2014-15 Season: By The Numbers

50th Anniversary of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme

John Coltrane © Bob Thiele

216 bottles of champagne to ring in 2015 (Maceo Parker's Funky New Years)

155 Sold Out Performances

Red Baraat © Ronald Davis

19 #ThankYouJoni Artist Testimonials

Dozens of #ThankYouJoni Notes Below the Joni Mitchell Art Installation

© Got Light

1 Epic Second Line Parade (SFJAZZ Gala), Courtesy of Brass Band Mission

11th SFJAZZ Collective Album: The Music of Joe Henderson & Original Compositions

53 Performances by the High School All-Stars, Nationwide

SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo collaborates with the

SF Ballet School Trainee Program © Erik Tomasson

1st Place at the Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey Awarded to High School All-Stars Orchestra. Combo Awarded 2nd Place.

High School All-Stars Spring 2015 Concert © Scott Chernis

11,000+ SFJAZZ Members

Charles Lloyd's Wild Man Dance (Member Discount Performance)

© Grason Littles

100+ Education Events at the SFJAZZ Center in 2014-15, Serving Nearly 9,000 People

The Amigos Family Workshop © Scott Chernis

#ThankYouJoni Interviews: Brian Blade, Judith Hill, Joe Jackson & More

The SFJAZZ Gala 2015 honored the legacy of Joni Mitchell on Friday, May 8 with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award. We grabbed a number of #ThankYouJoni interviews with artists who performed in the All-Star Concert, including co-director Brian Blade, singers Judith Hill and Joe Jackson, as well as Joni collaborators Tom Scott and Mark Isham. Watch them all on YouTube.

Greg Leisz reflects on touring with Joni Mitchell

"I think what she really teaches other people is that you should just find your own artist in you. She is to me the definition of an artist..." Greg Leisz reflects on touring with Joni Mitchell.

Leisz performs at the SFJAZZ Gala 2015 All-Star Concert tomorrow, Friday, May 8th, where Joni will be honored with a SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award (to be accepted by Wayne Shorter).

What would you say to Joni? ‪#‎ThankYouJoni‬

sfjazz.org/thankyoujoni

#ThankYouJoni Art Installation in Hayes Valley

#ThankYouJoni Portraits

On Saturday, May 2nd, SFJAZZ installed a #ThankYouJoni Art Installation in the windows of the San Francisco Unified School District Building (opposite SFJAZZ Center) where the Herman Leonard jazz portraits have resided since the opening of the Center back in January, 2013.

This tribute to Joni Mitchell, part of the SFJAZZ Gala 2015 honoring Joni with a Lifetime Achievement Award (to be accepted by Wayne Shorter), sparked numerous #ThankYouJoni messages and well-wishes from Joni fans on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as on the fence beneath the art installation!

Why #ThankYouJoni? The phrase arose organically from interviews we've been conducting with artists at the SFJAZZ Center since February. The #ThankYouJoni YouTube Playlist below compiles all of these interviews. You can also watch them, and learn much more, at sfjazz.org/thankyoujoni.

Chris Turner remembers how he discovered Joni Mitchell

"An artist without a genre attached, from electronic music, to soul music, to folk music, to jazz music, that's something that Joni Mitchell has done throughout her career, and continues to do..." 

Oakland's own Chris Turner remembers how he discovered Joni Mitchell.

How did you discover Joni? ‪#‎ThankYouJoni‬

sfjazz.org/thankyoujoni

Eric & Anissa Martell Harland remember how they discovered Joni Mitchell

"It just completely blew me away that someone could sound so soulful, yet so elegant, and yet so uniquely different at the same time..." Eric Harland and Anissa Martell Harland each remember how, and when they discovered Joni Mitchell. How did you discover Joni? ‪#‎ThankYouJoni‬

Joni Mitchell will be honored with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Gala on May 8th. Watch what other artists have to say at sfjazz.org/thankyoujoni.

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

#ThankYouJoni: Gerald Clayton

"When I think of Joni Mitchell, I think of a true artist, in every sense of the word, someone who's searching for meaning in the mysteries of life..." Gerald Clayton shares words for Joni Mitchell. What would you say to Joni? ‪#‎ThankYouJoni‬

Joni Mitchell will be honored with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Gala, on May 8th.

#ThankYouJoni: Bill Frisell

"There's certain events, times in my life, where she would be a sign post along the way..." Bill Frisell reflects on Joni Mitchell's music, and performing with Joni in Toronto. Share your words for Joni using ‪#‎ThankYouJoni‬ on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SFJAZZ honors Joni Mitchell with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Gala on May 8th.

Kendrick Scott's "aha moment" from Joni Mitchell's 'Both Sides Now'

Drummer Kendrick Scott recalls the "aha moment" he had listening to Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now. Joni will be honored with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Gala on May 8th. Each week leading up to the Gala, we'll share new #‎ThankYouJoni‬ videos from recent SFJAZZ performers.

What would you say to Joni? ‪#‎ThankYouJoni‬

#ThankYouJoni: Lizz Wright

"Joni is very much like one of her paintings..." Vocalist Lizz Wright reflects on Joni Mitchell, who will be honored with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Gala on May 8th.

We have asked a number of recent SFJAZZ performers what they would like to say to Joni. Each week leading up to the Gala, we'll share new videos at sfjazz.org/thankyoujoni and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with ‪#‎ThankYouJoni‬.

What would you say to Joni?

René Marie remembers discovering Joni Mitchell as a teenager

Vocalist René Marie sings the first Joni Mitchell song she discovered as a teenager and reflects on Joni's "freeness." What would you say to Joni Mitchell?

Joni Mitchell will be honored with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Gala on May 8th. Each week leading up to the Gala, we'll share new videos of artists speaking to Joni!

Join in on the conversation at sfjazz.org/thankyoujoni or #SFJAZZGala.

Mary Stallings​ on Joni Mitchell's lyrics to Charles Mingus​'s "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"

SF's treasured vocalist Mary Stallings speaks to the "exquisite" lyrics Joni Mitchell wrote to Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" in her ‪#‎ThankYouJoni‬ video. Joni Mitchell will be honored with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Gala on May 8th. Each week leading up to the Gala, we'll share new videos of artists speaking to Joni!

What would you say to Joni?

Join in on the conversation at sfjazz.org/thankyoujoni!

Taj Mahal's #ThankYouJoni Video

Blues legend Taj Mahal recalls meeting Joni Mitchell a number of times over the years—stories that speak volumes to her music, and character. Joni Mitchell will be honored with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Gala on May 8th. Each week leading up to the Gala, we'll share new videos!

What would you say to Joni?

Join in on the conversation at sfjazz.org/thankyoujoni!