THE BUMP | January 5–11, 2026
The Weekly Frequency for the Bay Area Jazz Scene
The Edward Simon Trio is coming to the Presidio Theatre on January 10. Ticket info below.
🎺 THE RECAP: Funk, Brass, and a New Year
We ushered in 2026 with a dual-barreled blast of New Orleans soul. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band closed out 2025 with a legendary New Year’s Eve run that saw Miner Auditorium transformed into a sprawling second-line parade.
🏛️ THE ANCHOR: Chris Botti Residency
When: January 5–11, 2026
Where: Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ
The Vibe: The first full week of the year belongs to trumpet superstar Chris Botti. Known for a tone that is simultaneously sumptuous and meticulously restrained, Botti’s week-long takeover is a cornerstone of the SFJAZZ winter calendar. While Botti is a master balladeer, he famously surrounds himself with an elite ensemble—often featuring world-class violinists and soulful vocalists—who push the boundaries between jazz, pop, and cinematic classical.
Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/chris-botti/
🌊 THE SPOTLIGHT: Edward Simon’s "Latin Heart"
When: Saturday, January 10, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Where: Presidio Theatre, San Francisco
Tickets: https://www.presidiotheatre.org/show-details/edward-simon-trio-with-chris-potter-del-sol-quartet
The Vibe: For those looking to venture beyond the Hayes Valley corridor, Saturday night at the Presidio Theatre offers a monumental collaboration. Venezuelan pianist and SFJAZZ Collective member Edward Simon presents Latin Heart: Guardians of the Ocean.
This performance is a dense, evocative blend of Latin American traditions and jazz innovation. Simon’s inventive trio (featuring bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Adam Cruz) will be augmented by the Del Sol String Quartet and special guest saxophonist Chris Potter. It’s a rare opportunity to hear "chamber-jazz" at its most sophisticated level in one of the city's most beautiful restored venues.
Watch the Edward Simon Trio’s sophisticated deconstruction of "Dama Antañona," a preview of the intricate Latin-jazz fusion coming to the Presidio.
🎙️ THE PIPELINE: Podcast Update
We are currently in the production booth for several upcoming episodes of the Backstage Bay Area Podcast.
Taylor Eigsti: We just recorded a deep-dive conversation with the two-time Grammy winner ahead of his January 17 show at SFJAZZ. This Backstage Bay Area episode features tracks from his award-winning Tree Falls and his most recent release, Plot Armor.
Note: Pending final scheduling, we will bring you this insightful "homecoming" conversation on Tuesday, January 6. It will be available on all streaming platforms.
🗓️ ON THE HORIZON
The month continues to gain momentum with a heavy-hitting mid-month schedule:
Jan 15–18: Melissa Aldana brings her visionary tenor sax work to SFJAZZ.
Jan 28: The highly anticipated residency of Michael League (Snarky Puppy / GroundUP) begins.
Keeping Jazz Alive in the 415
