HERBST THEATRE, SAN FRANCISCO — SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2010 Henry Threadgill stood alone at center stage, listening intently to the gathering murmur of sound from the seated musicians around him. His concentration was almost palpable as he remained there, head bowed and with his hand on his chin, swaying gently to the groundswell of overlapped [...]
YOSHI’S, SAN FRANCISCO — WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 29, 2010 — 8:00 P.M. The spirit of John Coltrane still looms large over jazz. Forty-three years after the sax titan’s death, legions of followers continue to grapple with his incendiary music, trying to assimilate his legacy while extending it through their own stylistic contributions. Drummer Anthony Brown has [...]
Two generations of jazz met at Yoshi’s San Francisco, as pianist McCoy Tyner teamed up with trumpeter Roy Hargrove for the first time. But something was amiss in what turned out to be an uncomfortable pairing between the two stars.
Mainstream cool met primordial fire at Yoshi’s San Francisco. But would this unlikely pairing of divergent musical personalities work?
Toshiko Akiyoshi celebrates her “idiosyncracies” while Lew Tabackin dazzles in an exhilirating set at Yoshi’s San Francisco.
Aaron Novik’s new sextet Thorny Brocky tosses unlikely musical elements into a compelling modern-jazz stew, stirring up richly varied, unfailingly gripping sounds.
Charlie Haden barely showed up for his trio gig last night, leaving band mates Bobby Hutcherson and George Cables to fend for themselves for most of the set.
It’s not a rule of thumb exactly, but a safe bet: any record which includes a musical comb, washboard or cheek percussion can’t be bad. All three appear at key moments of Deep Night.
Matching a transcendent environment with transcendent music, the iconic free-jazz pianist delivered a solo performance that defied easy categorization.
Celebrating her receipt of the SFJAZZ Beacon Award with a powerhouse ensemble, Mauleón demonstrated the passion that drives Bay Area Latin jazz.
Esperanza Spalding is a true original. And at 24 she already has the performing mastery — and star power — of a veteran.
With Chicago guitarist Jeff Parker on one side and bassist John Shifflett on the other, the exuberant drummer balanced broad, fluid strokes with laserlike precision.
