August Lee Stevens Brings Her Bay Area Voice to SFJAZZ
Ahead of four Joe Henderson Lab shows at SFJAZZ, East Bay singer-songwriter August Lee Stevens talks about the Bay Area roots that shaped her, songs drawn from public feeling and family memory, and a live set built for the room.
Monty Alexander Hears One Word: Music
Ahead of his SFJAZZ appearance, Monty Alexander reflects on growing up in Kingston, absorbing every sound around him, and shaping a musical language where jazz, blues, calypso, and Jamaican rhythm all belong to the same joyful conversation.
Lakecia Benjamin Keeps the Flame Burnin’
Ahead of her SFJAZZ UpSwing appearance, Lakecia Benjamin talks about her upcoming album We Dream, the spirit behind “Flamekeeper,” and the communal energy she wants her music to carry into the room.
Lenny White on Miles Davis’s Lessons
Drummer Lenny White reflects on what Miles Davis taught musicians about space, instinct, and personal voice. Ahead of SFJAZZ’s March 21 tribute, White speaks about Davis’s unusual guidance, his approach to teaching, and why this music still challenges players to think more deeply.
Eddie Henderson Carries Miles Davis Forward
Veteran trumpeter Eddie Henderson reflects on hearing Miles Davis live as a teenager, the lessons Miles passed on directly, and how those experiences shape his role in SFJAZZ’s sold-out March 21 tribute to Miles’s acoustic years.
Javon Jackson: From Dylan’s Poetry to Miles’ Precision
Veteran tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson discusses his new Bob Dylan tribute album, Jackson Plays Dylan, and reflects on the musical discipline, lineage, and economy that also shape his upcoming Miles Davis tribute at SFJAZZ.
Flying High at the Presidio: Waldowski and Fulton Celebrate Swing’s Leading Women
On March 15, the Presidio Theatre hosts Flying High: Still Soaring, a Women’s History Month tribute to the swing-era vocalists who shaped the Great American Songbook—led by producer Suzanne Waldowski and musical director Champian Fulton.
Roger Glenn's 50-Year Journey to "My Latin Heart"
After five decades of elevating the projects of jazz royalty, multi-instrumentalist Roger Glenn claims his narrative with a long-awaited statement of Afro-Caribbean identity.
Jack West on Innovation, Invention, and the “Acoustic Spank
A virtuoso guitarist and prolific inventor brings a "whole new sub-genre of jazz" to Berkeley for a double-bill performance celebrating a major return to the studio.
Sarah McKenzie: A Love Letter to San Francisco
Australian jazz star Sarah McKenzie brings her "breezy technical style" and "lyrical sense of swing" to Northern California, exploring the "soul" of San Francisco through her latest music.
Omar Sosa: "SFJAZZ is the Best Place on the Planet to Play Jazz"
Pianist Omar Sosa brings his "SUBA" project and global alliances to the "Temple of Jazz" for an enlightening week as Resident Artistic Director.
Lisa Mezzacappa and the Art of "Tight Looseness"
Step into the intimate confines of the Joe Henderson Lab this Sunday, where the boundary between artist and audience dissolves into a shared sonic journey. Bassist and composer Lisa Mezzacappa brings her "Otherworldly" suite to life, promising an evening where experimental rigor meets the playful unpredictability of live improvisation.
Oscar Peñas Revisits the Joe Henderson Lab
Barcelona-born guitarist Oscar Peñas returns to SFJAZZ for his third performance at the Joe Henderson Lab, leading a trio whose sensitive and minimalist sound turns the intimate venue into a space for spontaneous musical storytelling.
Tyreek McDole at SFJAZZ: Collective Dreaming in the Joe Henderson Lab
Tyreek McDole brings his quintet to the Joe Henderson Lab at SFJAZZ on Feb. 12–13, 2026, exploring themes of healing, listening, and “collective dreaming” in an intimate residency setting.
Cleo Reed Reimagines the American Folk Tradition at SFJAZZ
The line between artist and audience dissolves as Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Cleo Reed brings a raucous reworking of American tradition to the Joe Henderson Lab.
Delfeayo Marsalis Orchestrates a Crescent City Celebration at SFJAZZ
The trombonist and "merchant of joy" discusses family legacy, the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, and the high-voltage celebration of Mardi Gras coming to Miner Auditorium.
Trio Grande Makes a Big Sound at SFJAZZ
Trio Grande—Will Vinson, Gilad Hekselman, and Nate Wood—brings its high-level interplay and larger-than-life trio sound to SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab for two shows on February 11.
Greg Rahn Brings Side Hustle to Vallejo
Greg Rahn brings his long-gestating album Side Hustle to the Empress Theatre, gathering decades of jazz, blues, and cross-genre experience into a single release-night performance.
Greg Osby Brings Minimalism to the Joe Henderson Lab
Greg Osby brings his Minimalism project to the Joe Henderson Lab at SFJAZZ for an intimate engagement shaped by focus, mentorship, and deep listening. The influential saxophonist discusses artistic evolution, accessibility, and honoring lineage ahead of his February 1 performances.
Simon Phillips Brings Protocol V to Yoshi’s
The legendary drummer returns to Oakland with Protocol V as the band enters a new chapter shaped by fresh writing, a new voice, and the sound-first values that have guided his five-decade career.