Steven Roby 1/17/26 Steven Roby 1/17/26

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.

Steven Roby 1/6/26 Steven Roby 1/6/26

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.

Steven Roby 1/1/26 Steven Roby 1/1/26

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.

Steven Roby 12/29/25 Steven Roby 12/29/25

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.

Steven Roby 12/19/25 Steven Roby 12/19/25

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.

Steven Roby 10/12/25 Steven Roby 10/12/25

Funk as a Commons: Dumpstaphunk’s Collective Groove

What if the beat were a social contract? That question lingered over a sold-out Saturday at Miner Auditorium, where Dumpstaphunk approached funk not as escapism but as a shared practice—an agreement to move, listen, and shape tension and release as a community. This thesis emerged in the music, in the crowd, and in the way bandleader Ivan Neville framed the evening: a collective body choosing the groove.

Steven Roby 9/13/23 Steven Roby 9/13/23

Herbie Hancock Turns Improvisation Into Communion at Chautauqua

At 83, Herbie Hancock fused funk, philosophy and fearless spontaneity in a sold-out Chautauqua Auditorium performance that felt both cosmic and deeply human.