with such luminaries as Sting, Stevie Wonder, Angela Bofill and Narada Michael Walden (to name just a few). He is a sought-after producer and arranger and Sound Room favorite.

Another Bay Area favorite is drummer Deszon Claiborne who has performed with Peter Apfelbaum, Don Cherry, Charles Brown, Angela Bofill, Les McCann, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Robin Ford, Boz Scaggs, Greg Howe, Henry Butler, Giovani Hildalgo, John Handy, Taj Mahal, Donald Harrison, Rodney Franklin, and many others. 

Vocalist Roopa Mahadevan has recently relocated to the Bay Area from New York City. She is a leading Indian classical vocalist and crossover artist in the South Asian diaspora known for her powerful and emotive voice, scintillating stage presence and collaborative spirit. Roopa's artistic projects take her to diverse soundscapes and corners of the world - from Chennai's Music Academy to the cutting-edge venues of New York City. 

Tickets at George Brooks Quintet

StorySlam Oakland is Oakland's longest-running true storytelling show, where people tell short and true stories from their lives. Or just listen and laugh. The theme changes every month. This month the theme is Dedication.

HOW THE SHOW WORKS:

Anybody can put their name in the hat for a chance to tell their true, personal story on the theme.

Storytellers will be mostly picked at random from the names in the hat. We may have one or two special picked guests. We usually have time for 8 to 10 open-mic storytellers. We also present one or two Featured Storytellers from our wonderful storytelling community. These are people who have won awards at various shows, or just are known to us for their great storytelling style and charisma. The Featured Storytellers tell true, personal stories, but a little longer than the open-mic'ers.

Tickets at StorySlam Oakland

Drop in, grab a bite to eat or something to drink and listen to the 12 piece Lucky Devils Band. Dance, chat, have fun on a Tuesday night.

Doors open at 6:30P. Come on in to the front cafe and grab a bite to eat and something to drink. The food is brought to you by some Bay Area culinary stars. Once the band is set up in The Sound Room (usually about 7:45) you can grab a seat and get ready for some fun.

The Lucky Devils are a 12 piece band that usually plays at wedding and corporate events. They need a place to do a showcase for prospective clients and we have a place with great food and drink, so why not? The band will play for 1 hour.

Let us know you are coming! Reserve your spot now.

Reserve your spot here; Neighborhood Nite August

Chloe Jean is a Mill Valley based award-winning recording artist and songwriter. She has shared the stage with Robert Cray, Jose Luis Rodriguez (aka. El Puma), Tony Lindsay of Santana, Nelly McKay, and La Oreja de Van Gogh. Chloe has worked as a session vocalist and songwriter for Ken Caillat’s Sleeping Giant Records since 2016 as well as a songwriting mentor for Artist Max. Chloe is also a Sofar Sounds artist.

In May 2023, Chloe released an album titled, Fairy Tale Fail. Produced by famed guitarist, RAY OBIEDO, this record is Chloe’s first foray into jazz. Her R&B background lends a unique take on standards like “Blue Skies”, “Cry me a River” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” Chloe’s original tunes draw from her experiences in both heart-ache and love.

Chloé celebrated the album's release to a sold out venue at The Sound Room in Oakland, CA on March 30th, 2023. It is currently climbing the US radio charts and rose to #1 in its first week on Play MPE.

Chloe’s work in creating positive change goes beyond her music itself. For example, she’s donating a portion of her concert proceeds to UCSF breast cancer research. Anyone following her social media accounts knows that she is navigating her own journey with breast cancer. Her decision to share this information was born out of a desire for authenticity and improved discourse regarding health-related issues. It wasn’t a hard choice, she recalled, and now it’s become a large part of my life. She’s been able to connect with new friends and build community. It’s also been easier for her to talk to people who are going through similar experiences.

She returns to the Sound Room with an amazing band:

Ray Obiedo guitar

Peter Horvath keys

Dan Feiszli bass

Phil Hawkins drums

Jon Bendich percussion

Tickets at Chloe Jean

If you are a fan of Brazilian music, this concert is a must see, featuring the beloved Brazilian vocalist Monica Salmaso, who catapulted to renown with her 1995 album with guitarist Paulo Bellinati, Afro Sambas, which premiered Baden Powell’s and Vinícius de Moraes’ complete Afro Sambas collection. She’s joined by multi-instrumentalist Teco Cardoso, a brilliant improviser on saxophones and flutes known for his work with Dori Caymmi, Edu Lobo, Joyce, João Donato, Baden Powell, Rosa Passos and many others. Rounding out this extraordinary triumvirate is Guinga, a guitar maestro and composer whose songs have been recorded by Brazilian legends such as Elis Regina, Clara Nunes and Miúcha and revered by musicians around the world like Michel Legrand and Sergio Mendes.

Tickets at The Best of Brazil

Meridian Odyssey is a band comprised of six musicians who are committed to creating a multi genre experience rooted in the history of jazz, rock, funk, and R&B in a forward thinking context.

All of the members of the group have worked together in various situations previously, but the first time they have performed and recorded as a group was for their debut record “Second Wave”.

Throughout the coronavirus lockdown, drummer Xavier Lecouturier and
guitarist Martin Budde went back to Big Lake Alaska, where Martin grew up. Over the months, they assembled a studio in his fathers aircraft hangar and invited the three other musicians to rehearse new music to livestream and record.

Self-recorded in an airplane hangar in rural Alaska during a pandemic exile, 2021’s “Second Wave” delivered the story of a group of young musicians using exceptional circumstances to create personal & musical connection, and ultimately, a stirring documentation of time-well-spent.

With this script in hand, Meridian Odyssey returned to Big Lake in August 2021, settling in for six days of intense rehearsals of nine new originals, with time off for sailing, flying and hiking together.

With trumpeter Noah Halpern joining the core band of saxophonist Santosh Sharma, bassist Ben Feldman, pianist Dylan Hayes, guitarist Martin Budde, and drummer/producer/engineer Xavier Lecouturier, the group found a new power and focus in their sound, with the expanded front line and the growing conceptual openness the band had developed.

Born from the perceivably “lost” years of ’20 & ’21, “Earthshine” will speak to the creative read and react of six musicians on the literal threshold of their careers. While a marvelous tale of its own, it portends to be but an entrance into a musical beyond.

For longtime fans of jazz, this is your opportunity to enjoy premium talent at the beginning of their journeys. As only those who went to the Savoy or the Cotton Club so many years ago. With those newer to the art, this is your invitation into the most innovative, door opening, music available to the human ear.

This is jazz. This is fresh jazz. This is Meridian Odyssey.

Tickets at Meridian Odyssey

Originally out of Silver Spring, Maryland, Danny moved to Austin, Texas and cut his teeth on the Crawfish circuit playing with singer-pianist Marcia Ball. He then moved to Lafayette, LA and worked for a year with Zydeco king Clifton Chenier and his Red Hot Louisiana Band with whom he recorded the Grammy Award winning Album, “I’m Here” in 1980.

Relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1981 he is credited with reviving the career of the legendary singer and pianist Charles Brown. Danny served as guitarist and musical director for Charles Brown from 1987 until Brown’s death in 1999. He has played on numerous CD’s and sessions with Charles Brown, Clifton Chenier, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Ruth Brown, Etta Jones, John Clayton, Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wilson, Donald Fagen, Dr. John, Little Milton Campbell, John Hammond Jr. and many others.

Danny is the featured guitarist on the Van Morrison produced John Lee Hooker album, “Don’t Look Back” which won two Grammy Awards – one for Best Traditional Blues Recording, and the other for Best Collaboration, Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker.

His current projects include playing guitar on the new CD “Savoy” by legendary singer Taj Mahal and recording and an album of Spanish songs “Cantos Mi Corazon” featuring vocalist Marina Crouse. Danny wrote the film score to the Scott Silver directed motion picture ‘johns’ for which he and Charles Brown composed music, and for which he composed the title song, “The Promised Land.” The movie stars David Arquette, Lukas Haas and Keith David.

He has played for President Clinton’s first Inaugural Ball, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, numerous jazz festivals throughout the US and Europe, several tours to New Zealand with great artists like Robben Ford, Charlie Musslewhite and Bettye LaVette. Television appearances include Charles Brown and Bonnie Raitt on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

TThe Danny Caron House Party will feature Marina Crouse, Wayne de la Cruz on Hammond Organ, Mark Lee on drums, and Glenn Appell on trumpet and harmonica

Tickets at Danny Caron House Party

Known for their synergy and near telepathic abilities on and off the bandstand, Eytan and Gabriel are first rate calls. Born in San Francisco into a family of musicians, identical twins Eytan (bass) and Gabriel (piano) have been playing music together for as long as they can remember. Now based in New York City, E & G lead vibrant careers in jazz and can be found regularly performing and touring at household & historic venues: Between the two of them, they have played SFJAZZ, Dizzy's Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Monterey Jazz Festival, The Django, Ornithology, Black Cat, Minton's Playhouse, Cellar Dog, and Mr. Tipples. With Eytan currently pursuing a Master’s at The Juilliard School and with Gabriel fresh out of The Manhattan School of Music, they are both active frontmen and sidemen in the New York and San Francisco music circuits. Combined, they perform with jazz heavyweights Akira Tana, Azure McCall, Mike King, Erena Terakubo, Mike Olmos, Christopher McBride, Tyreek Mcdole, Lawrence Fields, Wayne Escofferey and more. On their Return To the West 2024 Tour, Eytan and Gabriel will perform a selection of originals and arrangements from their upcoming album.

Eytan Schillinger-Hyman (bass) is pursuing a Master’s in Jazz Bass Performance at The Juilliard School where he studies with jazz masters Ben Wolfe, Gerald Cannon, Kenny Washington and Donald Vega. With a vibrant career rooted in the jazz scenes of New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area, Eytan has performed at renowned venues and festivals including SFJAZZ, the Monterey Jazz Fest, San Jose Jazz Fest, The Django, Minton’s Playhouse, Ornithology and The Black Cat, among others, and has performed with a number of acclaimed musicians such as Mike King, Christopher McBride, Lawrence Fields, Wayne Escoffery, Eric Wyatt, Erena Terakubo, Tyreek McDole, April Varner, and more. He holds dual degrees in Jazz Bass Performance and Sociology from Oberlin College and Conservatory, where he studied and collaborated with jazz legends such as Billy Hart, Gary Bartz, and Eddie Henderson.

Gabriel Schillinger-Hyman (piano) is an active frontman and sideman who plays at household NYC venues including The Django, Ornithology, The Harlem Jazz Museum, Cellar Dog, and more. He’s toured with internationally acclaimed musicians Christopher McBride (GRAMMY-winning sax), Lucas Pino (Artistic Director at Brubeck Jazz Summit), and Tim Green (sax for Michael Bublé and GRAMMY nominee), and regularly performs with Erena Terakubo (Kenny Barron Quartet, Jon Faddis All-Star Big Band…etc), Tyreek McDole (Sarah Vaughan Competition 1st place), April Varner (Ella Fitzgerald Competition 1st place), Ben Solomon (tenor for Chick Corea and Wallace Roney), Alexandra Ridout (2nd place Caruso winner and ARTEMIS sub) and more. In 2024 Gabriel performed as an accompanist at CARNEGIE HALL. He holds a Master’s in Jazz Piano Performance from The Manhattan School of Music and a B.A. in Hispanic Cultures and Literature from Brown University.

Piano: Gabriel Schillinger-Hyman. Bass: Eytan Schillinger-Hyman

Sax: Langston Hughes II. Drums: Mike Mitchell

Tickets at Eytan & Gabriel: Return to the West

Rico Jones is a rising star and one of the most accomplished saxophonists of his generation. At the age of 16 Rico Jones was named one of KUVO radio’s 30 under 30 best jazz musicians. Later that year he performed at the Grammy awards with a group of national young talent, hand selected by the Grammy Foundation. The following year he was lead tenor in the Jazz Band of America.

Rico's impressive career has seen him share the stage with renowned artists such as Dave Kikoski, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Cyrus Chestnut, Peter Washington, Joe Farnsworth, Sullivan Fortner, Victor Lewis, Philip Harper, Bobby Watson, Eric Harland, Vincent Herring, Sylvia Cuenca, Essiet Essiet, Victor Jones, Candido, Terrence Blanchard, Veronica Swift, Eric Wyatt, Rich Perry, Matt Penman, Dan Weiss, Matt Clohesy, Yasushi Nakimura, Ari Hoenig, Lage Lund, Kush Abaday, Joe Martin, Dan Weiss, Matt Penman, Colin Stranahan, Rick Rosato, Peter Horvath, Sasha Berliner and many others.

In 2019, Rico Jones was awarded first prize in the Vandoren Emerging Artist competition, a testament to his exceptional talent and promise. He showcased his virtuosity by premiering a new big band composition written for him by Todd Bashore at the Music For All festival as a special guest with the Jazz Band of America. Rico was also selected to participate in prestigious programs such as the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center and the JAS Aspen workshop with Christian McBride in 2019. He made his international debut in Paris at the Sunset/Sunside Jazz Club that same year. Rico's accomplishments continued to soar in 2020 as he competed in the inaugural Rudin Jazz Championship at Lincoln Center under the direction of Jon Faddis and became a finalist in the North American Saxophone competition. Again in that year, Rico Jones was awarded as a winner of the Yamaha emerging artist competition.

In 2021, Rico Jones continued to garner accolades, receiving two more awards from Downbeat Magazine for "Jazz Soloist" and "Jazz Arrangement." Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Rico remained dedicated to his community and organized over 100 free community outdoor concerts at Sloan Lake, bringing joy and the power of music to his childhood community. Each weekend, these concerts attracted crowds of over 300 attendees, and Rico's efforts to share the arts received widespread recognition from magazines, local news outlets, and PBS.

In April 2021, Rico had the honor of performing at the prestigious Red Rocks Amphitheatre with his band CounterCurrent, leaving an indelible mark on the iconic venue. Later that year, Rico led his electric band CounterCurrent at the renowned Telluride Jazz Fest, sharing the festival line up with esteemed acts like Robert Glasper, Allison Miller, Christian Sands, and the Preservation Hall Band, among others.

In 2022, Rico Jones made history as he co-led the first all-indigenous big band, presenting an original composition titled "Earth" at the Olympia Performing Arts Center in Washington state. The band embarked on a successful tour throughout Alaska in 2023, premiering music composed by Rico for the big band. The All-Indigenous Big Band is now poised to headline the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival with Grammy award winner Esperanza Spalding after a week-long residency at the Kennedy Center in May 2024.

In 2024 Jones was chosen by renowned jazz photographer, Jimmy Katz, to craft an all-original jazz album, recorded live under Katz's nonprofit organization, Giant Steps Art s. This organization is celebrated for recording top-tier artists, including Mark Turner, Jonathan Blake, Chris Potter, and Eric Alexander, among others. Furthermore, Rico Jones has been approached by the record label, Life Force Records, to produce an album of his original music featuring Essiet Essiet, Sylvia Cuenca, and Peter Horvath.

This event will feature Essiet Essiet, Sylvia Cuenca, and Peter Horvath.

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Triple threat talent, Joshua Howell (guitar, harmonica, vocals) and percussion savant, Pete Devine (drums, washboard), plus veteran upright bassist, Joe Kyle Jr. deftly mix Delta/Country Blues with wildly syncopated rhythms to create a rollicking present-day sound rooted in early blues. Their music stands in stark contrast to the typical blues heard in bars these days and would more likely be shaking the floors of a Southern juke joint some 70 years ago.

From Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf to Son House and B.B. King, blues artists have claimed some of the most evocative monikers in American music. With its intimations of primal sacred cries, HowellDevine embodies that legacy in word and deed, delivering elemental blues and boogie like juke joint prophets. Featuring Eli’s Mile High Club-honed Joshua Howell on slide guitars, harmonica, and vocals, percussion expert Roll ’Em Pete Devine on drums and washboard, and the relentlessly propulsive Joe Kyle Jr. on bass, the combo taps into red clay Delta roots while embracing fierce grooves that speak to urban realities. While debates about authenticity and the blues often devolve into tiresome stalemates, the fact that HowellDevine was the first blues act signed by Chris Strachwitz to his Arhoolie Records label in a quarter century speaks to the band’s unusual feel for the tradition. The result was 2013’s Jumps, Boogies & Wobbles, which neatly sums up their irresistible sound. ​~ Andrew Gilbert

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Come on out for a great evening of music! Come hear this super talented-tasteful band, where everyone is very busy w/ tours and musicals and this Wednesday date appears to be the magic one.

Guitar focused quartet performing a range of instrumental covers and arrangements of contemporary pop-RnB-Soul-Rock and music from Al Green, Radiohead, Jet, Marvin Gaye, Solange, and more.

Featuring Kelyn Crapp on guitar: From Dallas, TX and graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Guitar Performance, Kelyn has played professionally since the age of 16 and has performed with or opened for such luminous musicians as Lucky Peterson, Wynton Marsalis, Archie Shepp, Bernie Worrell, Dolly Parton, Stanley Clarke, Snarky Puppy, Herlin Riley, Robert Randolph, the Skatalites, Emily King.

Kai Lyons on guitar: From the Excelsior District of San Francisco and completed his studies at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts in 2012 as the first to graduate from the acclaimed Classical Guitar Program, directed by Scott Cmiel. From 2012-2014, on full scholarship, Kai attended the prestigious jazz program at William Paterson University of New Jersey, directed by Mulgrew Miller. He studied with Vincent Herring, Gene Bertoncini, Harold Mabern, Rich Perry, and Hal Galper. He has performed with Mike Clark and Donald Harrison of Herbie Hancock’s Original Headhunters, Louis Romero, award-winning organist Wil Blades, Larry Vuckovich, Sueños and Illy Bogart.

Lorenzo Loera on bass/organ: Formed in the subway systems of Oakland, retro-soul outfit The California Honeydrops are an electrifying group that defy convention at every turn. They’ve become a mainstay at festivals including Byron Bay Bluesfest (Australia), Outside Lands, Monterey Jazz, Lightning In A Bottle, and touring with B.B. King, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, and Allen Toussaint. The Honeydrops feature Lorenzo Loera on keyboards/guitar, navigating through a vast repertoire of original songs and timeless classics every night.

Martin Diller on drums : Music director and drummer Martin Diller tours internationally and records with acts like Postmodern Jukebox, Yuna, Amber Coffman, Sara Niemietz & Snuffy Walden, Casey Abrams, Haley Reinhart, Gia Woods, Tiffany Stringer, Holychild, GIVERS and as music director for comedians Tom Papa and Todd Glass. He continues to pursue his love for Jazz by writing and recording for small ensemble groups.

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Grateful Brass reimagines the iconic music of the Grateful Dead with an instrumentation of brass, drums and vocals (no guitar!). The music digs deep into the Grateful Dead discography with creative re-imaginations infused with the ebullient spirit of New Orleans Second Line, trance-like grooves of Afrobeat, brass-driven energy of Balkan music, and energetic Afro-Cuban polyrhythms, all sitting on top of a heavy foundation of funk.

Grateful Brass is led by Adam Theis who is a current member of The Wolf Pack with Bob Weir & Wolf Bros and whose arrangements are featured in their live shows, as well as two Bob Weir albums released in 2022 (“Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros: Live in Colorado” and “Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros: Live in Colorado Vol. 2”).

Some of the finest musicians on the West Coast have joined Theis in creating this newest offshoot of the Bay Area music collective Jazz Mafia; many who have long collaborated with other artists in the Grateful Dead community like Mickey Hart, Joe Russo's Ain't Dead Yet, Peter Rowan, Reed Mathis, Jackie Greene, and Cold Blood.

Grateful Brass embraces the challenge of carrying on a 50+ year tradition of imagination, creativity, and groovy improvisatory adventures. This loving homage will make you fall in love with Grateful Dead's music all over again, or for the first time.

Featuring: Kate Lamont - vocals; Adam Theis - trombone, band leader; Mike Olmos - trumpet; Ross Eustis - trumpet; Tommy Occhiuto - sax; Jonathan Seiberlich - sousaphone; Darian Gray - drums

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DON'T MISS THIS SHOW!!!
Marina Crouse is one of the most notable talents on the San Francisco/Bay Area music scene. Her early classical training is reflected in her powerful and versatile vocal style that creates a genuine excitement in every performance. Her most recent music has focused on Boleros and Spanish love songs, but her early performances were singing the Blues and we are VERY EXCITED to have her perform again!

"A new voice as strong as the best blues singers of the past as she sings with the intensity of a Koko Taylor, heartbreak of Etta James, raw emotion of Big Maybelle... Marina Crouse has all it takes to be the next top lady of the Blues" ~ Noel Hayes, DJ at KPOO 89.5FM
"Marina Crouse is long overdue her day in the sun. This big, delicious voice deserves to be heard! Really soulful." ~Danny Caron, guitarist and former musical director with Charles Brown
Marina regularly performs in the Bay Area, sharing the stage with many notable Bay Area musicians, including Garth Webber, S.E. Willis, Ruth Davies, Pamela Rose, Tammy Hall, Danny Caron, and many others.

Garth Webber is a Berkeley-based guitarist/singer, known internationally for his signature tone, who has played with Miles Davis, Gregg Allman, Bill Champlin, Mose Alison, Robben Ford, Boz Skaggs, Merl Saunders, Bob Weir, Doctor John and others. His style is a mix of blues, jazz and rock. He has three Solo CD projects out and has played on many recordings for Bay Area artists. His style is modern but with a foundation in traditional blues.

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Join us for our monthly Blues Blowout. You won't want to miss these!

Jules Leyhe might look like your everyday, average, unassuming guy, but he’s one of the world’s foremost blues slide-guitar players—so much so that even Premier Guitar magazine called his music “the best blues slide licks since Derek Trucks, maybe even Duane Allman.” Those might sound like some big boots, but this Oakland native not only fills them, he wears them out and has to order new ones. This year, he is showcasing a new blues series at the Sound Room, where Leyhe and his Family Jules Blues Blowout will be joined by local blues players from around the Bay each month. This month, they’re joined by guitarist and vocalist Jimmy Leslie.

Jimmy Leslie, aka "Trickey Frets" is a Bay Area based guitar player and vocalist who is Frets Editor at Guitar Player magazine, and leader of Spirit Hustler and the Allmond Brothers. Leslie co-founded the Guitarfish Music Festival and the Star City Music Festival. He authored the eco-musical, Guitarfish Adventures: Blue is the New Green.

Tickets at July Blues Showcase

StorySlam Oakland is Oakland's longest-running true storytelling show, where people tell short and true stories from their lives. Or just listen and laugh. The theme changes every month.

HOW THE SHOW WORKS:

Anybody can put their name in the hat for a chance to tell their true, personal story on the theme.

Storytellers will be mostly picked at random from the names in the hat. We may have one or two special picked guests. We usually have time for 8 to 10 open-mic storytellers. We also present one or two Featured Storytellers from our wonderful storytelling community. These are people who have won awards at various shows, or just are known to us for their great storytelling style and charisma. The Featured Storytellers tell true, personal stories, but a little longer than the open-mic'ers. This month's featured storyteller is Beau Ryder Davis,

Beau Ryder Davis is an 8-time Moth StorySlam winner and recent Grandslam Champion, telling stories and performing comedy in Oakland, California. He has recently appeared on NPR's Moth Radio Hour and is currently working on a long-form show about growing up in, getting out of, and returning to his hometown of Hazard, Kentucky.

There is excellent food and drink available from the Sound Room cafe.

The venue is wheelchair accessible. There will be one intermission.

No pressure! Just have fun. There is no voting and no judging.

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Drop in, grab a bite to eat or something to drink and listen to the 12 piece Lucky Devils Band. Dance, chat, have fun on a Tuesday night.

Doors open at 6:30P. Come on in to the front cafe and grab a bite to eat and something to drink. The food is brought to you by some Bay Area culinary stars. Once the band is set up in The Sound Room (usually about 7:45) you can grab a seat and get ready for some fun.

The Lucky Devils are a 12 piece band that usually plays at wedding and corporate events. They need a place to do a showcase for prospective clients and we have a place with great food and drink, so why not? The band will play for 1 hour.

Let us know you are coming! Reserve your spot now.

Reserve your spot at Neighborhood Nite

With its heavy influence of Caribbean & Reggae rhythms, a traditional West Coast Latin Jazz sound is always at the core of the ensemble. Featuring:

Ray Obiedo has been at the forefront of Latin jazz for three decades. With a long list of albums out that seem to always make the Billboard charts, Obiedo's funky percussive guitar playing is rooted in blues, jazz, Latin and pop. Demonstrating an exceptional talent for mystically melding urban jazz with Brazilian funk and dynamic Caribbean rhythms, Ray has developed a very unique and distinctive guitar signature. For this show, he is accompanied by an ALL STAR cast

Murray Low is best known for his contributions to Latin Jazz, Salsa and Afro-Cuban musical landscape. In his twenty-two years of involvement he has established himself as one of the premier pianists in that genre, being nominated as 2008 Pianist of the Year by the Latin Jazz Corner and for a Grammy in 2004 as part of Machete Ensemble. He is or has been the regular pianist/collaborator with several top Bay Area ensembles including Wayne Wallace’s Quintet, John Calloway’s Diaspora, Jesus Diaz y su QBA, Pete Escovedo Orchestra, and John Santos’ Machete Ensemble. He has also collaborated with Latin Jazz giants Ray Vega, Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, Nestor Torres, and Andrea Brachfeld. In 2008 he also performed with famous Cuban flautist Orlando Valle at the Monterey Jazz Festival as part of a specially commissioned project including Jon Benitez, David Sanchez, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, and Giovanni Hildalgo.

Dan Feizli, experienced on both upright and electric basses, is a versatile performer in styles of music ranging from jazz and latin to pop and rock. He has performed in concert with such notable artists as James Moody, Raul Midon, and Mickey Hart, toured nationally and internationally with artists including Julio Iglesias, Nicole Yarling and Raul DiBlasio, and played in the pit orchestras for musical theatre productions including Hamilton, The Lion King and Billy Elliot.

Jon Bendich has performed with Tito Puente, Pete Escovedo, Sheila E., Robben Ford, The Last Poets, George Duke & Stanley Clarke, Roy Ayers, MC Hammer, Lisa Stansfield, Bobby McFerrin, Frank McComb, Ray Obiedo, Andy Narrell, Lenny Williams, Gerald Allbright and Phil Upchurch

Phil Hawkins is an accomplished jazz drummer and one of the leading innovators of music for the steelpan. As a percussionist and drummer he regularly travels throughout the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America to perform concerts, teach clinics and study percussion.

Harry Best is a steeldrum player, vocalist and composer who has been performing in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 15 years. His music ranges from infectious Afro-Caribbean rhythms of reggae, calypso, soca, bossa, samba and salsa to engrossing arrangements of jazz and popular standards.

Jeff Narell is an internationally known steel panist, Afro-Caribbean percussionist, educator-clinician, and recording artist who has dedicated his life to promoting the artform and expanding the musical range of the steel pan.

Lilan Kane & Sandy Cressman will be singing back up.

Tickets at SugarCane Sweet

The San Francisco, California based Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra, is the 2007 brainchild of guitarist/songwriter Anthony Paule. Inspired by authentic Soul and Blues recordings of the ‘60s and ‘70s, this dramatic horn driven powerhouse took shape. Known for having top shelf singers, APSO invites newest member, the incomparable vocalist Willy Jordan to the stage. Having worked with Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio, John Lee Hooker and others, Willy holds court from a throne previously occupied by Wee Willie Walker, Frank Bey, and Terrie Odabi. Willy’s commanding vocals and unpretentious stage presence, give audiences an honest, fresh, heartfelt experience.

APSO creates and records their own new classics, and are currently working on writing material for their sixth album on Blue Dot Records. Relatable, empathetic songwriting; pure heart-sung vocals, and supportive, passionate instrumental performances form the backbone of this band. Past recordings have earned them seventeen BMA nominations. APSO has their own captivating sound, but if comparisons must be made those which come to mind are Al Green, Bobby Bland, Bobby Womack, Otis Redding, Tyrone Davis, and the Stax & Motown record labels.

Tickets at Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra