Pasquale & Benjamin: An Unusual Pairing
At SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium, Pasquale Grasso opened with elegance and finely controlled swing, but Lakecia Benjamin’s blazing second set supplied the night’s real dramatic center. The contrast made for an intriguing double bill, even if the programming never fully found its arc.
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.
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.
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.