Holiday Classics, Pop Icons, and 50th Birthday Bashes: The December 2025 Guide to SFJAZZ
December at SFJAZZ is usually a marathon of holiday traditions, but the 2025 lineup is shaking up the standard "Jingle Bells" routine. Yes, the Vince Guaraldi tributes are back, but so is alternative rock icon Ben Folds and a massive 50th birthday residency for clarinet virtuoso Anat Cohen.
Whether you are looking for a "Sleigher" Christmas or a Cuban-style New Year’s Eve, here is the Backstage Bay Areacurated guide to the must-see shows at the Miner Auditorium and Joe Henderson Lab this month.
The Headliner: Ben Folds (Dec 8–9)
When: Monday, Dec 8 & Tuesday, Dec 9 at 7:30 PM
Where: Miner Auditorium
The month kicks off with a massive crossover event. Ben Folds—the piano-rock subversive best known for Ben Folds Five—takes over the Miner stage for two nights. Folds is touring his 2024 New West Records Christmas album, Sleigher, promising a night of "revised classics and reflective originals."
Expect the sharp wit and "masterful technique" that has defined his career from his punk-piano origins to his work with symphonies. If you want to see how an alternative rock legend handles the pristine acoustics of SFJAZZ, this is the ticket to grab.
⚠️ Note: As of this writing, tickets for Monday night are extremely limited. 🎟 Get Ben Folds Tickets Here
The Critic’s Pick: Anat Cohen’s 50th Birthday Celebration (Dec 11–12)
When: Thursday, Dec 11 & Friday, Dec 12 at 7:30 PM
Where: Miner Auditorium
If you see only one "pure jazz" show this month, make it this one. Anat Cohen, widely considered the most acclaimed clarinetist of her generation, is celebrating her 50th birthday with a residency that showcases every side of her artistry.
She isn't just playing a set list; she’s bringing her "musical family." The program includes duos with Brazilian guitarist Marcello Gonçalves, her group Quartetinho, and finally, the full Anat Cohen Tentet under Oded Lev-Ari. It is a rare chance to see a "present-day multicultural wonder" stretch out in a large ensemble setting.
The Holiday Traditions
SFJAZZ knows how to do the holidays without getting stale. Here are the standout seasonal shows:
The Klezmatics (Dec 15): The GRAMMY-winning superstars of the klezmer world return to celebrate their 40th anniversary. They will be performing music from their Woody Guthrie-lyric project alongside tracks from Happy Joyous Hanukkah. Tickets
Spanish Harlem Orchestra (Dec 13–14): If you prefer salsa dura to silent nights, catch this high-energy show. Led by Oscar Hernández, they are bringing a "Salsa Christmas" program that will likely turn Miner Auditorium into a dance floor. Tickets
Arturo Sandoval (Dec 18–19): The 10-time GRAMMY winner and Cuban trumpet legend presents his "Swinging Holiday." Sandoval is one of the founders of Irakere and a living link to the history of Afro-Cuban jazz. Tickets
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Dec 20–21): It wouldn’t be December in the Bay Area without Vince Guaraldi. This year, you have two premier pianists tackling the Peanuts soundtrack: Cyrus Chestnut (Dec 20) and local favorite Adam Shulman (Dec 21). Tickets
New Year’s Eve: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
When: Wednesday, Dec 31 at 8:00 PM & 10:30 PM
Where: Miner Auditorium
Ring in 2026 with a New Orleans institution. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is celebrating 50 years of revolutionizing the brass band tradition. The late show includes a massive balloon drop and a countdown to midnight, bringing the spirit of the Second Line to Franklin Street.
