Five Things To Know About Aaron Goldberg

Were you there to hear pianist Aaron Goldberg tearing it up as a surprise guest with Chick Corea on Thursday night? To prep yourself for Aaron's trio performance in the Joe Henderson Lab on Sunday, here are five things you should know:

1. He worked extensively with saxophone great Joshua Redman’s quartet, appearing on Redman’s 2000 album Beyond and 2001’s Passage of Time
2. In addition to his five albums as a bandleader, he has recorded four as part of the collaborative OAM Trio with Israeli bassist Omer Avital and Spanish drummer Marc Miralta, and has performed with Nicholas Payton, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Freddie Hubbard, Stefon Harris, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
3. He was a founding member of late vocalist Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program, which helps discover and promote promising young jazz artists. Other alumni include pianists Jason Moran, Jacky Terrasson, and Aaron Parks
4. He attended Harvard College and graduated magna cum laude in 1996 with a concentration in Mind, Brain and Behavior, writing his thesis on scientific theories of consciousness. While still a freshman at Harvard, he received the Stan Getz/Clifford Brown Fellowship from the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE)
5. His trio with bassist Reuben Rogers and former SFJAZZ Collective drummer Eric Harland was originally formed in 1998. Appropriately, standing in for Harland at Sunday’s performance is current SFJAZZ Collective drummer Obed Calvaire

Aaron Goldberg's trio performs in the Joe Henderson Lab on Sunday, September 13 with sets at 7pm and 8:30pm. Click here for more information. 

2015-16 Season Playlist

The season's just keep getting bigger and better! The 2015-16 Season Playlist ties together many of the themes, artists, debuts and tributes all happening at the SFJAZZ Center in year ahead. Here's just a few of the highlights. You can stream recordings from all 2015-16 Season artists at sfjazz.org!

2015-16 Season Now On Sale To Public

SFJAZZ's 2015-16 Season is NOW ON SALE to the Public!

Tickets are available at SFJAZZ.org, on the SFJAZZ Mobile App (iPhone/Android), by phone and in person at the SFJAZZ Center Box Office.

Highlights include Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Brian Wilson, Brad Mehldau, Eric Harland, Esperanza Spalding, Kenny Barron, Chris Botti, Terence Blanchard's Champion: An Opera In Jazz, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Hiromi, The Bad Plus Joshua Redman, SFJAZZ Collective, Zakir Hussain, Merle Haggard, Maceo Parker, Cassandra Wilson, Cecile McLorin Salvant & many more!

>> See the full lineup!

Bill Frisell: An Interview, Photos from Big Sur Quintet & A Power Outage!

We sat down with Resident Artistic Director Bill Frisell this week as we celebrate the One-Year Anniversary of the Grand Opening of the SFJAZZ Center. In a candid interview, Frisell reflects on all the music and collaborations that came from his residencies at SFJAZZ ("seeds," as he calls them), the Opening Night Concert (Jan. 23, 2013) with Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Hutcherson, John Handy and many others, as well as the Bay Area and its unique audience.

Bill Frisell's final SFJAZZ Residency had an eventful start last night. The guitarist-composer's newest project Big Sur, an acoustic-electronic sketch of the picturesque California coastline, debuted in Miner Auditorium, and featured a string trio of Jenny Scheinman (violin), Eyvind Kang (viola), Hank Roberts (cello), anchored by drummer Rudy Royston.

About an hour into the set, the Center lost power, along with the greater Hayes Valley neighborhood! The backup lighting switched on immediately. Frisell ran back stage and grabbed his acoustic guitar, and performed an impromptu set the rest of the evening, completely acoustic. A long time SFJAZZ Member remarked this morning:

"Last night was just out of sight great. The amplified portion was, as always, just superb but after the power outage the acoustic was way over the top. I heard so many comments in the audience to the positive. Thank everyone for taking what might have been a problem and making it a night to remember..."

Below are photos of Frisell's Big Sur Quintet, before and after the power outage. The power is back on at the Center! Frisell's final SFJAZZ Residency continues tonight with Guitar In The Space Age, featuring slide/steel guitarist Greg Leisz. On Saturday, Frisell gives a rare solo performance, before closing out Sunday with his New Trio, starring the sensational keyboardist Craig Taborn and long-time collaborator Kenny Wolleson on drums.

Bill Frisell's Big Sur Quinet

Big Sur

Post Power-Outage: Backup Lights and No Amplification!

For more information on Bill Frisell's final residency, visit sfjazz.org. For more videos, subscribe to the SFJAZZ YouTube Channel today!

SFJAZZ Center Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

One year ago today, the SFJAZZ Center opened its doors to the public! Two days afterward, SFJAZZ hosted an unprecedented Grand Opening Concert followed by two weeks of sold out, timeless concerts christening the stage of Robert N. Miner Auditorium. The Grand Opening Concert itself featured McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Bill Cosby, Bobby Hutcherson, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, SFJAZZ Artistic Directors (Bill Frisell, John Santos, Miguel Zenón, Regina Carter & Jason Moran), SFJAZZ Collective, Mary Stallings, Eric Reed, Eric Harland & the award-winning SFJAZZ High School All-Stars! Good thing NPR filmed it.

It's been a whirlwind since! Check out some highlights from Grand Opening week.

SFJAZZ Center on Opening Night

Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding & Jeff Ballard

The Red Carpet

The SFJAZZ Collective

Bill Cosby, Miguel Zenón & Pete Escovedo's Band

SFJAZZ High School All-Stars

SFJAZZ Poet Laureate Ishmael Reed

Joshua Redman, Joe Lovano, Matt Penman, Jeff Ballard & John Santos

Herman Leonard Photography Installation

McCoy Tyner & Bobby Hutcherson

Robert N. Miner Auditorium, Opening Week

Esperanza Spalding & Eric Harland

Mary Stallings

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, After Party at the Rickshaw Stop

Last Thursday, singer Mary Stallings put simply while reflecting on the SFJAZZ Center: "All the great ones who didn't make it. I know they're looking down right now and saying, 'YES!'" In recognition of the Center's One-Year Anniversary, SFJAZZ Members enjoy a 25% discount to all of Bill Frisell's shows this coming weekend!

More photos of the Grand Opening, Season 1, 31st San Francisco Jazz Festival, 2013 Summer Sessions and Season 2 at SFJAZZ Flickr.

New SFJAZZ Collective album now available on iTunes

The digital release of the SFJAZZ Collective’s ninth limited-edition set, Live at SFJAZZ Center: Music of Chick Corea and New Compositions was officially announced today! Recorded live March 28-31, 2013 at the new SFJAZZ Center, the digital release features new arrangements of the classic works of Chick Corea, such as "Spain," "La Fiesta" and "Crystal Silence," as well as new original compositions by Collective members. Available for download on iTunes, the new album is the definitive recording of the all-star jazz ensemble’s ninth year!

SFJAZZ Collective:

Miguel Zenón – Alto Saxophone
David Sánchez – Tenor Saxophone
Avishai Cohen – Trumpet
Robin Eubanks – Trombone
Stefon Harris – Vibraphone
Edward Simon – Piano
Matt Penman – Bass
Obed Calvaire – Drums


Get a digital copy of Live at SFJAZZ Center: Music of Chick Corea and New Compositions on iTunes today!

WATCH: SFJAZZ Collective & Chick Corea - "Spain"

An exciting video (captured by NPR Music) of the SFJAZZ Collective and Chick Corea performing "Spain" during SFJAZZ Center's "Historic Opening Night Concert" on January 23, 2013.

The SFJAZZ Collective, which roster includes alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón, tenor saxophonist David Sánchez, vibraphonist Stefon Harris, trumpeter Avishai Cohen, trombonist Robin Eubanks, pianist Edward Simon, bassist Matt Penman and drummer Obed Calvaire, are gearing up for their 2013 Spring Tour, playing the music of Chick Corea and new compositions. Check the dates below to see if they are performing soon in your city.

SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE SPRING 2013 TOUR
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3/08: Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA
3/10: The Egg, Albany, NY
3/14: Jazz Standard, New York, NY
3/15: Jazz Standard, New York, NY
3/16: Jazz Standard, New York, NY
3/17: Jazz Standard, New York, NY
3/19: Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN
3/21: Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, AZ
3/22: The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV
3/23: The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV
3/24: Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek, CO
3/26: Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree, CO
3/28: SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco, CA
3/29: SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco, CA
3/30: SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco, CA
3/31: SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco, CA

To buy tickets or get more information about the SFJAZZ Collective's upcoming Spring 2013 Tour, visit sfjazzcollective.org.