The Bump — SFJAZZ Weekly Guide February 24-March 1
The closing days of February at the SFJAZZ Center were defined by the weight of legacy and the friction of modernism. Five-time GRAMMY winner Dianne Reeves anchored Miner Auditorium with her signature improvisational poise, while the Joe Henderson Lab hosted the high-speed post-bop of New Jazz Underground and the playful, intellectually grounded experimentation of Lisa Mezzacappa’s Five(ish).
🏛️ THE SPOTLIGHT: Vocal Legends and Avant-Garde Grooves
This week, the focus shifts to a legendary return to the Miner stage and the boundary-blurring energy of the Noise Pop Festival.
Madeleine Peyroux
When: Tuesday, February 24 – Wednesday, February 25, 7:30 PM
Where: Miner Auditorium
The Vibe: Timeless Resonance. The Georgia-born, Paris-raised vocalist returns for her first SFJAZZ appearances in fifteen years. She brings material from her newest album, Let's Walk, showcasing a voice that channels another era through a mix of blues, chanson, and folk.
Status: Tuesday is Sold Out.
🎫 Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/
Cleo Reed
When: Wednesday, February 25, 7:00 PM & 8:30 PM
Where: Joe Henderson Lab
The Vibe: Folk Rap. Making their SFJAZZ debut as part of Noise Pop, Reed presents music from the 2025 album Cuntry. The performance offers an assured mix of R&B and folk that explores the Black Femme Body and the history of American labor through a decidedly modern lens.
🎫 Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/
SML
When: Thursday, February 26 – Friday, February 27, 7:00 PM & 8:30 PM
Where: Joe Henderson Lab
The Vibe: Art-Fusion. Part of the Noise Pop takeover, this quintet blends extended improvisation with cutting-edge studio production. Their sound—a product of the L.A. and Chicago scenes—features a modular, groove-heavy approach where the low end often hits with the percussive weight of heavy machinery.
Status: Friday is Sold Out.
🎫 Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/
Hugo de la Lune
When: Saturday, February 28, 7:00 PM & 8:30 PM
Where: Joe Henderson Lab
The Vibe: Transylvanian Afrosoul. A singular force in the creative scene, Hugo de la Lune offers a mesmerizing blend of haunting vocal tones and lush, rhythmic instrumentals. Their work explores identity and mythology with fearless vulnerability.
🎫 Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/
August Lee Stevens / Veotis Latchison
· When: Sunday, March 1, 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM
· Where: Joe Henderson Lab
· The Vibe: Narrative Songwriting. The week concludes with a soulful, grounded performance that pairs Stevens' narrative-driven songwriting with Latchison's gospel-tinged baritone.
· 🎫 Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/
🎙️ THE PIPELINE: Podcast Update
Listen to our latest conversations with multi-instrumentalist Roger Glenn and guitarist Jack West as they discuss Latin jazz traditions and the evolving Northern California music scene.
Roger Glenn on Latin Jazz Traditions: Listen here
Jack West at the Freight & Salvage: Listen here
Looking Ahead: We dive deep into the spiritual roots of Afro-Cuban music with our exclusive interview with Omar Sosa, ahead of his upcoming SFJAZZ residency. Listen to the preview here.
🗓️ ON THE HORIZON
Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet The 60th-anniversary celebration for the most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz has been rescheduled. The virtuoso pianist will now bring his Royal Quartet to Miner Auditorium on June 18–21, 2026.
Omar Sosa Residency Resident Artistic Director Omar Sosa arrives on March 5, bringing the Aguas Trio to Miner Auditorium for a journey through the sacred and secular sounds of his heritage.
Keeping Jazz Alive in the 415
