“A Better Inner World”: Tyreek McDole’s Call to Stay Human in Crazy Times
At the SFJAZZ Joe Henderson Lab, Tyreek McDole transformed a sold-out residency into a spiritual summons. Through the music of Horace Silver, Alice Coltrane, and Andre 3000, the 2023 Sarah Vaughan Competition winner explored how inner healing creates a better world.
Joss Stone: Soulful and Seated
An intimate, narrative-driven review of Joss Stone’s "Less is More" residency at SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium, featuring stripped-back arrangements and candid storytelling.
Trio Grande Turns Three Into Five at Joe Henderson Lab
In this iteration of Trio Grande, Nate Wood, Gilad Hekselman, and Will Vinson solve the sonic equation of a bass-less band in real time. Performing at a sold-out Joe Henderson Lab, the group achieved the density of a quintet while retaining the agile, conversational core of a trio.
Greg Osby Returns to SFJAZZ
Greg Osby returned to SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab for a focused, one-hour set that balanced standards, originals, and lineage material with clarity and restraint.
Becca Stevens and The Secret Trio at Miner Auditorium
Becca Stevens and The Secret Trio brought an inward-focused, story-driven performance to Miner Auditorium on the third night of Michael League’s SFJAZZ residency, emphasizing restraint, deep listening, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Elipsis Opens Michael League’s SFJAZZ Residency
Elipsis opened Michael League’s SFJAZZ residency with a performance rooted in Afro-Cuban rhythm, collective authorship, and forward-moving tradition, setting the tone for the week ahead at Miner Auditorium.
Inside Elipsis at Soundcheck: Rhythm, Trust, and Preparation
At a public SFJAZZ soundcheck, Michael League and Elipsis revealed how rhythm, trust, and collective preparation shaped the music audiences would hear later that evening.
Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead Bring Thunder to JHL
Jonathan Barber and Vision Ahead delivered a deeply unified, emotionally grounded performance at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab, blending long-standing ensemble chemistry with new music from In Motion, including the forthcoming single “Dove” and the reflective ballad “When Love Calls.”
Marcus Machado Fills the Lab With Voltage
Marcus Machado and his Traces of Purple trio transform the Joe Henderson Lab into a study of density, sustain, and funk. From Hendrix-inspired soundscapes to pandemic-era anthems, Machado looms as a "guitar god" in this sold-out headline debut.
Radical Remix: How Braxton Cook and SMARTBOMB Turned SFJAZZ into an Oakland Block Party
If you typically associate the SFJAZZ Center with polite applause and established traditions, the scene on Franklin Street this past Sunday offered a radical remix of those expectations. Read our review of the Braxton Cook and SMARTBOMB takeover.
Taylor Eigsti and Melissa Aldana at UpSwing, Filling the Space Differently
At SFJAZZ’s UpSwing series, Taylor Eigsti and Melissa Aldana approached Miner Auditorium from opposite directions, revealing how structure and restraint give contemporary jazz its shape in a large room.
Hamilton de Holanda Trio Debut Ignites Miner Auditorium
Hamilton de Holanda made a striking SFJAZZ debut at Miner Auditorium, reframing choro through modern jazz language with a virtuosic trio performance that bridged Brazilian, African, and post-bop traditions.
Edward Simon’s “Latin Heart” Beats with the Pulse of the Present
Edward Simon expanded his trio with Chris Potter and Del Sol Quartet at Presidio Theatre, shaping Venezuelan song, new commissions, and chamber-jazz textures into a single, living narrative.
Botti Kicks Off 2026 SFJAZZ Residency with West Coast Warmth
Joined by jazz heavyweights Chris Potter and Mark Whitfield, the trumpeter’s annual residency bridges the gap between atmospheric pop and hard-bop virtuosity, solidifying Miner Auditorium as his West Coast home.
Dirty Dozen Brass Band Ushers In 2026
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band turned the pristine Miner Auditorium into a New Orleans Second Line, proving that their 50-year-old "codified revolution" still has the power to move bodies and minds as they rang in the New Year.
The Architect of Swinging Joy: Benny Green’s Living History at Miner Auditorium
In the steep, intimate amphitheater of the Robert N. Miner Auditorium, pianist Benny Green operated as a "Curator-Virtuoso." His Sunday evening solo recital was a pedagogical and emotional exhibition, synthesizing the distinct dialects of mentors Art Blakey, Ray Brown, and Oscar Peterson into a singular, exuberant voice.
The Ghost in the Machine: Mayo and Berliner Re-Embody Jazz at Miner
At SFJAZZ, Michael Mayo and Sasha Berliner didn’t just play the standards—they refracted them through a new, post-digital architecture. Read our review of the UpSwing series finale, where vocal loops and percussive vibes reshaped the jazz tradition.
Marcus Shelby’s Orchestral Memory: Blues, Structure, and Community at SFJAZZ
On December 21, 2025, the Marcus Shelby New Orchestra brought Duke Ellington’s The Nutcracker Suite to Miner Auditorium, blending big band rigor with a deep meditation on Bay Area history and global resilience.
Arturo Sandoval at SFJAZZ: Bebop Lessons, Cuban Fire, and the Joy of Staying Alive
At 76, Arturo Sandoval transformed SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium into a masterclass of Afro-Cuban rhythm and bebop history. Far from a standard holiday recital, his "Swinging Holiday" show blended virtuosity with intimate storytelling—from his black sequined sneakers to a moving tribute to Charlie Chaplin. Read the full review of a night defined by "Cuban fire" and the joy of staying alive.
The Klezmatics at SFJAZZ: Improvisation, Memory, and the Politics of Joy
Approaching their 40th anniversary, Grammy-winning sextet The Klezmatics delivered a powerful sonic argument at SFJAZZ that joy, in the face of modern darkness, is a radical act of resistance. Read the full review of their "Happier Joyous Hanukkah" show.