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. 

SFJAZZ Collective Spring 2015 Tour Dates!

The SFJAZZ Collective takes The Music of Joe Henderson & Original Compositions on the road throughout April, starting with a four-night run at the Jazz Standard tonight (4/9), and wrapping up on the West Coast!

See 2015 Spring Tour Dates.

Obed Calvaire's funky arrangement of "Fire" (Joe Henderson) will get you excited for the live experience.



Watch the SFJAZZ Collective perform on NPR's Jazz Night In America!

SFJAZZ Collective's "Music of Joe Henderson & Original Compositions" Now Available!

Recorded live at the SFJAZZ Center, this new release features arrangements of classic Joe Henderson compositions drawn from his great 1960s Blue Note albums like Page One, Inner Urge and Mode for Joe, as well as his 1970s Milestone recordings like Black Narcissus and The Elements—from Miguel Zenón’s Afrobeat-influenced arrangement of “Recorda-Me,” to Obed Calvaire’s funky percussion-driven arrangement of “Fire.”

Pick up the new album on iTunes, Amazon or SFJAZZ.org today!

SFJAZZ Collective © Jay Blakesberg

SFJAZZ Collective performs music from the new CD on NPR Music’s Jazz Night in America on Wednesday, March 18th. Check your local listings for the exact date/time in your area.

Listen to the first single "Fire."

SFJAZZ Collective's Obed Calvaire: Notes on Joe Henderson's "Fire"

Obed Calvaire

“I was a bit late in making my decision for a Henderson arrangement, so needless to say, the band picked most of the hits. This was a blessing in disguise. I stumbled on a killing Joe Henderson album titled The Elements. If you are not yet familiar with this album, pick it up! Joe’s writing simulates the elements – earth, air, water, and fire. The late, great Charlie Haden plays this funky bass line while Alice Coltrane floats around between the piano and harp. I tried not to stray away from the funky bass line while adding my own twist to the song. Hope you enjoy it!”

— Obed Calvaire, album notes from SFJAZZ Collective's new album The Music of Joe Henderson and New Compositions

Pre-order SFJAZZ Collective's Music of Joe Henderson and New Compositions today!

See Spring 2015 Tour Dates.

SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM + RELEASE SINGLE!

The SFJAZZ Collective today announced their new live CD (out March 10) Music of Joe Henderson and New Compositions, Live at SFJAZZ Center, recorded live at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco, featuring arrangements of classic and lesser-known Joe Henderson numbers drawn from his great 1960s Blue Note albums like Page One, Inner Urge and Mode for Joe, and 1970s Milestone records like Black Narcissus and The Elements. The album also features eight new original pieces, each composed by a member of the Collective.

NEW SINGLE: Listen to drummer Obed Calvaire’s funky percussion-driven arrangement of “Fire"—originally recorded by Joe Henderson in 1973 featuring Alice Coltrane.



Pre-order Music of Joe Henderson and New Compositions today!

See Spring 2015 Tour Dates.

Video: SFJAZZ Collective on Joe Henderson's music

In conjunction with the Joe Henderson Hotplate Festival this weekend, the SFJAZZ Collective talk about the music of Joe Henderson, the late saxophone giant and longtime SF native who had a long association with SFJAZZ. The Collective are back on tour throughout 2014-15 playing the music of Joe Henderson + originals, including a 4-night run at the SFJAZZ Center, Oct. 23-26, 2014.

See all their Tour Dates.

WATCH: Trumpeter Sean Jones on jazz education

Trumpeter Sean Jones dropped by the SFJAZZ Center to talk jazz education. A masterful improviser with a feeling for the post-bop 1960s music of Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard, Jones leads a crackling quartet featuring pianist Orrin Evans, bassist Luques Curtis, and drummer Obed Calvaire, a member of the stellar SFJAZZ Collective. The Sean Jones Quartet shares a double bill with fellow trumpet ace Christian Scott during The Festival of the Trumpet on Aug 21, 2014, part of SFJAZZ Summer Sessions.

Special thanks to San Francisco Performances for facilitating the interview.

Song credit:
"60th & Broadway"
Composed by Sean Jones
Im•pro•vise (Mac Avenue)

Check out the line up of the 32nd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival and 2014 Summer Sessions, on sale to the General Public this Wednesday (4/23) at 11am!