An evening of original and arranged compositions with stylistic influences from jazz, blues, and free improvisation.

Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee - saxophone.    Kaz George  - saxophone  Isaac Coyle - bass.     Miles Turk - drums

Born and raised in Oakland, California, saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee embodies a striking mix of sounds deriving from improvised, vocal, blues, and jazz traditions. He is a graduate of The New School’s Jazz and Contemporary Music program, where he studied with luminaries such as Melissa Aldana, Darius Jones, Tivon Pennicott, David Glasser, Or Bareket, Jon Irabagon, Anat Cohen, Joshua Rubin, and Ismail Lumaneovsky. As a performer, Nathan has appeared alongside generational artists such as Billy Martin, Faye Carol, Azure McCall, Selendis Sebastian Alexander Johnson, and Lesley Mok. He has performed internationally in Tokyo, and the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland, in the Bay Area at Yoshi’s and The Sound Room, and NYC at Dizzy’s Jazz Club, The Stone, and Le Poisson Rouge. A big supporter of community organizing, Nathan hosts eclectic house shows and Improv Nights, and continues to compose, improvise, and perform in New York City and the Bay Area.

Kazemde George is an African American Jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator. Raised by Caribbean parents in Berkeley, California, Kaz has been playing Saxophone, Piano and Percussion in a wide range of musical styles from an early age.

Kazemde attended college in Boston where he completed the Harvard/New England Conservatory (NEC) Joint program, receiving his Bachelors in Neurobiology (Harvard) and his Masters in Jazz Composition (NEC). At NEC, Kazemde studied with Miguel Zenón, Jerry Bergonzi, Jason Moran, Cecil McBee, Donny McCaslin, Danilo Pérez, and John McNeil. In 2012, he received Harvard’s George Peabody Gardener Fellowship to study traditional music in La Habana, Cuba for ten months. Through his travels, Kaz has expanded his focus from Hip-Hop and Jazz to include the full spectrum of musical styles which blossomed from the African Diaspora, including Afro-Cuban, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Brazilian, and African-American traditions. As he sees it, the study of these musical styles serves as a way to regain cultural histories that were lost through the processes of African-American Slavery.

Isaac Coyle is a bassist, composer, and educator residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since graduating from the Berklee College of music in 2023, Isaac has become one of the top call bassists in the Bay Area jazz scene. In addition he is also a frequent collaborator in Terri Lyne Carrington’s New Standards band, performing throughout the country.

Raised in Oakland and immersed in the Bay Area’s vibrant music community, drummer Miles Turk seeks to follow the tradition in appreciating the cultural importance of blues, bebop, jazz, etc. along with shining a light on his own musical influences coming from R&B, Hip-Hop, Funk, & many more.

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His resumé reads like a "Who's Who in The Blues." Over the past three decades, Danny Caron recorded and performed with Zydeco King Clifton Chenier, Charles Brown, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, and on and on. He was the featured guitarist on the Van Morrison-produced John Lee Hooker album, Don't Look Back, which won Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Blues Recording and Best Collaboration (Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker). For 12 years, he served as guitarist and musical director for Charles Brown. Recent tours have taken him on the road with Robben Ford, Maria Muldaur, and many others.

His recent projects include playing guitar on the new CD “Savoy” by legendary singer Taj Mahal and recording and an album of Spanish songs “Cantos Mi Corazon” featuring vocalist Marina Crouse. Danny wrote the film score to the Scott Silver directed motion picture ‘johns’ for which he and Charles Brown composed music, and for which he composed the title song, “The Promised Land.” The movie stars David Arquette, Lukas Haas and Keith David.

He has played for President Clinton’s first Inaugural Ball, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, numerous jazz festivals throughout the US and Europe, several tours to New Zealand with great artists like Robben Ford, Charlie Musslewhite and Bettye LaVette. Television appearances include Charles Brown and Bonnie Raitt on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

The Danny Caron House Party features Marina Crouse -vocals, Ruth Davies- bass, John R Burr- piano, Deszon Claiborne - drums, Danny Caron - guitar, Kim Addonizio - poetry, and
special guests TBA

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Marina Crouse is one of the most notable talents on the San Francisco/Bay Area music scene. Her early classical training is reflected in her powerful and versatile vocal style that creates a genuine excitement in every performance. Blessed with an incredibly expressive voice early in life, Marina Crouse applies her distinctive talents to a wide range of material while delivering an emotional authenticity that consistently cuts deep.

Marina is equally comfortable with the blues of Etta James, the soulful renderings of jazz by Ernestine Anderson & the music of her youth, the torch songs and boleros of Mexican canciones. Rather than present just one, she is presenting all of her favorite things!

Featuring John R Burr on piano, Ruth Davies on bass, Deszon Claibone on drums

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Wayne Shorter (August 25, 1933 – March 2, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of, and eventually primary composer for Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In the 1960s, he joined Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet, and then co-founded the jazz fusion band Weather Report. He recorded more than 20 albums as a bandleader. Many Shorter compositions have become jazz standards, and his music has earned worldwide recognition, critical praise, and commendation. Shorter won 12 Grammy Awards.He was acclaimed for his mastery of the soprano saxophone since switching his focus from the tenor in the late 1960s and beginning an extended reign in 1970 as DownBeat's annual poll-winner on that instrument, winning the critics' poll for 10 consecutive years and the readers' for 18. The New York Times music critic Ben Ratliff described Shorter in 2008 as "probably jazz's greatest living small-group composer and a contender for greatest living improviser". In 2017, he was awarded the Polar Music Prize.

Oakland native Isaac Schwartz brings his band of musical collaborators and lifelong Wayne fans to pay tribute to their collective hero. The night will feature Wayne's early work with the Jazz Messengers and solo recordings all the way through to the music he made with the Wayne Shorter Quartet, which pushed boundaries for the last 20 years.

Isaac first heard Wayne on his seminal album, "Speak No Evil" and fell in love with its impressionistic yet propulsive sound. The music was sensitive yet bombastic; intuitive yet clever; cryptic yet soulful. Finally when Isaac was 16, his father took him to see Wayne live. Isaac wasn't sure if the modern music Wayne was making was really his vibe and boy was he wrong. It was the greatest show he'd ever seen and got him screaming in his seat. The intensity created by Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade with Wayne at the helm was undeniable. That concert changed the direction of Isaac's life and caused him to fully invest and dedicate his life to music. Isaac is honored to get to pay tribute to his musical father and guiding light in life, Wayne Shorter. ALL HAIL WAYNE!

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A Night to Remember!
A critically acclaimed pianist teams up with a winner of the Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition - an honor bestowed on Samara Joy and Jazzmeia Horn - to bring you an evening of GREAT music. 

Known for performances that are both soulful and hard-hitting, Gabriel Schillinger-Hyman  tours with the finest jazz artists, including Christopher McBride (GRAMMY-winning alto), Lucas Pino (Dave Brubeck Artistic Director), Michael Bublé. and  Langston Hughes II.  He is known for showcasing a catalogue of originals and arrangements of works by Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington and more, and honors the history of these master pianists with performances that are both soulful and hard-hitting. 

Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim is an award-winning jazz vocalist based in Los Angeles, whose artistry reflects a vibrant mix of cultural heritages. Her rapid ascent on the international stage is marked by major honors and extensive global touring, including winning the 2021 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition—an accolade previously conferred on artists such as Cyrille Aimée, Jazzmeia Horn, and Samara Joy. In April 2023, she received an Outstanding Achievement Bistro Award for Jazz Vocalist following her “stunning” debut at Birdland Jazz Club in November 2022, as noted by Gerry Geddes. In 2024, she expanded her international presence with an 18-country European tour and three U.S. tours with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, alongside three additional tours including a Florence debut at the Teatro Niccolini with Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. Her performance experience spans major concert halls, international touring circuits, and intimate venues worldwide. As All About Jazz observed in 2022, “Tawanda seems to go from zero to belonging in the esteemed company of Veronica Swift, Cecile McLorin Salvant and Cyrille Aimée in negative time, if that could be measured (All About Jazz, 2022).”

Personnel:Gabriel Schillinger-Hyman, piano. Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim, vocals. Michael Mitchell, drums. Nico Martinez, bass

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A masterful vocalist and “the superman of the Bay Area jazz scene” (SF Chronicle), Kenny Washington is easily among the most beloved and soulful singers working today. A native of New Orleans, Kenny grew up singing gospel music in church and playing saxophone in the school band. He continued his music studies at Xavier University where he became interested in various styles ranging from traditional and contemporary jazz, to classical, to rhythm-and-blues and pop. Joining the U.S. Navy Band in 1986, Kenny performed and toured nationally and internationally through out the U.S., Asia, Russia, and Australia. After nine years in the Navy, Kenny made his home in the San Francisco Bay Area where he established himself as a top vocalist.

While performing with the Michael O’Neill Quintet at the Douglas Beach House, Kenny met vibraphonist Joe Locke who happened to be in the audience. This led to an invitation to perform with Joe at Dizzy’s; Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC). Since then he has been a featured artist at JALC for over ten years where he has appeared with Joe Locke, Eric Reed, Eric Alexander, Joe Lavano, Branford Marsalis, Roberta Gambarini and Wynton Marsalis. With Wynton, Kenny has performed both in small groups and large including numerous times with the "Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.” In 2013 Kenny was featured in Wynton’s oratorio: "Blood On The Fields" which also included vocalist Gregory Porter. Kenny has headlined performances in Japan, Russia, Scotland, Shanghai, Denmark, Mongolia and many other countries. He has performed at top Jazz Festival including the Monterey Jazz Festival, Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival and the San Jose Jazz Festival.

Kenny is a jazz vocalist virtuoso. Emulating the classic styles of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan and infusing colors of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, Kenny's free, playful approach, with over a four-octave range is awe inspiring. His tone on ballads is liquid and his scat singing - informed by his saxophone playing - is rapid-fire, passionate, melodious and inventive. His intonation is so precise that it becomes noticeable if the piano wasn’t tuned that day. Kenny is considered by many to be the premiere male vocalist on the planet today. This man is a must-see.

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Experience an unforgettable evening of genre-bending brilliance with Two-Time Grammy Award–winning violinist Mads Tolling and acclaimed accordionist and pianist Sam Reider in their captivating program, Django to Tango. Journey from the fiery swing of Django Reinhardt’s gypsy jazz to the sultry rhythms of Argentine tango and beyond. Blending virtuosity with playful improvisation, Tolling and Reider reimagine classics and unveil original works that bridge continents and centuries. Django to Tango celebrates the joy of musical storytelling—filled with rhythm, romance, and spontaneity.

Mads Tolling is the 2016 winner of DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star Violin Award, and SF Classical Voice 2023 and 2025 Jazz Performer. Mads is a former long-time member of bassist Stanley Clarke's Band, and the Turtle Island Quartet. Recently he toured and recorded three albums with the late great, Bob Weir.

Sam Reider is a Latin Grammy-nominated pianist, accordionist, composer, and educator. He has performed and recorded with a range of artists including Jon Batiste, Laurie Lewis, Paquito D’Rivera, and Jorge Glem, with whom he appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desktop.

Joining Mads and Sam this evening is bassist Sam Bevan, whose presence brings depth, groove, and a strong sense of interplay to the trio.

Mads Tolling (violin), Sam Reider (accordion, piano), Sam Bevan (bass)

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We start with Jules Leyhe & The Family Jules.

Jules is one of the world’s foremost blues slide-guitar players—so much so that even Premier Guitar magazine called his music “the best blues slide licks since Derek Trucks, maybe even Duane Allman.” His band is also top-notch - featuring Ian McArldle on paino, Isaac Schwartz on drums and renowned bassist Matt Roades.

Then we add a special guest to create something new and exciting!

This month the featured guest is Adam Levy.

Chalking up an enviable career to luck is characteristic of the soft-spoken Levy, whose humility is echoed in his musical voice. Much as he chooses his words wisely, Adam is tactful and tasteful in his guitar playing, never stepping into a solo spotlight without something meaningful to add to a song. One great example is his guitar work on the Norah Jones hit “Come Away with Me.” Understated but memorable, Levy’s solo draws on elements of jazz and country to reflect perfectly the simple, earnest sentiment of the composition.

Making music with Norah Jones was just one experience in a string of elite gigs for Levy. A few years prior he had met Tracy Chapman, who enlisted him to play on her mid-’90s masterpiece, New Beginning. Levy’s guitar earns the limelight in the bluesy “Give Me One Reason,” which won Best Rock Song at the 1997 Grammy Awards. More recently, he has worked with Ani DiFranco, Rosanne Cash, Jamestown Revival, and Allen Toussaint.

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StorySlam Oakland is Oakland's longest-running true storytelling show, where people tell short and true stories from their lives. Or just listen and laugh.

How it works:The hosts will encourage audience members to shout out ideas for themes. It could be a theme you have a story about, or a theme you want to hear some true stories about. We'll write them down and then the fun begins.

You can also take your time between now and the show and craft a story on our pre-announced theme, which is Naughty. Put your name in the hat for a chance to tell your story. We usually have time for about 10 storytellers.We live in some alarming times, no doubt. Sometimes shady stuff is funny, stometimes it's serious. Any story is good as long as it's true, about you, and five to six minutes long. We'll have a timer to keep you on track. Remember, no notes or reading allowed. You'll tell it like you're telling friends around the dinner table.

Hosted by creator Julie Soller & comic Inanc Ino.

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A masterful harmonica player, soulful vocalist, band-leader, drummer and producer, Kumar is a man of many talents and one of the most prolific artists in the SF Bay Area today. He has successfully blended retro Indian music into his presentation, making for a unique, electrifying, multi-cultural mash-up that sounds like no one else, yet never loses touch with the inspiration it draws from the blues. A veteran of the San Jose music scene for two decades, Kumar was hailed as "...King of ‘Bollywood blues’ music" by SJ Mercury News (2022) and received the Metro Silicon Valley Gold Award for Best Band (2024).

Kumar's "Little Village" releases "Aki Goes To Bollywood" (2016) and "Hindi Man Blues" (2018) are considered ground-breaking albums that have garnered international critical acclaim. In 2020, Kumar made major news with the world-wide launch of his album "Dilruba" on Sony Music. In 2021, Little Village released Kumar's uplifting reggae-inspired single "Zindagi" (Life). 2025 marked a milestone year for Kumar with the release of his self-produced “Little Village” album “God Bless The USA”

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Ray Obiedo blends Latin, jazz, rock and R&B in a vibrant, groove-heavy musical experience. This stellar ensemble showcases Grammy Award-winning guitarist Obiedo’s masterful compositions creating an irresistible fusion.

For over four decades, Bay Area native Ray Obiedo has established himself as one of modern jazz’s most versatile guitarists and composers. A former member of Herbie Hancock’s band and sideman to legends like Pete Escovedo and Sheila E, Obiedo’s solo career spans acclaimed albums including Latin Jazz Project and There Goes That. His current ensemble features the remarkable Lilan Kane, whose powerful voice has earned her performances with Carlos Santana and Tower of Power. Together, they create a sophisticated musical tapestry that seamlessly weaves Latin percussion, jazz harmonies and soulful melodies. The group consistently delivers electrifying live performances characterized by virtuosic improvisation and infectious energy. Obiedo’s commitment to musical authenticity and cross-cultural exploration makes each concert not just a performance but a celebration of the rich diversity within jazz today.

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Choro, or chorinho ("little cry"), isa vibrant instrumental music genre that originated in 19th-century Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is characterized by fast tempos, virtuosity, intricate syncopation, and improvisation, often blending European salon dances (polka, waltz) with Afro-Brazilian rhythms. Considered Brazil's first popular urban music, it typically features flutes, guitars, and cavaquinho.

Rebecca Kleinmann, internationally acclaimed flutist and singer returns to the Bay Area to lead a night of Brazilian music with master musicians Zack Pitt-Smith, winds; Carlos Oliveira, guitar; Ami Molinelli Hart, percussion; and Brian Moran, cavaquinho and guitar.

Based in California until 2022, Rebecca Kleinmann has led her Quintet in various formations since 2001, touring internationally with this and other projects to Brazil, Australia, Europe, Africa and within the US. Pianist Benny Green made special note of her unique pursuit of artistic growth, explaining that “Rebecca is masterful and selfless in her ability and inclination of melding her sound with her environment.” In the words of Latin Grammy Nominated pianist and composer, Jovino Santos Neto, Rebecca plays flute with the passion of a flamenco dancer. Upon completing a June 2023 recording session in NYC, Grammy winning pianist, Taylor Eigsti said Rebecca "brought the music to life."

She began synthesizing her diverse musical interests as a flutist and vocalist at Indiana University, where she began her studies as a Classical Flute Performance major and historically graduated as the first Jazz Flute major in the history of the school’s Jazz Studies program, thanks to the support of her beloved mentor, the late David Baker. In addition, she has studied vocal performance with Fabiana Cozza and Jennifer Barnes. Her varied experiences as a vocalist include performances with the Taylor Memorial Gospel Choir and teaching vocal performance to thousands of elementary school children as an Orff-certified music educator in public schools. Both in teaching and in performances with the RKQ, Rebecca often utilizes her fluencies in Portuguese and Spanish.

In early 2022 Rebecca moved from Oakland to Durham, North Carolina and immediately began planting seeds to continue her musical career on the East Coast. She has become a professor at UNC Chapel Hill, directing the university's "Charanga Carolina" ensemble, recorded and performed with Grammy winning pianist Taylor Eigsti, and received a Chamber Music America grant to fund her next album. Come enjoy this amazing ensemble full of shining stars in the intimate setting of the Sound Room.

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Rising star Luis Peralta is a pianist from Oakland, California now living in Brooklyn, New York. He began playing piano at seven, embarking quickly on a serious study of European Classical and Jazz music. In 2019, Luis was awarded a full scholarship to study piano at the New School. He has studied with and performed with Bay Area figures such as Howard Wiley and Marcus Shelby. In New York City, he has played with Wallace Roney Jr., Rodney Green, Russell Hall, Darrell Green, and Mike Troy.

Playing with Luis is Marcus Shelby on bass and James Gallagher on drums.

Marcus Anthony Shelby is a composer, bassist, bandleader, and educator. His work focuses on the history, present, and future of African American lives social movements and music education. In 1990, Marcus Shelby received the Charles Mingus Scholarship to attend Cal Arts and study composition with James Newton and bass with Charlie Haden. Currently, Shelby is the Artistic Director of Healdsburg Jazz, an artist in residence with the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, and a past resident artist with the San Francisco Jazz Festival and the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.

James Gallagher is an American jazz drummer and educator from Northern California, currently living in Manhattan. He regularly performs at venues such as Smalls, Mezzrow, Fat Cat, the 75 club, The Django, the Roxy, Lambs Club, and others. He has worked professionally with Mike Ledonne, David Hazeltine, Jeb Patton, David Wong, Grant Stewart, Harry Allen, Paul Sikivie, and many others.

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Join us for an unforgettable evening honoring the fierce, tender, rebellious, and soul-stirring women who gave the blues its heartbeat. From smoky ballads and midnight confessions to down-and-dirty grit and jazz-drenched elegance, Honey, Smoke & Holy Water celebrates the music and stories of legendary artists like Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Etta James, Nina Simone and more.

Featuring:

Angela LaFlamme-Vocals
Myles Boisen-Guitar
Kymry Esainko-Piano
Greg Olwell-Bass
Garry Williams-Drums
Scott Larson-Trombone
Miles Spearman-Trumpet

“A fantastic band… sexy and sleek.” —Huffington Post

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Part of Jazz Mafia’s ongoing Reimagined series, which has explored the music of Stevie Wonder, Prince, and The Beatles, this performance turns to two of jazz’s most fearless innovators, Miles Davis and Charles Mingus. Featuring Jazz Mafia’s core acoustic ensemble, the group presents bold new arrangements of classic material while honoring the restless spirit that defined both artists. Led by Jazz Mafia founder and bandleader Adam Theis, the band brings together longtime collaborators and rising talent for a night of deep grooves, inventive arrangements, and high-level interplay.

Mike Olmos – trumpet Laurel Fink – alto sax Tommy Occhiuto – tenor & bari sax

Adam Theis –trombone. Colin Hogan – keys Joshua Thurston Milgrom – upright bass

Henry Plumb – drums

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AN AMAZING EVENiNG OF MYSTERY & FUN
 If you're in need of an evening of fun and world class entertainment, this is the event!

Andy Amyx has played Las Vegas, and international venues and been selected to perform for private celebrity events. He is known around the world for his dazzling and thrilling style of comedy magic and illusions. His exceptional reputation in the magic industry has enabled his success.

Andy began studying at the Chavez College of Magic where he achieved the Chavez Certificate of Prestidigitation. He continued to perfect his magic by creating his own style of music, manipulation, and original costume. Soon he received his first award in magic from the International Brotherhood of Magicians; he took first place for his incredible stage act. This lead to other awards such as First Place at the Society of American Magicians for having the Best Manipulation Act and later was asked to perform at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. Since his first performance at the Magic Castle, Andy has become one of the few favorites who regularly perform there.

Andy’s talents have also been used for television commercials and music videos. In addition to his ability to perform, Andy is also an instructor and renowned lecturer at the Chavez College of Magic.

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Trombone/classical guitar duos are very rare in Jazz. While few dare to exist beyond the occasional recording or live performance, Cressman and Faquini have transformed their platform into a sophisticated medium showcasing the extraordinary influence Brazilian contemporary artistry has had on music throughout the world. Tagged as the “Bossa Nova girl” while studying at the Manhattan School of Music, Cressman has always been inspired by Brazilian culture, frequently attending the California Brazil Camp in the mountainous enclave of Cazadero, California where she met Faquini, a Guinga protégé teaching at this annual summer gathering.

In time they discovered the dynamic nature of their instrumental pairing as well as the unique aperture it lends to the intricate nature of Brazilian music. Having mastered a resonant, open, and full bodied sound, Cressman and Faquini utilize a spacious tonal vocabulary, deft harmonic pairings and meticulous arranging that perfectly lends itself to the unique repertoire they’ve cultivated over the years.

Simplicity can feel like a rare commodity in our increasingly complex world. Knowing this, Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini recognize that the simplicity of their instrumentation provides an introspective way to celebrate the legacy of música popular brasileira and the remarkable manner in which Guinga extends the vocabularies of its exceptional harmonic and melodic systems. Managing the perfect balance of space, pacing and musicianship, Cressman and Faquini have mastered the mechanics of unpacking the deep musical authority that defines the DNA of Brazilian music and the core of Guinga’s genius.

Cressman’s musical pedigree is impeccable, growing up as the daughter of vocalist Sandy Cressman and Santana trombonist Jeff Cressman, gaining fame as a member of Phish leader Trey Anastasio’s solo project, and working with Nicholas Payton and Wycliffe Gordon. A virtuosic instrumentalist and gifted singer, she’s a former member of the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars who has made good on her prodigious beginnings, working with a diverse range of artists including salsa icon Pete Escovedo’s Latin Jazz Orchestra, world music giant Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra, and iconoclastic multi-instrumentalist Peter Apfelbaum.

Faquini, who was born in Brasília and now lives in Berkeley, California, was mentored by legendary Brazilian composer Guinga. He went on to study at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley and immediately after graduating joined the faculty there. He is also on the faculty at California Brazil Camp, alongside musical legends including Ivan Lins, Guinga, Chico Pinheiro, and Spok. Ian has become one of the most unique and respected guitar players in the San Francisco Bay Area, with his distinct compositional style and harmonic sense. He is also a brilliant accompanist, which has made him an in-demand collaborator with vocalists in the Bay Area and beyond.

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Charles Wheal walked into a bar in Blacksburg Virginia to hear Muddy Waters' old guitar player "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin light up the stage. That night, he went back to his apartment, picked up his roommate's acoustic guitar, and hasn't been without one since.

A few years later, he moved to London to pursue a career in global finance, but his passion for playing won out. Following in the footsteps of other English musicians steeped in the blues, from Peter Green to Stevie Winwood, Charles came back to America to delve deeper into the heart of the music he felt compelled to play.

After an apprenticeship in the historic clubs of Chicago, Charles was pulled further westward, to one of the epicenters of the contemporary Blues scene--San Francisco. Wheal got the call from harmonica player Mark Hummel to fill the guitar chair in his band. He played on all of Hummel's releases since then, including three Harmonica Meltdown CDs (Mountaintop) and Hummel's Electro-Fi CDs, "Golden State Blues", "Blowing My Horn", and "Ain't Easy no More". Over the years, Wheal has played with a virtual who's-who of blues greats, including James Cotton, Snooky Pryor, Sam Myers, Joe Beard, Steve Freund, Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds), Rod Piazza, Rick Estrin (Rick Estrin & The Nightcats), James Harman, Paul Delay, Jerry Portnoy, Lee Oskar, Magic Dick, Huey Lewis, Jody Williams, Jr Watson, Billy Branch, Curtis Salgado, Maria Muldaur, Bob Margolin, Anson Funderburgh, Cal Valentine, Detroit Jr, Barrelhouse Chuck, Billy Boy Arnold, and of course Mark Hummel. For almost a decade, he anchored Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors, playing with some of the greatest musicians of their generations, criss-crossing North America and Europe to packed halls, and playing festivals and clubs to dedicated fans of blues and jazz from around the world.

In October of 2006, Wheal decided it was time to devote his energy to his own band. Charles and his band can be found playing at all of the best Bay Area clubs, providing a mix of Chicago, Texas, and West coast blues that gets crowds on their feet and keeps them there.

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Whether you're a guitarist, instrumentalist, vocalist, enthusiast, or simply seeking to deepen your knowledge and appreciation of great music, this masterclass series is a priceless opportunity to learn directly from some of the greats of our time. Sign up for one or all and garner the diverse wealth of knowledge and experience these legends will be sharing. Open to all ages and levels of experience.

This month the featured artist is Bruce Forman. Forman is a seasoned jazz player with top-level skills as a leader, entertainer and sideman. He creates soulful, lyrical melodies, inventive harmonies, and solid accompaniment. Though he can shred bebop at blistering tempos with the best of ‘em, he is no urban snob. Cow Bop, Forman’s unique “western bebop” band, hit four separate charts with its CDs, Swingin’ Out West, Route 66, Too Hick for the Room and Cowlifornia Swing. Having won the Route 66 Challenge three times with Cow Bop, he created a linear music festival in 2013 at USC Thornton, called Music Licks on 66, establishing a new paradigm for touring and the use of social media, included in a mentoring model that is both innovative and collaborative.

Reserve your spot at Boss Guitars Master Class Series: Bruce Forman

Flamenco is an artistic expression fusing song (cante), dance (baile) and musicianship (toque). Andalusia in southern Spain is the heartland of Flamenco, although it also has roots in regions such as Murcia and Extremadura. Cante is the vocal expression of flamenco, sung by men and women, preferably seated, with no backing singers. The gamut of feelings and states of mind – grief, joy, tragedy, rejoicing and fear – can be expressed through sincere, expressive lyrics characterized by brevity and simplicity. Flamenco baile is a dance of passion, courtship, expressing a wide range of situations ranging from sadness to joy. The technique is complex, differing depending on whether the performer is male (heavier use of the feet) or female (gentler, more sensual movements). Toque or the art of guitar playing has long surpassed its original role as accompaniment. Other instruments, including castanets, hand-clapping and foot-stamping are also employed. Flamenco is performed during religious festivals, rituals, church ceremonies and at private celebrations. It is the badge of identity of numerous communities and groups, in particular the Gitano (Roma) ethnic community, which has played an essential role in its development. Transmission occurs through dynasties, families, social groups and Flamenco clubs, all of which play a key role in its preservation and dissemination.

Featuring Jesse Torres on Guitar, Carola Zertuche dance, Mizuho Sato dance, Pirouz Ebadyour canta. Mizuho Sato dance, Damien Alvarez dance. Join us for an incredible evening!

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An all-star quartet that brings together four of the busiest and most formidable musicians in the region, the Realtime Collective is a group that lives in the moment, exalting in an onstage communion forged by countless gigs in every imaginable setting and combination.

On piano and vocals, Tammy L. Hall is a consummate accompanist whose command of gospel, jazz, soul and classical music infuse everything she plays.

Ruth Davies has been the bassist of choice for blues legends for decades. She’s recorded with the likes of John Lee Hooker, Charles Brown, Taj Mahal and Elvin Bishop.

On saxophones and vocals, Kristen Strom has recorded a series of albums displaying her ravishing tenor tone and gift for writing tunes that combine harmonic sophistication and burnished lyricism.

Drummer Sylvia Cuenca rounds out the combo, bringing three decades of New York seasoning to the stage. Employed by jazz legends like Joe Henderson, Clark Terry and Michael Brecker, she’s concentrated on leading her own bands in recent years (but still answers the call from revered veterans).

Tickets at Realtime Collective

As part of his ongoing residency, Jules Leyhe will be appearing with two other GREAT guitarists: Mike Schermer and John Del Toro Richardson. The trio is known as The Guitarsonists.

Jules is one of the world’s foremost blues slide-guitar players—so much so that even Premier Guitar magazine called his music “the best blues slide licks since Derek Trucks, maybe even Duane Allman.” His band is also top-notch - featuring Ian McArldle on paino, Isaac Schwartz on drums and renowned bassist Matt Roades.

Mighty Mike Schermer has been touring and recording for well over 30 years with such legendary figures as Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Marcia Ball, Bonnie Raitt, Maria Muldaur, Howard Tate, Angela Strehli and many more. He has also carved out a solid solo career, releasing 8 critically acclaimed albums and garnering a ton of attention for his songwriting in particular. Schermer’s songs have been covered by blues award recipients Tommy Castro, Billy Price and the late Frank Bey to name just a few. His autobiographical single “My Big Sister’s Radio” was recently hand-picked by none other than Bruce Springsteen to be included in The Boss’s “From My House to Yours” on Sirius/XM’s and is now in regular rotation! His songs and albums have been nominated for multiple awards and he has performed in all 50 US States and 25 countries around the world in a journey that is far from over.

Jonn Del Toro Richardson grew up around Houston, Texas, and you can hear it in every note he sings and plays. You can hear the Latin music that is his birthright and the influence of the country and R&B music that was played in his house, and particularly the blues that drifted strongly over his grandparents’ backyard fence from the next neighborhood and took hold with Jonn to be the centerpiece of his musical identity. John has performed with many of his blues heroes, like Albert King and Otis Taylor. Blessed with a blistering axe and killer vocal chops with considerable soul and range, Richardson brings a “Big Ole” slab of smoking modern Texas swagger and swing to his stage performances.

Tickets at Jules Leyhe with The Guitarsonists

The Sound Room will be hosting a Private Event on this date.

Following their sold-out Stevie Wonder Reimagined and Prince Reimagined shows, Jazz Mafia returns with a new project exploring the music of The Beatles through a modern lens. Helmed by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Otis McDonald and featuring Jazz Mafia’s core acoustic ensemble, the show reframes the band’s legendary catalog with fresh grooves, inventive arrangements, and unexpected musical backdrops.

What might The Beatles sound like if they were an emerging band today?

Otis McDonald – vocals, guitar, keys Mike Olmos – trumpet Tommy Occhiuto – sax Adam Theis – trombone Colin Hogan – keys Josh Thurston Milgrom – upright bass Henry Plumb – drums

Jazz Mafia is a wrecking crew of musicians, composers, and producers whose music, media, and curated experiences shape tastes and elevate the community. In the year 2000, trombonist, bassist, composer, arranger, and producer Adam Theis co-founded Jazz Mafia – an eclectic artist collective of forward-thinking and accomplished players in Electro, Hip-Hop, World, Classical, and Jazz. Jazz Mafia is a prolific staple of the quintessential San Francisco sound, uniting creative and accomplished Bay Area instrumentalists, vocalists, MCs, composers, and arrangers.

Tickets at Jazz Mafia: The Beatles Reimagined with Otis McDonald

The Sound Room is proud to team up with The Oakland Magic Circle to bring you an evening of wonder and fun! As adults , we often lose our sense of wonder - that feeling of awe and pure joy. But this show will help bring that back!

The Oakland Magic Circle (OMC) was founded in 1925 by magicians Lloyd Jones, E.J. Battle (El Tab), R.S. Bailey, and Blue W. Williams. The club’s purpose was to bring together people interested in all forms of magic. OMC recently held a Stage Magic Contest and we are proud to bring you some of the winners as well as the current President of the club.

Performing this evening are:

Germar (aka Gerardo Martinez) performs feats of magic and illusions. He has won first prize in contests of stage and close up magic 11 times and is the Past President of The Society of American Magicians in the Bay Area.

Jake Berg is an award winning mentalist who blurs the line between reality and illusion. He has performed nationwide for celebrities and Fortune 500 companies, delivering an interactive, mind-bending show that astonishes from start to finish. You’ll leave questioning where the trick ends and reality begins.

Michael Nguyen is a magician known for his captivating visual magic that appeals to all audiences. A classically trained, award-winning performer, he is a graduate of the Chavez Studio of Magic, specializing in prestidigitation and dexterity. He is the current President of The Oakland Magic Circle.

Tickets at Mystery, Magic & Mirth

In the mood for a good true story? How about five? Look no further.

Pretty Good Stories is… …stand-up for artsy people …entertaining oversharing …deep dives into moments that shape our lives, both small and large …all coupled with some live music to smooth the edges.

Please join us at the Sound Room (note: excellent food and drink). We are thrilled to bring you true-life stories from Diane Amos, Kimberlli Joy Walker, Craig Byrne, and ourselves, as well as original songs from Jon Smear. It’s a packed show, and we’re looking forward to it.

At Pretty Good Stories, Hosts Beau Ryder Davis and Tom Darci bring you a selection of the best storytellers from the Bay Area and beyond to present true stories in longer form. Come sink in to these stories that make you laugh, cry, and feel connection to all that makes us human. Plus, there’s music.

About our guests:

Diane Amos: Diane is a stand-up comedian, actress in film and television, and one of the most recognizable brand spokespeople in television history. In that role, she has become a trusted cultural icon while redefining authority, confidence, and representation in American advertising. If you’ve ever heard her voice and instantly felt like things were about to get handled… that’s Diane. Today, storytelling is where her heart truly lives. Diane’s stories are funny, insightful, deeply human, and often unexpected—pulled from lived experience, cultural observation, and a lifetime of being both seen and heard on stages large and small.

Kimberlli Joy Walker: Kimberlli Joy has been weaving the truth into humorous stories for as long as she can remember. She is a familiar face at Redwood Nights Storytelling under the Stars and has entertained audiences at In a Nutshell, StorySlam Oakland, About Last Night, and The Marsh. She was also the co-host of the Gem Tales podcast.

Craig Byrne: Craig has been tearing up the story scene with his unique approach and take on life ever since discovering public storytelling in 2021. He has graced the stages of Simply Said, The Moth, StorySlam Oakland and Alameda StorySlam. He is also in the process of setting up his own open mic storytelling experience at A Great Good Place for Books in Oakland.

Jon Smear: Jon is a singer songwriter with many performances and recordings to his name. He brings us songs that tell stories from his unique vantage point, lightening the evening and giving us all a welcome reset between stories.

About your hosts:

Beau Ryder Davis: Moth Grand Slam champ and winner of multiple Moth StorySLAMs. Featured at Redwood Nights, In A Nutshell, Simply Said, StorySlam Oakland, Alameda StorySlam and so many more. Comedian and seasoning-packet hawker.

Tom Darci: Moth StorySLAM winner. Featured at Simply Said, StorySlam Oakland, Conundrum Chronicles, Alameda StorySlam. Shakespeare lover, pickleballer.

They created Pretty Good Stories to give the room for experienced storytellers to showcase longer, more in-depth stories. Some are funny. Some are moving. All are pretty good. Join us.

Tickets at Pretty Good Stories

Marcus Shelby and his Sextet return to the Sound Room to present “Conversation: The Language of Charles Mingus”. The program will include rarely performed Mingus compositions, excerpts from “Beneath the Underdog”, film clips, and commentary by bandleader and bassist Marcus Shelby.

Charles Mingus was one of the most influential and prolific composers and bassists in the history of American music. His music was a critical part of the of the Civil Rights movement, fusing lyrics, chants, and shouts with inventive and layered melodies. His harmonic language reflected a piercing mood that was an extension of his colorful character and personality often under attack by racism and social injustices. “Conversation: The Language of Charles Mingus” includes rarely performed Mingus compositions written between 1950-1960, excerpts and other writings by Mingus, and archival film clips providing listeners with a powerful deep dive into the creative life of one of the greatest artists of the 20th Century.

Marcus Shelby Sextet

Darren Johnston (trumpet)

Tony Peebles (alto)

Danny Lubin- Laden (trombone)

Greg Jacobs (piano)

Jemal Ramirez (drums)

Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz upright bassist, composer, bandleader, pianist & author. He is considered one of the greatest jazz musicians and composers in history with a career spanning three decades and collaborations with other jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Max Roach & Eric Dolphy. Mingus's work ranged from advanced bebop and avant garde with small and mid size ensembles to pioneering the post-bop style and pioneering the progressive big band experiments.

Tickets at Marcus Shelby Group presents the music of Charles Mingus

Like hotcakes themselves, the music Spike’s Awesome Hotcakes plays goes by many names. Soul. Swing. Rhythm & Blues. Jazz. Jump. It’s a sound that’s classic and simple, but when it’s done right, it hits the spot, and has you grinning from ear to ear.

Spike grew up in El Paso, TX, studied jazz at The University of North Texas, started The Spike Band in 2004, recorded three albums with them, joined the Coast Guard in 2008, continued playing music wherever he was stationed (Maine, NorCal, and New Orleans), and formed Awesome Hotcakes in 2014. Some of  his  biggest influences include Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Van Morrison, Cleanhead Vinson, Gatemouth Brown, Lightnin Hopkins and Albert Ayler. Spike likes his coffee cold, black, and made with chicory.

From the Texas blues joints he cut his teeth in to the funky halls of New Orleans, he was always studying the music, trying to find just the right recipe. It makes perfect sense that he found his bandmates in Sonoma County, a music scene that has fostered many eclectic artists for decades.

What he didn’t know was how hungry audiences were for “this kind of music.” You might say they’ve been eating it up like…Hotcakes!

Tickets at Spike Sikes & His Awesome Hotcakes

A Rising Star!
Trombonist, composer, and educator Eli Howell was born in Los Angeles, California. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State University in 2023 and his Masters Degree in 2025 as a graduate assistant to Guggenheim Fellow Michael Dease. He has been recognized as a two time finalist for the International Trombone Festival Jazz Competition, American Trombone Workshop Jazz Competition and led the award winning MSU Jazz Trombone ensemble who won the 2024 Kai Winding Jazz Ensemble Competition.

Eli has had the pleasure of performing all over the world in amazing venues such as The Hollywood Bowl, Birdland Jazz Club, the Detroit Jazz Festival, the Chengdu International Music Festival and many more. He has collaborated with amazing musicians such as Christian McBride, Kurt Elling, Lewis Nash, Steve Davis, Renee Rosnes, Gerald Clayton, Bob James, Ulysses Owens Jr., Bill Cundliffe, and Walter Blanding Jr.

Along with being an accomplished player, he is an award winning composer and arranger. On April 10th, Eli released his debut record entitled ‘Steps Taken’ which features an all star cast of Downbeat and Grammy award winning musicians.  Come hear this rising star now!.

Tickets at Eli Howell Group

Whether you're a guitarist, instrumentalist, vocalist, enthusiast, or simply seeking to deepen your knowledge and appreciation of great music, this masterclass series is a priceless opportunity to learn directly from some of the greats of our time. Sign up for one or all and garner the diverse wealth of knowledge and experience these legends will be sharing. Open to all ages and levels of experience.

This month the featured artist is Jackeline Rago. Jackeline Rago is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer and educator who specializes in Venezuelan Folk-Music as well as music from other countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Jackeline Rago is the artistic and musical director of the "Venezuelan Music Project" and a founding member of the"VNote Ensemble", bands which she travels and performs with in an ongoing basis. She was also a founding member of “Altazor” (Nueva Canción ensemble),” Wild Mango” (world beat music), “Keith Terry & Crosspulse” (world percussion) and “Trio Altamira” (contemporary Latin American music).

Just recently, Rago received the “Award of Excellence in Music“ given by the Mission Cultural Center for the Latino Arts in its 30th Anniversary, in San Francisco, CA. Additionally, Jackeline is a recipient of awards and grants from the Rockefeller Foundation, California Arts Council, Meet the Composer/Readers Digest Commissioning Program, The National Endowment for the Arts, the Lila Wallace Readers Digest Foundation and AIM (Adventures in Music program sponsored by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra). Furthermore, Rago was an Artist in Residence of the State of California from 1989 to 2001.

Reserve your spot at Boss Guitars Master Class Series: Jackeline Rago