Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet Returns to SFJAZZ for Weekend Shows

Let’s be honest: when one of the actual, verified gods of the instrument speaks, you listen. And when the 6 STRING GODFATHER, John Scofield, declares that Jonathan Kreisberg “plays the hell out of the guitar,” you stop whatever you’re doing and you buy the ticket. Full stop. This isn't just jazz guitar; this is an aggressive, beautiful re-engineering of the entire conversation.

Kreisberg is one of those generational talents who possesses a dangerous dual citizenship: one foot in the hallowed bebop lineage and the other firmly planted in the progressive, sonic-texture-driven future. He's not just fluent in the language of tradition; he’s taken it, blended it with the raw fury of rock’s best shredders, and refined it with the precision of a classical composer studying Bach. The result is an impossibly fluid sound, blending timeless melodicism with forward-thinking lines that feel like the electric current of the future running through a vintage Gibson hollowbody.

This Bay Area return, the Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet—featuring the stellar lineup of Javier Santiago on piano, Luca Alemanno on bass, and Colin Stranahan on drums—is a mandatory pilgrimage. Kreisberg’s jaw-dropping chops and improvisational fluency are already legendary, earning him a long-time seat next to the late, great Dr. Lonnie Smith.

What can you expect from a night in the Joe Henderson Lab at SFJAZZ? Forget polite standards. You’re getting a melodic chopfest where complex harmonic knowledge meets a soulful, singing tone. It’s the kind of intense, deeply felt musical wrestling match that reminds you why this instrument can be both deadly precise and utterly heartbreaking. You’ll hear originals from his acclaimed records that showcase a true mid-career master—a player who knows that true jazz innovation thrives only by reaching for the future with one hand while gripping the tradition with the other.

This is state-of-the-art guitar music. Don't miss out on seeing the absolute truth in action.

🎫 Get Tickets

The Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet performs at the Joe Henderson Lab (SFJAZZ Center) in a multi-night run, including Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16, 2025, with multiple sets available each night.

Tickets:https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/jonathan-kreisberg-quartet/

Your ticket is your entry into the evolution of jazz guitar. SECURE YOUR TICKETS BEFORE THEY SELL OUT.