Legacy Meets the Mothership: Harris and Croker Ignite the UpSwing Series
A review of the SFJAZZ UpSwing double bill featuring Stefon Harris & Blackout and Theo Croker. An electrifying night of jazz tradition and genre-bending innovation.
John Santos Celebrates 70 Years of Groove and Community at SFJAZZ
Bay Area percussionist John Santos celebrated his 70th birthday at SFJAZZ with a 'Roots and Branches' spectacular, featuring Orestes Vilató, Skylar Tang, and a setlist bridging the Fort Apache Band with local folklore.
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.
California Transit Authority Brings Smile-Worthy Oldies Show
If you owned a radio in the last century, chances are, Chicago’s classic rock hits are still permeating your music memory banks. Danny Seraphine, founding member and original drummer for the band (1967-1990), brought his tribute ensemble, CTA (California Transit Authority), to the Kahilu Theatre last Friday as part of his Take Me Back To Chicago tour.
Dr. Lonnie Smith and his In The Beginning Octet at SFJAZZ
Dr. Lonnie Smith is familiar with the SFJazz stage, having performed over the years with musicians like alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson and at the Soul Jazz Summit in 2008.
Stephen Stills Brings Solo Tour To Yoshi’s SF
At age 69, Stephen Stills openly admits that he’s not ashamed to use a few stage tricks to get him through his shows these days. “I once got some sage advice from, of all people, Tony Bennett,” recalled Stills to the packed house at Yoshi’s. “Never be afraid to lower the key or use a teleprompter.” While his voice has become much raspier and his memory impaired enough to recall lyrics without the aid of a screen at foot level, Stephen’s fretwork still shines.