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.

Zakir Hussain: Tribute to Armando Peraza

SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director Zakir Hussain remembers the great Armando Peraza, and how the late Bay Area Latin percussionist influenced his own playing. Don't miss Zakir's special tribute to Peraza (10/12) with fellow percussionists John Santos, Mickey Hart, Abbos Kosimov and Sikiru Adepoju at the SFJAZZ Center!

Armando Peraza, 1995 San Francisco Jazz Festival, Masonic Auditorium

SFJAZZ Collective 2014-15 Repertoire

Check out the SFJAZZ Collective's 2014-15 Joe Henderson repertoire, which will be recorded live at the SFJAZZ Center 10/23-26 and released before their Spring 2015 Tour.

"Jinrikisha" (Page One) arr. Warren Wolf

"Fire" (The Elements) arr. Obed Calvaire

"Recorda-me" (Page One) arr. Miguel Zenón

"Afro-Centric" (Power to the People) arr. Matt Penman

"Black Narcissus" (Power to the People, Black Narcissus) arr. Robin Eubanks

"Y todavia la quiero" (Relaxin' at Camarillo) arr. David Sánchez

"Shade of Jade" (In Pursuit of Blackness) arr. Ed Simon

"Inner Urge" (Inner Urge) arr. Avishai Cohen

As always, each Collective member has also composed an original composition (repertoire to be posted soon), commissioned by SFJAZZ, also to be performed and recorded live at the SFJAZZ Center during their upcoming 4-night run (10/23-26)!

Throwback: McCoy Tyner at Keystone Korner

A bit of SF history... McCoy Tyner Quintet at Keystone Korner, which closed down in 1983. We were honored to have McCoy back in SF three decades later, for the Grand Opening of the SFJAZZ Center, and now again this coming January, a dual celebration of the piano legend's musical legacy, and the 2nd Anniversary of the SF's new home for jazz.

The fine print, a heartfelt note from Keystone Korner owner/booker Todd Barkan:

“Owed to a friend:

Thank you McCoy Tyner, for seeing
that our blood needs its eyes too,
if only to see the light in our souls.

Thank you, McCoy, for showing us that
there might be more than one reason
why rainbows emerge after the rain.

Thank you, our friend, for playing
and living the love which can’t be
spoken, but only felt, and danced,
and sung.

McCoy Tyner, thank you for bearing
the rarest kind of fire,
that kills only to give birth
to a brighter dawn of our soul…”

Read more on Todd Barkan.

Eliane Elias + Paula West Open SFJAZZ 2014-15 Season

Opening Night: Eliane Elias celebrates the masterpiece Getz/Gilberto in Miner Auditorium

Opening Night: Paula West sings Ethel Waters in Joe Henderson Lab

Opening Night was an evening of tributes... Eliane Elias celebrated the bossa nova masterpiece Getz/Gilberto with lyrical saxophonist Harry Allen, while SF's own Paula West sang Ethel Waters in Joe Henderson Lab. Both Elias and West are back at it all weekend, as the SFJAZZ 2014-15 Season is underway! See what else is coming up at sfjazz.org.

SFJAZZ Doodle: 2014-15 Season Giveaway!

SFJAZZ Doodle of Gregory Porter by Bill Russell

To kick off the SFJAZZ 2014-15 Season, we invite you to create a "doodle" of your favorite artist coming to the SFJAZZ Center—a simple sketch, a detailed portrait, done by hand or computer, or through your own artistic medium—and post it to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for a chance to win tickets to that artist's performance!

SFJAZZ Doodle of Esperanza Spalding by Kieran O'Barr

To Enter 

• Explore the SFJAZZ 2014-15 Season Lineup
• Create a doodle, or two (or three)
• Post your doodle on SFJAZZ's Facebook (comment on the post pinned to the top), or to Twitter and Instagram with hashtag #SFJAZZdoodle
• Winners will be announced on Tuesday, September 16 (right after Opening Week feat. Eliane Elias and Paula West)
• Most importantly: have fun and be creative!

See all the SFJAZZ Doodles at SFJAZZ.org!

Watch: SOUTH at SFJAZZ is back!

SOUTH is back with rustic, sustainable Mexican cooking, right inside the new SFJAZZ Center, on Franklin and Fell, in the heart of Hayes Valley. Chef-de-cuisine Rymee Trobaugh, formerly of Zuni Café, serves small plates like black bean molotes, clam ceviche, shrimp sopes, and rabbit in yellow mole, complemented by refreshing tropical cocktails, with lots of rum and tequila. Operated by famed restaurateur Charles Phan of The Slanted Door Group, South does Mexican food with a distinctly San Francisco flair.

Come by for South's Happy Hour, Tuesday-Friday, 4:30-6PM!

For more delicious photos of South's cuisine, go on Instagram.

You can make a reservation anytime via Open Table.