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

Dave Tull returns to The Sound Room with his celebrated humor and heartfelt jazz vocals. Don't miss this rare Bay Area appearance!

Dave Tull has long been known as one of the world’s finest jazz drummers and has also built a reputation as a premiere jazz singer and songwriter. Singing from the drums, Dave brings to the stage a rare combination of joyous songwriting, world-class jazz singing and drumming. Think “Frishberg meets Gershwin”. Dave’s songs have been called both “laugh out loud funny” and inspiring of “soul searching and introspection”, propelling “Texting and Driving” to #5 on the Billboard Jazz Chart, and #3 on the Billboard Comedy Chart in the same week, and 23 weeks on the JazzWeek chart!

When not leading his own trio, Dave is one of the busiest drummers on the scene. In 2016 Dave became the drummer for Barbra Streisand and has played five tours with Streisand including at Madison Square Garden in July 2019, and on Barbra’s GRAMMY NOMINATED live Netflix concert video, “Barbra". Dave toured from 2000-2010 as drummer and lead vocalist for Chuck Mangione. Dave’s vocal on Mangione’s “The Children of Sanchez” and his bebop scat vocal on “Dizzymiles” were featured at the Playboy Jazz Festival at Hollywood Bowl and The Blue Note in New York City. Dave toured and recorded two CD’s with Maynard Ferguson, 1987-91.

Dave plays drums on four of Michael Bublé’s CD’s including Bublé’s notable version of “Moondance”. Dave has played drums on the FOX TV show “Family Guy” and on the recent series of Pixar shorts, "Forky Asks A Question". Dave is the drummer on nine of Cheryl Bentyne’s (of the Manhattan Transfer) CD’s and has done six tours of Japan with Bentyne. Dave sings on two tracks of her CD “Moonlight Serenade” including a scat solo on the song “Tull Tales”, named after Dave! Dave wrote the vocalese lyric for Bentyne’s “All of You” for her 2009 Cole Porter Songbook CD. Dave played with Jack Sheldon’s Quartet and Big Band from 1991 until Jack’s recent passing and on Jack's 2007 CD, “Listen Up”.

Vocally, Tull is more jazzer than pure crooner—think Dave Frishberg, or, perhaps Scatman supreme, Giacomo Gates. He's got solid pipes that invite. His vocal dexterity and word-work is hand-glove with the material throughout. You can't help but really like this Cat.

All About Jazz

Tickets at Dave Tull Trio

Jazz saxophonist and composer Dennis Mitcheltree has just released his 7th album, "Holding Space", on Sifting Paradigm Records. Mitcheltree is a mainstay of the tenor saxophone, having been based in New York City from 1987-2007 and in Los Angeles from 2007 to the present.

Dennis has performed and recorded with masters of the jazz world: Clark Terry, Billy Taylor, George Cables, Bill Holman, Bob Moses, Jim McNeely, Howard Johnson, Gary Bartz, Kenny Werner, James Williams, Don Sickler, Charli Persip, Ronnie Matthews, Pete Yellin, Richie Cole, Bill Holman, Pete Christlieb, Doug Webb, Carl Saunders, Joe Labarbera, John Clayton, Christian Jacob and Bruce Forman along with contemporaries Uri Caine, Ingrid Jensen, Johannes Wallmann, Andy Milne and David Binney.

Mitcheltree was born and raised in Wisconsin, picking up the oboe and saxophone at age 12. He received a scholarship from Berklee College of Music where he graduated with a Magna cum Laude degree in Jazz Performance in 1987. He is the Artistic Director for the American Music Group, widely known for the INFLUENCES series presented at Carnegie Hall, and an award-winning saxophonist and composer.

A former student of Joe Viola, Billy Pierce, Jim McNeely, George Garzone and Joe Lovano, Dennis is also a renowned jazz teacher and clinician of jazz improvisation, harmony, composition and saxophone/woodwinds. He teaches privately and as a guest artist/clinician/lecturer at universities and jazz education programs worldwide.

Dennis Mitcheltree - tenor saxophone

Adam Klipple - piano

Jesse Crawford - bass

Bill McClellan - drums

"...the saxophonist is aggressively adventurous and most expressive...Mitcheltree evokes hearty tones from his instrument as he masterfully interweaves unexpected lines to create fascinating sound tapestries at any tempo."
Nancy Ann Lee, Jazz Times

"Mitcheltree's quartet is definitely hard-core NYC: tough sounding, aggressive, and complex. They swing hard, even at midtempo, as though all of them were percussionists, which infectiously pulls the listener into their complex conversations."
Dave McElfresh, Jazz Now

Tickets at Dennis Mitcheltree Quartet

If you are a fan of Latin Jazz, this is a DON'T MISS EVENT!

EL TREN - A Latin jazz tribute to pop music! With Laura Bravo, Ahkeel Mestayer & Emilio Dávalos

A night of contemporary Latin jazz arrangements of well known popular music songs thru the decades, including compositions by Stevie Wonder, Sade, John Legend, the Beatles among others.
For the past 20 years Saúl Sierra has been a member of some of the leading bands in the Bay Area, including The John Santos Quintet/Sextet, Bobi Cespedes’ band, Dr. Loco’s Rocking Jalapeño Band, El Tren Trío, Anthony Blea y su Charanga, The Snake Trío, Jesús Díaz y su QBA, The Bay Area Afro-Cuban All Stars, The Venezuelan Music Project, Corazón Sur, Sababa band, Cascada de Flores, SJZ Collective, LaTiDo.

Saul is joined by a team of exquisite musicians.

Marco Diaz is an accomplished recording musician who has shared the stage with Grammy Award winning artist, Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Nelson Gonzales, Jimmy Bosch, Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez, Ska Cubano (Europe), Tito Rojas, Nino Segarra, Anthony Cruz, Anthony Blea, Jovino Santos Neto, Joe Santiago, and is an integral member of the John Santos sextet, and the musical director for Bobi Cespedes.

Julio Pérez and Emilio Davalos on percussion are two of the most sought after musicians in the Latin Jazz world. They bring an infectious Afro-Cuban backbeat.

Ahkeel Mestayer is a percussionist and ethnomusicologist from San Francisco. His research and performance interests are Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian music. Ahkeel has traveled across Europe and Latin America performing and is a voting member of the Grammy Academy.

Laura Bravo is an accomplished singer and vocal coach rooted in the Bay Area’s diverse musical community. A 2021 NAAM Show performer, Laura's passion for music began early in her native Peru, cultivated through formal training in Vocal Performance at El Museo de Arte from ages 12 through 17. Since arriving in San Francisco in 2009, Laura has graced numerous stages, lending her versatile voice to a wide range of musical genres, from traditional Peruvian music to the infectious sounds of salsa and cumbia.

Tickets at Saul Sierra, Marco Diaz & Julio Perez present EL TREN

Daniel Harris III – trumpeter, composer, and bandleader from Stockton, California is best known for his dynamic sound, leadership, and transformational performances featuring his original compositions. With the release of his Debut Alum “Ubuntu” sets the foundation for his bright future as an artist.

Beyond performance, Harris is the Founder and CEO of KnowMedium, an independent record label, publishing house, and creative company dedicated to uplifting multi-disciplinary art and cultivating community through concerts, jam sessions, and events. As a producer and leader, he is equally committed to developing the next generation of mentoring musicians while continuing to innovate and refine his own artistry.

Daniel's achievements include the Woody Herman Jazz Award, being named the inaugural recipient of the California Alliance for Jazz Black Lives Matter Scholarship, and a recipient of the Bay Area Jazz and Blues Young Artist Award. These distinctions highlight both his artistic excellence and his commitment to cultural expression and cohesion.

Completing his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a Global Jazz Studies major at the Herb Alpert School of Music, Daniel continues to refine and showcase his voice on the trumpet that is as bold as it is soulful, carrying forward the legacies of jazz while innovating its future.

Tickets at Daniel Harris III

If you are a blues fan, it doesn't get any better than this!!!

Take some influence from B.B. King, Albert King, Ray Charles, and a pinch of Albert Collins. Add in dazzling blues and jazz guitar chops, a rich soulful baritone vocal delivering original, often wry and beleaguered lyrics with sophisticated chord changes and instrumentation, and skills on various horns and keyboards, all delivered with an uptown cool that never lacks searing passion. It all adds up to the one and only Chris Cain, who has gone from being a newcomer phenomenon bursting onto the blues scene in 1987 with a classic debut release, to being a legend, inspiration and long-established member of the blues pantheon.

His jazz-informed blues guitar playing is fiery, emotional and always unpredictable. His vocals—gruff, lived-in and powerful—add fuel to the fire. His indelible original songs keep one foot in the blues tradition and both eyes on the future. The pure joy Cain brings to his playing and singing is palpable, and draws fans even closer in.

"Hands down my favorite blues player on the scene today. He’s an absolute blinder of a guitarist, with the voice of B.B. King and the chops of Albert King." –Joe Bonamassa

"Chris Cain? Now that boy can PLAY the guitar!" –B.B. King

"Chris Cain is a hot-shot guitarist and a singer with the maturity of blues masters like Bobby Bland and B.B. King." –The Washington Post

Tickets at Chris Cain

Oakland Samba Revue is the San Francisco Bay Area’s premiere banda de gafieira. Featuring a full horn section with tightly crafted original arrangements featuring 3 vocalists, O.S.R. draws on the sounds of samba de gafieira; an eclectic form of traditional samba from Brazil. O.S.R.’s unique brand of samba de gafieira includes heavy does of jazz, funk, forró, bolero and more.

O.S.R. is a product of Grupo Falso Baiano co-founder Brain Moran (guitar/cavaquinho/vocals and arrangements), backed by a rotating cast of some of the Bay Area’s best jazz and latin jazz musicians including vocalists/percussionists Catia Machado Lund and Katiana Vilá, Zack Pitt-Smith (reeds), Erik Jekabson and Henry Hung (trumpets), Jeff Cressman and Remee Ashley (trombones), Brendan Neutra (bass), Zack Mondlick and Sylvia Cuenca (drums).

Tickets at Oakland Samba Revue

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.

Tickets at Agua Clara Flamenco

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.

Tickets at Jules Leyhe & The Family Jules with Adam Levy

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!

When this band gets together with Aki Kumar, magic happens! Aki's harmonica playing and bluesy vocals are like a powder keg igniting everyone in the room. Get ready to shake, rattle and roll for this fun event.

"Kumar is on the cutting-edge of blues today. He is highly respectful of blues traditions, yet understands how to interpret it in innovative ways. I think we will look back in 20 years and realize we witnessed something very special in the evolution of the blues." Michael Kinsman, San Diego Blues Festival

Tickets at Jules Leyhe & The Family Jules with Aki Kumar

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.

Each show there is a theme. The theme this month is Shady! You can tell any story that touches on the theme 'Shady' -- whatever that means to you.

Put your name in the hat when you come in, for a chance to be picked to tell your story. Remember, open-mic stories must be 5 to 6 minutes or less, no notes and no reading allowed. Just tell it like you’re telling friends around a dinner table.

Tickets to Story Slam Oakland: Shady

Now entering its second year, Jazz Mafia’s Monthly Residency has become a laboratory for magic—unexpected collaborations, long-awaited reunions, spontaneous experiments that somehow turn into fan favorites, and the kind of once-in-a-room moments that help define the Bay Area scene.

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. Twenty five years in the making, Jazz Mafia is a prolific staple of the quintessential San Francisco sound, uniting creative and accomplished Bay Area instrumentalists, vocalists, MCs, composers, and arrangers.

This event featuring The Hogan Brothers and Jazz Mafia Horns: Daniel Casares & Adam Theis

Herbert Jeffrey Hancock is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the post-bop sound. In the 1970s, Hancock experimented with jazz fusion, funk, and electro styles.

Hancock recorded Hancock “Head Hunters” in 1973 and “Thrust” in 1974 in San Francisco. “Thrust” is celebrated for its fusion of jazz complexity with funk grooves and heavy backbeats, while “Head Hunters” revolutionized jazz fusion with its innovative sound. These albums have profoundly impacted the careers of the musicians involved and are beloved by Herbie’s audiences. If any crew can pull off this celebration of Herbie Hancock’s legacy, it’s this one. Join us for an evening of vibrant and innovative music!

Tickets at Jazz Mafia celebrate the music of Herbie Hancock

THE COTTONTAILS are one of San Francisco's most exciting musical groups, playing a wide range of styles ranging from 20'/30's jazz torch songs, classic 40's swing, and 50's R&B. Made up of local Bay Area luminaries in their own right The Cottontails are Karina Deniké on vocals, Michael McIntosh on piano, Vic Wong on guitar, Joe Kyle, Jr. on bass, Tom Griesser on saxophone/clarinet, and the irrepressible Randy Odell on percussion.

San Francisco's darling Karina Deniké is a versatile, sought after vocalist, songwriter, collaborator and band leader who moves fluidly from intimate torch song chanteuse to soul singer, to punk powerhouse. "Deniké possesses a voice so rich and luxuriant she sounds like she was born to sing any song that comes her way". (KQED’s California Report). Deniké has released over 30 albums as solo artist, band member or guest, been on major and independent labels: ( MCA, Warner/Discovery, Fat Wreck Chords, MoonSka, 510, Pink and Black, Portofranco, Hellcat), toured extensively worldwide, had her work on soundtracks and countless compilations. She is known for her work in SF Bay Area groups: Dance Hall Crashers, Stara Nova, Jezebelle among others, and is a current recording and performing member of bands NOFX , her own self- titled sextet “Karina Denike”, The Cottontails, The Bluebelles, Red Room Orchestra, Marc and The Casuals and recently sang and toured with Hope Sandoval ( Mazzy Star) and the Warm Inventions for their 2017 release.

Deniké and her solo band have performed in New York, Los Angeles, at dOCUMENTA 13 arts festival in Kassel Germany, London and Japan and locally have been presented by SF Jazz, The Flower Pianos series, the centennial celebration of SF City Hall, Noise-pop, The Contemporary Jewish Museum, Undercover Presents as musical director for ‘Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 revisited’ among others. Her acclaimed 2015 solo release "Under Glass" was named one of the TOP 10 JAZZ ALBUMS of 2015 -by KQED, and her song Musee Mecanique was on the 2016 compilation by Fat Wreck Chords.

"In my humble opinion, she’s probably got one of the most powerful, virtuosic voices around and a vocal delivery that’s JUST SEXY. You really have to see her live to know what I mean." - Missionmission.com

Tickets at Karina Deniké & The CottonTails

Be Prepared for a Spellbound Evening!

Drawing upon timeless influences such as Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Horn and Helen Merrill, Suzanna Smith infuses songs with a style that’s pure, unadorned and soulfully subtle.

"There are relatively few contemporary female vocalists who evoke Peggy Lee, at least not genuinely. Suzanna Smith numbers among that rare ilk. That Smith sounds like Lee — slightly breathy and warmly sensual with a hint of huskiness — is undeniable, but the parallels extend much further. Lee’s ability to not just caress a ballad but smother it in mink has seldom been matched. She was also a sage swinger — never too much, never too little — as well as a first-rate songwriter. Smith checks all those boxes." — Christopher Louden, Jazz Times

A San Francisco-based pianist, composer, arranger and producer, Lee Bloom has worked with a variety of creative artists in many genres including MADELEINE PEYROUX, PETE ESCOVEDO, HAL STEIN, MARY STALLINGS, JONATHAN PORETZ, TODD PHILLIPS, STEVE HECKMAN, JAMIE DAVIS, DAN HICKS, among others. As a composer, Lee attempts to synthesize varied influences – from Bud Powell, Ahmad Jamal, and Wayne Shorter to Modernist Architecture, Vaudeville, Floyd Cramer and TV sitcoms. Lee is unique in the jazz world in that he comes to music with a parallel passion for architecture, design and the visual arts.

Smith & Bloom co-direct the Peggy Lee Project, a collective dedicated to exploring the repertoire of Peggy Lee as both singer and lyricist. In 2022, The Peggy Lee Project was featured in the 39th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival as part of SFJAZZ’s Centennial Celebration of Peggy Lee.

Spencer Grey is one of America's leading magicians. He is an award-winning magician and mentalist who has performed across the country and globe. He has entertined at top venues from Vegas to Dubai and for small audiences to huge crowds. His close-up magic and mind reading will mesemrize you. Known for his warm, interactive style, Spencer blends humor and amazement to create an engaging experience for audiences of all ages. He has performed at the world famous Magic Castle and enjoys sharing his passion for magic and laughter.

Spencer was absolutely wonderful at our corporate happy hour! We had team members dragging colleagues to see his next trick and following him around the room. I heard nothing but RAVE reviews from the team! Salesforce Senior Exec

Tickets at Jazz with Suzanna Smith & Lee Bloom wit Magic & Mentalism from Spencer Grey

The Jazz Therapists are a group of seven stellar Bay Area musicians who have been playing pre-1945 American Jazz treasures together since 2015. It's a strange fact that one of the best working jazz bands on the San Francisco Bay area scene can't be seen in nightclubs, restaurants, theaters, or concert halls – UNTIL NOW!

Boasting an illustrious cast of musicians who have performed and recorded with a dizzying array of talent, from Ray Charles and Taj Mahal, to Pharaoh Saunders and Bobby Hutcherson, to Kenny Barron, and k.d. lang, to Calvin Keyes and Julian Priester, The Jazz Therapists only play for exclusive audiences. Three days a week they can be found, performing at assisted living facilities and senior centers, delivering a potent dose of healing swing to listeners who grew up hearing and dancing to these standards.

Vocalist and former jazz club proprietor Anna de Leon says, " We all love this music and bringing it to seniors is a high calling!" Joining one of the Bay Area's busiest sidemen, drummer David Rokeach, are guitarist Rob Schwartz, pianist Ben Stolorow and first-call bassist Mark Heshima Williams. Trombonist and ace arranger Mike Rinta, who earned a 2014 Grammy award with the Pacific Mambo Orchestra, supplies the majority of the charts. Mike and tenor sax player Lincoln Adler were featured in the horn section of Taj Mahal's acclaimed recent "Savoy" album. The fact that the rhythm section is anchored by the blues and gospel steeped guitarist Rob Schwartz, enhances the combo's family feel.

Behind this singular band was a singular man, Rob's father, Bob Schwartz (1925–2017), a saxophone player and Oakland community leader. Born in Chicago, Bob was a jazz lover who spent his college years playing clarinet and tenor sax in a 15 piece jazz band he organized as an undergraduate at MIT. After joining the Navy and serving in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, he settled in Oakland in 1951 where he founded a successful electronics company and supported local cultural institutions.

Bob didn't return to playing music until his mid 80s, when a jazz pianist moved in next- door. Hearing him practice inspired Bob, a restlessly creative philanthropist, to pick up his horn again and they started playing every Saturday. Instead of remaining a garage band hobby, this rekindled love of playing soon turned into a new vehicle for improving the quality of people's lives. Bob formed a band. A neighbor walking by during rehearsal invited the band to perform at a senior center, where she had been an activities coordinator.

Bob also formed a nonprofit corporation to bring this great music to seniors. His goal was to stir memories and to re-engage seniors with life and with each other. Before long, the therapists were in session. Bob named the band and shared his jazz therapy with needy seniors. After his passing, Bob's daughter Margot, who is a professional violinist herself, now ensures that the band can continue Bob's mission. Thanks to Bob Schwartz and his family, it's a calling that The Jazz Therapists continue to answer. You can listen to their new CD at TheJazzTherapists.org

Tickets at The Jazz Therapists

Edu Ribeiro - drums

Vinicius Gomes - guitar

Noah Garabedian - bass

Musician, drummer, composer, and teacher, Edu Ribeiro has 5 Grammy Awards as composer,producer, and instrumentalist. His latest personal work is the creation of the Edu Ribeiro Trio, which began in January 2022 and has already been receiving critical acclaim. He is a core member of the group Trio Corrente, and has performed and recorded with Luciana Souza, João Bosco, and Randy Brecker to name a few. Tonight the trio will be performing original music from their debut album, Caipora, featuring Seamus Blake, on Blaxtream Records.

São Paulo born and New York based guitarist/composer, Vinicius Gomes explores the dialogue between modern jazz and Brazilian music. Vinicius haso performed with artists such as Ambrose Akinmusire, Billy Childs, Dave Liebman, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Guillermo Klein, Julian Lage, Norma Winstone, John Hollenbeck, Jim Black and many others. With the Focus Year Band Vinicius won the 2019 Keep An Eye Award in Amsterdam. He has been performing extensively in Europe, Latin America and the U.S.

Bass player and composer Noah Garabedian has performed and toured with numerous artists including Ravi Coltrane, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Andy Milne, and Kris Davis. Noah is a 2022 Calouste Gulbenkian In View Grant recipient; 2021 Fellow for Creative Armenia/AGBU; 2022 and 2016 Fulbright Specialist Grant recipient; 2011 ISB Double Bass Competition finalist; 2007 finalist for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz graduate program; 2006 John Coltrane National Scholarship recipient. Additionally he is a two-time Arts Envoy Grant recipient with the US State Department where he performed and taught throughout Asia and the Middle East. As a composer and bandleader Noah released his latest quartet album, “Consider The Stars Beneath Us,” in October 2022, on Outside In Music. He is also a part of the collective trio, Ember.

Tickets at Edu Ribeiro Trio

Friday the 13th! The perfect night for a Sinatra Show. Come hear about Sinatra's luck - with the ladies, the casinos, the mob, and more.

If you like music, tales and pizazz this is it. An amazing show of Sinatra's music - beautifully done - interspersed with tales about the real man behind the legend. And the tales are legendary - he was not just a suave, iconic crooner. Instead, he was a complex persona with some dark history.

Over the last five years, Chicago-native Jefferson Bergey has built a sustainable life by performing, educating, and creating music in the Bay Area. Bergey is a sought-after vocalist, M.C., and solo artist for Ivy Hill Entertainment. Now he’s taking on his most challenging musical costume yet, covering arguably the greatest singer of the 20th Century, Frank Sinatra. Sinatra may have been the greatest singer, but he was far from a perfect man. Bergey is pulling no punches as he tells sordid stories of the singer’s life against the musical backdrop of some of the best-known songs of the Great American Songbook.

Bergey will be backed by some of the best of the Bay Area including Andrew Dixon on tenor sax and all three of the incredible Hogan Brothers. Expect some very-special musical guests as well.

Tickets at Sinatra Saloon: A Tale & A Tune - All About Luck

What a band!!! Don't Miss This!

Join us as this ALL STAR group puts on a clinic on the best of jazz!

Sylvia Cuenca is an outstanding drummer on the New York and SF Bay Area jazz scenes. She has had the honor of sharing the bandstand with saxophone legend Joe Henderson for 4 years and trumpet legend Clark Terry for 17 years. Cuenca has also performed with such jazz luminaries as Billy Taylor, Houston Person, Etta Jones, Kenny Barron, Randy Brecker, Eddie Henderson, John Handy, Gregory Porter, John Clayton, Ken Peplowski, Vincent Herring, Geoffrey Keezer,Ralph Moore, Jason Marsalis, Paula West, Allan Harris, Catherine Russell, Dianne Reeves, Dianne Schuur, Denise Donatelli, Ernestine Anderson, Jazzmeia Horn, Lea Delaria, and many others.

Rico Jones is one of the most accomplished saxophonists of his generation. In 2019, Rico Jones was awarded first prize in the Vandoren Emerging Artist competition, a testament to his exceptional talent and promise. Rico's impressive career has seen him share the stage with renowned artists such as Jeff "Tain" Watts, Cyrus Chestnut, Peter Washington, Joe Farnsworth, Sullivan Fortner, Victor Lewis, Philip Harper, Bobby Watson, Eric Harland, Vincent Herring, Terrence Blanchard, Veronica Swift, Eric Wyatt, Rich Perry, Matt Penman, Dan Weiss, Matt Clohesy, Peter Horvath, Sasha Berliner and many others.

Joel Behrman started playing trumpet and trombone at age 9. Joel’s latest ventures include touring with drumming superstar Sheila E and also with her father and Latin jazz legend Pete Escovedo. He has also just released a new staight ahead jazz album entitled “Steppin Back” on his own label. Joel has been a fixture in the Bay Area for 12 years. He is currently working with several local groups including the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, and the Glide Change Band. Joel also works regularly with Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, and former Tower of Power lead singer, Lenny Williams. He has also made appearances with such artists as Natalie Cole, Bobby McFerrin, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The O’Jays, Gladys Knight, Boz Scaggs, Etta James, Tony! Toni! Tone!, The Funk Brothers, Barry Manilow, and Josh Groban.

Pianist Matt Clark is a masterful artist who evolved from a child prodigy into a pillar of the San Francisco jazz scene. After his formal education at Ohio’s prestigious Oberlin Conservatory, Clark planted roots in the Bay Area and quickly became a first-call rhythm section player, working steadily with an impressive list of jazz heavyweights including Bobby Hutcherson, Marcus Shelby and Joshua Redman. In addition to his sparkling résumé as a sideman, he’s led a pair of sessions for the Elixir label that focus on the work of composer/arranger Ron Ermini, both featuring esteemed bassist John Shifflet and veteran drummer David Rokeach.

Essiet Okon Essiet first received critical acclaim more than a decade ago as a member of saxophonist Bobby Watson's post hard bop group Horizon He has long since established himself as one of the premier bassist. He has performed and recorded with such notables as James Moody, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Cedar Walton, Sam Rivers, George Adams, Pat Martino, Kenny Burrell, Jackie McLean, Frank Morgan, Kenny Barron, Louis Hayes, Ben Riley, Jimmy Cobb, Billy Higgins, Billy Hart, Art Farmer, Abby Lincoln, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Billy Cobham, Bennie Maupin, Steve Turre, Jon Faddis, Bobby Watson, Victor Lewis, Kenny Garrett, Kenny Kirkland, and Ralph Peterson to highlight only a partial list.

Tickets at Sylvia Cuenca Quintet

It's Wednesday Night and you need a break! Come with friends, test your skills, win prizes, and enjoy some great drinks and food. This evening is hosted by Chuck Butler (a local legend)! The Sound Room has great food, so come hungry, and there is a nice selection of beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks.

Come with a team and have FUN! Compete to answer general knowledge, history, music, and pop culture questions for prizes or bragging rights. Teams work together on answer sheets, and a host reads the questions, with scores tallied after each round and at the end of the event.
This is a recurring monthly event on the 2nd Wednesday so plan to join us regularly for Trivia and come on out for music on other nights.

Doors open at 6pm and the Quiz begins at 7pm!

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 Vernon ‘Ice’ Black. An accomplished guitarist and vocalist, Vernon Black spent most of the past 20 years touring, recording and film tracking with music legends like Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Chakka Kahn and Lionel Richie. More recently, he’s performed and recorded with contemporary artists including Ashanti, Mariah Carey, India Aire, Busta Rhymes and Celine Dion. His work can be heard in films like “The Bodyguard,” “License to Kill,” and “Beverly Hills Cop II;” in advertising jingles for Jaguar, Chevrolet, Toyota, Nissan, Mattel and Levi’s; and in songs and sound effects on video games for Sony Play Station, Nintendo, Sega and EA Sports (Electronic Arts). And at the Jimi Hendrix Festival at Bumbershoot Stadium in Seattle Washington he was the co-music director and opened the show with the legendary "Experience" (Jimi Hendrix’s original band) - Mitch Mitchell (drums) and Noel Redding (bass).

Reserve your spot here

Erik Jekabson's "Breakthrough" sextet plays music from his most recent album "Breakthrough". Erik has re-orchestrated the music (originally written for various size chamber groups including chamber orchestra) for an all-star sextet. Allmusic Guide has described the music as "a vibrant blend of influences from the glimmering, minimalist orchestrations of Philip Glass and John Adams to the moody, sunbaked atmospheres of Miles Davis and arranger Gil Evans' large-ensemble works" and it was one of the San Jose Mercury News' top jazz albums of 2025.

Erik Jekabson, trumpet, flugelhorn

Matt Renzi, woodwinds and saxophone

Dillon Vado, vibraphone

Dan Zemelman, piano

Dan Feiszli, bass

Jon Arkin, drums

Tickets at Erik Jekabson’s Breakthrough Sextet

19 year old, trumpeter Skylar Tang has become a prominent figure in the Bay Area jazz scene and has garnered national recognition for her trumpet playing and composing. She is an award-winning student at Juilliard Conservatory and Columbia University who has performed at Carnegie Hall, SFJAZZ, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Monterey Jazz Fest, Davies Symphony Hall, Royal Albert Hall and more.

She has toured the US, Europe, and South Africa with Carnegie Hall's National Youth Orchestra Jazz Band, which featured guest artists Sean Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Jazzmeia Horn. As the winner of the 2022 Essentially Ellington’s Student Composition/Arranging Contest, she conducted and performed her original composition "Kaleidoscope" with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Inspired by the profound history of black American music, Skylar strives to create honest, innovative, and relevant music that speaks to all aspects of the human condition.

For this show she brings her NYC-based quartet consisting of fellow Juilliard students:

Skylar Tang, trumpet

William Schwartzman, piano

John Murray, bass

Ethan Oliver, drums

Tickets at Skylar Tang Quartet

NYC-based pianist/accordionist Ben Rosenblum will bring his Brazilian quartet to the West Coast.Drawing from a repertoire that includes classics from many different eras and styles of Brazilian music, as well as Rosenblum’s own award-winning original compositions, the band will take the listener on a journey through samba, bossa, choro, forro, MPB, and a wide variety of Brazilian jazz and Afro-Brazilian rhythms.

Ben Rosenblum has traversed a truly unique musical path, one that has seen him perform alongside world-class musicians across more than twenty music genres and twenty-five countries, lead bands at prestigious venues across the world, all while maintaining a signature, melodic musical voice. Rosenblum’s journey has taken him on tours with Grammy-winning pop artist Rickie Lee Jones, Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Catherine Russell and Juno-winning contemporary Indian singer Kiran Ahluwalia. He’s played Brazilian choro with Ephrat Asherie Dance and Brazilian forró with The Late Night Show’s Nêgah Santos and famed forró band Forró in the Dark. His roots in jazz have led to an over ten-year relationship with Grammy-winning bassist Curtis Lundy, performing at festivals alongside jazz luminaries Bobby Watson, Sean Jones and Warren Wolf. He has appeared with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on accordion, and as a guest soloist on piano at Carnegie Hall’s Stern-Perelman Auditorium with Maestro Reona Ito’s New York Harmonic Band. Throughout it all, Rosenblum has always maintained the same priority - to tell a compelling story with his music, reaching the hearts of his audience and connecting on an emotional, intellectual and spiritual level.

Tickets at Ben Rosenblum Brazilian Quartet

"Continuum" by John Mayer came out nearly 20 years ago and has continued to spin in the collective rotation.

In a one-night-only presentation, Bay Area vocalist Amy D and singer-songwriter-guitarist Ian Santillano are taking on the full record, bringing their own musical perspectives to songs you already know by heart. Amy's background in jazz and emotive song interpretation meet Ian's genre-bending approach and guitar chops for an evening that blends nostalgia with innovation.

The show also marks a first-time collaboration for Amy and Ian after years of mutual admiration and honing their respective crafts. They're poised and excited to breathe new life into this classic album.The Sound Room's intimate setting means limited seats, so don't miss your chance to hear Continuum reimagined by these exceptional Bay Area musicians and a full band!

ON THE BANDSTAND:
Amy D, vocals
Ian Santillano, guitar & vocals
Carl Nash, piano
Chris Balderas, bass
David Aguiar, drums & vocals

Amy D is a Bay Area vocalist, songwriter, and music educator with roots in jazz and classical training. Her luminescent voice and heartfelt performances have graced stages throughout the region since 2010, including SFJAZZ, Yoshi's Oakland, and San Jose Jazz Summer Fest. Her debut album Like You was released in 2019 on Unspeakable Records in collaboration with producer Michael Aaberg. She currently performs with her band Heart Matter and empowers others through vocal coaching and communication workshops.

Ian Santillano, from Hayward CA, is a 2nd generation genre-bending Filipino-American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer. Ian showcases his gifts of clever harmony, soulful melodies, subconscious grooves, vulnerable lyrics, exceptional guitar work, and an unbelievable voice. Ian released his debut album Intropy in 2022, a 12-song journey through mental health, identity, and creativity. Since signing with Bolo Music Group in 2023, he's performed at Spotify Studios LA and The New Parish, and continues to release new work that embodies music's healing power.

Tickets at Continuum: A Tribute to John Mayer Featuring Amy D and Ian Santillano

At The Sound Room, Jazz Mafia joins forces with vocalist Tiffany Austin to present a set that draws on years of collaboration and their shared repertoire of original compositions. Tiffany’s versatility shines as she improvises, performs vocalise versions of swinging jazz classics, and even becomes part of the horn section, adding her voice to intricate, sax-inspired arrangements. This performance strikes a balance between soulful melodies and bold innovation, offering a fresh perspective on jazz and its possibilities.

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. Twenty five years in the making, Jazz Mafia is a prolific staple of the quintessential San Francisco sound, uniting creative and accomplished Bay Area instrumentalists, vocalists, MCs, composers, and arrangers.

This event features Vocalist Tiffany Austin. Austin's music and voice draw upon influences such as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, and Aretha Franklin, yet she also infuses songs with her own signature style that is precise, intelligent, and soulful.

Jazz Mafia members include: Adam Theis - trombone, bandleader; Mike Olmos - trumpet; Tommy Occhiuto - sax; Colin Hogan - keys; Joshua Thurston-Milgrom - upright bass; Henry Plumb - drums

Tickets at Jazz Mafia with Tiffany Austin