THE BUMP | January 12–18, 2026

Hamilton de Holanda Trio. Photo: Dani Gurgel

The Weekly SFJAZZ Frequency

🎺 THE RECAP: The Botti Residency Wrap-Up

We just closed out a marathon week with trumpet virtuoso Chris Botti, whose seven-night residency at Miner Auditorium concluded on Sunday, January 11. Botti’s signature blend of cinematic jazz and high-gloss pop served as the perfect atmospheric start to the new year, featuring a rotating cast of world-class collaborators that kept the energy in the Center vibrant all week long.

🏛️ THE ANCHOR: A Weekend of Virtuosos

The weekend of January 16–18 brings a concentrated blast of instrumental mastery to the SFJAZZ stages, ranging from Brazilian traditions to modern jazz-tenor royalty.

  • Hamilton de Holanda Trio

    • When: Friday, January 16, 7:30 p.m. 

    • Where: Miner Auditorium 

    • The Vibe: Making his SFJAZZ debut, de Holanda is the undisputed "king" of the 10-string bandolin. Expect a masterclass in melodic improvisation that bridges the gap between traditional Brazilian Choro and contemporary jazz.

    • Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/hamilton-de-holanda-trio/

  • Melissa Aldana / Taylor Eigsti

    • When: Saturday, January 17, 7:30 p.m. 

    • Where: Miner Auditorium 

    • The Vibe: A heavyweight double-bill featuring two of the most acclaimed voices in modern jazz. Tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana brings the visionary sounds of her latest Blue Note release, Echoes of the Inner Prophet. She is joined by Bay Area native and two-time GRAMMY winner Taylor Eigsti, performing music from his 2025 GRAMMY-winning album, Plot Armor.

    • Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/upswing-melissa-aldana-taylor-eigsti/

🎷 THE LAB: Brazilian Intimacy

🎨 THE COMMUNITY: SMARTBOMB Open House

  • When: Sunday, January 18, 4:00 p.m. 

  • Where: SFJAZZ Center (Miner Auditorium & Joe Henderson Lab) 

  • The Vibe: The SMARTBOMB takeover returns, featuring alto saxophonist Braxton Cook with the Kiefer Trio in Miner Auditorium, and a solo set by Josh Johnson in the Lab. This is the pulse of the next generation—blending jazz with hip-hop, soul, and electronic textures.

  • Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/braxton-cook-kiefer-trio/

🎙️ THE PIPELINE: Podcast Update

Our conversation with Chico Pinheiro is now live on all streaming podcast platforms, and you can listen to it here. Were are looking forward to interviewing Hamilton de Holanda and Braxton Cook this week.

🗓️ ON THE HORIZON

The heat continues next week with guitar virtuoso Marcus Machado (Jan 22) and the launch of Michael League’s highly anticipated Residency (Jan 28).

TICKET INFO

Venue: SFJAZZ Center 

Address: 201 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94102 

Box Office: 415-788-7353 Tickets: Available at www.sfjazz.org

Keeping Jazz Alive in the 415

Steven Roby

Steve Roby is a seasoned radio personality and best-selling author. Roby’s concert photos, articles, and reviews have appeared in various publications, including All About Jazz, Billboard, Rolling Stone, and Guitar World. He also hosts the podcast Backstage Bay Area.

https://www.backstagebayarea.com
Next
Next

THE BUMP | January 5–11, 2026