Top 5 Jazz Connections to Brian Wilson

1. From the age of 14, Wilson was heavily influenced by the vocal harmonies of popular jazz a cappella group The Four Freshman, using that inspiration to create the basis of the Beach Boys’ distinctive vocal sound
2. Jazz composition and theory had a big influence on Wilson’s expansive masterpiece Smile, and his composition “Busy Doin’ Nothin’” from the 1968 Beach Boys album Friends was directly inspired by the bossa nova of João Gilberto and Stan Getz
3. Jazz artists including Brad Mehldau, Charles Lloyd, Jason Moran, Eliane Elias, Larry Goldings, the Yellowjackets, Don Grusin, and many others have covered Wilson’s influential compositions
4. Blue Note Records head Don Was produced and directed the 1997 Brian Wilson documentary I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times, produced Wilson’s 1995 album of the same name and contributed to his latest release, No Pier Pressure
5. Wilson’s 2010 release, Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, contains his interpretations of George Gershwin’s timeless compositions – songs that were heavily influenced by jazz and have become standards of the jazz canon. The recording reached #1 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart

Brian Wilson performs at Davies Symphony Hall on Friday, September 11 with fellow Beach Boys members Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin. Click here for more information. 

Charles Lloyd's #ThankYouJoni Video

"Your mind, is a beautiful mind, because you always use it for the higher benefit of the planet..." Charles Lloyd speaks some words for Joni Mitchell. What would you say to Joni? ‪#‎ThankYouJoni‬

Charles Lloyd: NEA Jazz Master Tribute

"This is a music of freedom and wonder. It uplifts, it inspires, it touches the heart, and it heals. It is transformational. Jazz is our indigenous art form and is constantly evolving while remaining deeply rooted in tradition and nourished by the American terroir. I have been drunk with the pursuit of ‘the sound’ all my life – and have been blessed to stand on the shoulders of those who came before me and gave encouragement – this is also part of the tradition."

— Charles Lloyd

2015 NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd's SFJAZZ Residency runs from 4/23-26!

Eric Harland's Top 5 of 2014

SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director Eric Harland is hands down one of the most versatile and active drummers on the scene today. In the past year alone, we've caught him with Dave Holland's Prism and Sangam (w/ fellow Resident Artistic Director Zakir Hussain + 2014 NEA Jazz Master inductee Charles Lloyd). He held down the drum seat in the SFJAZZ Collective for eight years (2005-12). And today, Harland's carving his own path—notably dropping beats with The Loop Loft and leading his own project Voyager, who released their debut studio album Vipassana earlier this year.

Before his 2015 SFJAZZ Residency in January—featuring Snarky Puppy, Bay Area stars Taylor Eigsti, Julian Lage and Chris Turner, and even Madden 15 videogamers—Harland took a quick look back on 2014, sharing his Top 5!

Snarky Puppy We Like It Here

Walter Smith III Still Casual

Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band Landmarks

Flying Lotus You're Dead!

James Farm City Folk

Want more lists? Read SFJAZZ's Top 15 of 2014.

Zakir Hussain: On getting into jazz

Tabla master Zakir Hussain reflects on his first encounter with jazz in India, his first collaborations with American jazz artists in the Bay Area, and the similarities between jazz and Indian classical music. A 2014-15 Resident Artistic Director, Zakir Hussain presents two unique weeks of programming at the SFJAZZ Center. Check out what's coming up.

Jason Moran: the story behind 'Cane'

Jason Moran tells the story behind his composition Cane, commissioned and recorded by Imani Winds. The renowned woodwind quintet joins Moran this Thursday (June 5th) for his final week as a 2013-14 Resident Artistic Director at the SFJAZZ Center, performing Cane, Moran's new sextet piece Jump Cut Rose (which Moran plays on!) and a selection from Igor Stavinsky's The Rite Of Spring.

Moran's residency also features a duet with saxophonist Charles Lloyd, and two nights of Jazz + Skateboarding! Check it out online.