Soulful Tributes: SF Jazz Weekend (Feb 19–22)
This weekend, the SFJAZZ Center becomes a vibrant hub of legacy and innovation as Black History Month's celebration hits its stride. From the elegant mastery of a vocal icon to the brass-heavy energy of New Orleans and the forward-thinking sounds of the underground, the four-day stretch offers a profound look at the past, present, and future of the music.
The Narrative
The weekend is anchored by five-time GRAMMY winner and NEA Jazz Master Dianne Reeves, who returns to the Miner Auditorium stage, where she previously served as Resident Artistic Director. Reeves remains the preeminent jazz vocalist of our time, a storyteller whose improvisational poise and technical range can turn a Brazilian standard or a Great American Songbook staple into a deeply personal confession. Her residency promises the kind of transcendent, "goosebumps-inducing" moments that have defined her four-decade career.
Setting the stage on Thursday is Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra. For Marsalis, a 2011 NEA Jazz Master, the mission is simple: to bring the rhythmic joy and culture of his hometown, New Orleans, to the world. Expect a high-octane celebration that bridges traditional brass-band swing and modern big-band complexity, delivered by an ensemble that treats every performance like a community celebration.
Meanwhile, the Joe Henderson Lab hosts the "new" in every sense of the word. New Jazz Underground brings its viral energy to the intimate space, proving that jazz remains a living, breathing street music steeped in post-bop, hip-hop, and Afrobeat. Later in the weekend, Bay Area creative force Lisa Mezzacappa leads her Five(ish) ensemble, blending original compositions with playful, intellectual curiosity inspired by literature and science.
Show Highlights
The Family Matinee: On Saturday morning, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir fills Miner Auditorium with a soul-stirring revue of spirituals and contemporary gospel, a cornerstone of the month's tributes.
The Master at Work: Beyond her performances, Dianne Reeves’ presence in the building offers a rare chance to witness a living legend in a room where she previously helped shape the artistic vision.
If You Go
Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra
Date: Thursday, February 19
Time: 7:30 PM (Open Soundcheck at 4:30 PM)
Venue: Miner Auditorium
New Jazz Underground
Date: Thursday, Feb 19 & Friday, Feb 20
Time: 7:00 PM & 8:30 PM
Venue: Joe Henderson Lab
Dianne Reeves
Date: Friday, Feb 20 – Sunday, Feb 22
Time: Fri/Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 7:00 PM
Venue: Miner Auditorium
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir (Family Matinee)
Date: Saturday, February 21
Time: 11:00 AM
Venue: Miner Auditorium
Lisa Mezzacappa Five(ish)
Date: Sunday, February 22
Time: 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Venue: Joe Henderson Lab
Tickets: sfjazz.org
