The Sextet David Weiss Spent Decades Building
Trumpeter and composer David Weiss brings his sextet and music from Auteur to SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab on May 17, closing a tour that has given this seasoned working band time to settle, stretch, and sharpen.
Gunhild Carling at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab
Gunhild Carling returns to SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab for four performances with her New Orleans ensemble, blending multi-instrumental virtuosity with a live approach centered on audience connection and real-time musical exchange.
Marcus Shelby Celebrates Miles Davis
Bay Area bassist and bandleader Marcus Shelby brings his New Orchestra to SFJAZZ's Miner Auditorium on May 10th for a deep dive into the Miles Davis nonet sessions that changed jazz.
Daniel Ho’s Many Roads to SFJAZZ
Ahead of his May 2 appearance at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab, Daniel Ho reflects on his Hawaiian roots, his wide-ranging musical path, and the quartet he’s bringing to San Francisco.
Aaron Diehl Finds the Space Between
Pianist Aaron Diehl brings his trio to SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium on April 26, drawing on early influences, Mary Lou Williams’s Zodiac Suite, and a refined sense of space and listening.
Instant Alter Brings Future Fusion to SFJAZZ
Ahead of Instant Alter’s April 19 shows at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab, vocalist Natasha Agrama talks about the band’s roots, its stripped-down but harmonically rich sound, and the values driving music built for the present moment.
T.K. Blue Brings Randy Weston’s African Rhythms to SFJAZZ
Ahead of SFJAZZ’s three-night centennial tribute to Randy Weston in the Joe Henderson Lab, T.K. Blue reflects on Weston’s influence, the African Rhythms lineage, and the spirit behind these upcoming performances.
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.
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.