Throwback: Big Bands at SFJAZZ, Through The Years

This week, SFJAZZ celebrates the enduring vitality and flexibility of the Big Band format — something the organization has been doing since its inception. While you scroll through a few highlights below, enjoy our "The Big Band" curated playlist.

Dizzy Gillespie Big Band

4th Annual Jazz in the City Jazz Masters Series

Herbst Theatre

May 25, 1991

"We Love Joe" Tribute

Joe Henderson Big Band

11th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival

Davies Symphony Hall

November 4, 1993

Illinois Jacquet Big Band

12th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival

Paramount Theatre

November 5, 1994

75th Anniversary Tribute to Charlie Parker: Slide Hampton & The Jazzmasters Orchestra with Phil Woods, Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Charles McPherson

13th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival

Masonic Auditorium

October 21, 1995

Bobby Short & His Orchestra

19th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival

Davies Symphony Hall

October 28, 2001

Maria Schneider Orchestra

4th Annual SFJAZZ Spring Season

Herbst Theatre

March 22, 2002

McCoy Tyner Big Band

20th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival

Masonic Auditorium

October 27, 2002

Dave Brubeck Big Band

8th Annual SFJAZZ Spring Season

Masonic Auditorium

April 15, 2007

Monk Town Hall Revisited: Jason Moran, T.S. Monk & Others

8th Annual SFJAZZ Spring Season

Palace of Fine Arts Theatre

May 19, 2007

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

SFJAZZ Center, Season 2

March 20, 2014

Learn more about SFJAZZ's Big Bands Week.

Listen: San Francisco Jazz Festival Playlist

With so much new music dropping right now, we've compiled a "highlights" playlist for the 33rd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival, for your enjoyment—the soundtrack to your Summer. See you all at the SFJAZZ Center June 9-21!

Summer Concerts Now On Sale To Public!

33rd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival

http://bit.ly/1FKwaVw

2015 Summer Sessions

http://bit.ly/1H72VOu

Summer Concerts Now On Sale!

The 33rd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival + Summer Sessions 2015 are now on sale to SFJAZZ Members!

See Full Lineup!

Public On Sale: April 15th

SFJAZZ Summer Concerts Announced!

We're excited to announce the 33rd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival (6/9-21) and Summer Sessions 2015 (7/16 - 8/23)! Tickets will go on sale to SFJAZZ Members on Wednesday, April 1 at 11am and to the general public on Wednesday, April 15 at 11am.

33rd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival LINEUP:
http://bit.ly/1FKwaVw

Summer Sessions 2015 LINEUP:
http://bit.ly/1H72VOu

Summer Education Programs:
http://bit.ly/1Fa3erg

Branford Marsalis: In My Solitude

Marsalis Music and OKeh Records have teamed up to release a recording of the solo "Sacred Space" performance given by saxophone great Branford Marsalis at San Francisco's iconic Grace Cathedral during the 30th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival on October 5, 2012.
Standing at the top of Nob Hill, Grace Cathedral has been a part of jazz history since it was completed in 1964 and consecrated by the legendary Duke Ellington with his Concert of Sacred Music, performed and recorded at Grace on September 16, 1965.

Concerts at Grace are an SFJAZZ tradition that goes back to the origins of the organization, and Branford joins the illustrious ranks of master saxophonists to perform in the space including Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, Pharoah Sanders, Charles Lloyd, Dewey Redman, Steve Lacy, Anthony Braxton, Yusef Lateef, and Joshua Redman.

Entitled In My Solitude: Live at Grace Cathedral, Branford's new album captures the feel of the cavernous cathedral and its natural seven-second reverberation – an acoustic environment that Marsalis had to prepare for carefully. "Every room has a sound of its own. There’s a difference between playing in the Village Vanguard, and Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, and Royal Festival Hall in London; and there is definitely a difference playing in Grace Cathedral, with its seven-second delay. Playing solo interludes in other rooms where my quartet performs was not going to prepare me. I had to hear that Grace Cathedral sound in my head."
In My Solitude contains the complete concert, including a selection of originals and standards, a movement from a C.P.E. Bach oboe sonata, and a set of improvisations that blend harmoniously with the unique acoustic properties of Grace Cathedral.

The album is available as a download, on CD and on 180 gram vinyl.

Listen to a sample:




Read more at the Marsalis Music website:
BRANFORD MARSALIS CELEBRATES MELODY AND FEELING ON IN MY SOLITUDE: LIVE AT GRACE CATHEDRAL

Highlights: 32nd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival

Check out the photo-retrospective of the 2014 San Francisco Jazz Festival: 44 shows in 12 days on multiple stages!

Opening Night: Juan de Marcos + Afro-Cuban All Stars ©Rick Swig

Opening Night: Jeff Ballard Trio ft. Lionel Loueke & Miguel Zenón ©Ross Eustis

Jeff Ballard ©Rick Swig

Diana Gameros in Joe Henderson Lab ©Ronald Davis

Dianne Reeves ©Ronald Davis

Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood: Little Walter Rides Again ©Scott Chernis

Ester Rada ©Tim Charles

Ester Rada + Octet ©Ross Eustis

José James: While You Were Sleeping ©Rick Swig

José James ©Rick Swig

Seun Kuti + Egypt 80: Afrobeat Legacy ©Rick Swig

Chester Thompson: Hammond B3 Organ ©Rick Swig

Closing Night: Hypnotic Brass Ensemble ©Scott Chernis

Closing Night: Hypnotic Brass Ensemble ©Scott Chernis

Joe Henderson Lab, by day ©Ross Eustis

For more photos, check out the full album on SFJAZZ's Facebook page! Next up at the SFJAZZ Center: Bill Cosby and 2014 Summer Sessions featuring Chucho Valdés, Benny Green, Omar Sosa, Jacqui Naylor, Claudia Villela & many more!

OPENING NIGHT: The 32nd San Francisco Jazz Festival

Juan de Marcos back in the house ©Rick Swig

We all remember what happened last time Juan de Marcos + Afro-Cuban All Stars came to town. The Cuban supergroup packed the house last night, headlining the opening of the 32nd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival, which runs through June 22nd! Juan de Marcos and Co. are here until Saturday (6/12).

Juan de Marcos & Afro-Cuban All Stars ©Rick Swig

Meanwhile, SFJAZZ Members got a treat in the 100-seat Joe Henderson Lab: drummer Jeff Ballard's Trio featuring guitarist-vocalist Lionel Loueke & saxophonist-SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director Miguel Zenón. Rare to see such a powerhouse trio in such a small space!

Jeff Ballard Trio ©Ross Eustis

Miguel Zenón ©Rick Swig

Lionel Loueke ©Rick Swig

Jeff Ballard ©Rick Swig

More Opening Night Photos

Full San Francisco Jazz Festival Lineup

Dance Party: Juan de Marcos & the Afro-Cuban All Stars

Bird's-eye view of Juan de Marcos & the Afro-Cuban All Stars getting people up on their feet and moving at the SFJAZZ Center a week after the Grand Opening (February, 2013). The Afro-Cuban All Stars return to SFJAZZ June 11-14, 2014, part of the 32nd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival! Grab your tickets here!

Summer Concerts On Sale to the General Public Tomorrow!

Tickets for the 32nd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival (Jun 11-22) and our Summer Sessions concert series (Jul 17-Aug 24) go on sale tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11am!

Highlights include:

• Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All-Stars
• Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood
• Hammond B3 Organ Soul-Jazz legend Dr. Lonnie Smith and his In the Beginning Octet
• The hip and deeply soulful singer, José James
• Back by popular demand, Yemen Blues
• Tom Harrell's Colors of a Dream with Esperanza Spalding
• Miles Electric Band - an 11-piece group of Miles Davis alumni

SFJAZZ Members save 25% on select shows and pay no ticket service fees. Members can also save an additional 10% when purchasing 10 or more tickets to any combination of shows, and have access to Members-only concerts such as Dianne Reeves (selling fast) on June 15th! Check out the summer lineup.

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!

WATCH: Sean Jones on the trumpet

Sean Jones dropped by the SFJAZZ Center to talk the trumpet, in light of his upcoming double bill with 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. Part 2 comes out later this week!

Song credit:
"Touch and Go"
Composed by Sean Jones
No Need For Words (Mac Avenue Records)

On Sale for the 32nd Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival and 2014 Summer Sessions opens up to the General Public next Wednesday (4/23) at 11am! Check out the line up!

RECAP: Rosanne Cash + 'Mingus Ah Um' Hotplate at SFJAZZ Center

Rosanne Cash opened her 4-night run at SFJAZZ Center last night, telling deep, lyrical stories inspired by her travels in the South, complete with projected photography (see below). She's back on tonight, and sold out all weekend long!

Meanwhile, Adam Theis & Subharmonic gave Mingus Ah Um the Hotplate treatment in Joe Henderson Lab, without a doubt one of the most ambitious shows in this monthly series we've heard yet!

See more pics on SFJAZZ Flickr. Don't miss Adam Theis' special Solo Sacred Space concert at Church of the Advent (across the street from the Center), part of the 32nd San Francisco Jazz Festival! For more music inspired by the South, check out Resident Artistic Director Regina Carter's upcoming Southern Comfort.

San Francisco Jazz Festival in Full Swing!

The 31st Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival kicked things off last night with a highly energetic performance from the Stefano Bollani Trio (shown in photo above). The festival continues tonight with living legend Ahmad Jamal and his quartet featuring drummer Herlin Riley, bassist Reginald Veal and Puerto Rican-born percussionist Manolo Badrena gracing the stage at Davies Symphony Hall. Across the street at the SFJAZZ Center, Cuban pianist Harold López-Nussa will be making his much-anticipated U.S. debut in the Joe Henderson Lab, the first of a four-night residency.

To view all events at this year's 31st Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival, CLICK HERE.

Photo by Bill Evans