Did you give today?

Today SFJAZZ joins the movement for a global day of giving. Supporting SFJAZZ brings concerts, classes and workshops to thousands of Bay Area jazz lovers. Whether it’s big or small, every contribution will help SFJAZZ and the community we serve.

Consider a gift to SFJAZZ this #GivingTuesday.

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.

A Note From Ishmael Reed (SFJAZZ Poetry Festival, Night #2)

 

Italian-American poets at the 2nd Annual SFJAZZ Poetry Festival

A beautiful account from SFJAZZ Poet Laureate Ishmael Reed, who curated the 2nd Annual SFJAZZ Poetry Festival over the weekend:

"The great Italian American poet, Sandra Gilbert said, what would those immigrants who entered Ellis Island have thought had they known that one day Italian-American poets would appearing in a beautiful room located in the SFJAZZ. The [Irish-Americans] ended their evening with Sean Casey leading the audience in an Irish song. This was great!"

Sandra Gilbert w/ Ishmael Reed at SFJAZZ Center

Irish-American Night in Joe Henderson Lab

This week features a different kind of poetry... the lyricism of singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash, who starts a sold out run in Miner Auditorium this Thursday (4/10), part of her River & The Thread Tour. Keep up with this SFJAZZ Calendar!

PHOTO: Hugh Masekela at SFJAZZ Center

Hugh Masekela

Hugh Masekela gave a pair of uplifting performances at the SFJAZZ Center this week to celebrate his upcoming 75th Birthday. The South African trumpet icon complemented his groovy, feel good music with a resounding message for heightened global awareness and social justice. Most importantly, he had Miner Auditorium getting loose and screaming louder than we've ever heard! All photos courtesy of Scott Chernis unless otherwise noted.

Telling it like it is.

via SFJAZZ Instagram: A fan's gigantic birthday card!

Approaching 75, Masekela still has the moves.

And now, four nights of the Wayne Shorter Quartet! And next week, the Second Annual SFJAZZ Poetry Festival curated by SFJAZZ Poet Laureate Ishmael Reed.

WATCH: Ben Gore x Jason Moran - San Francisco Skateboarding by Night

"Fruits of the labor"—look what Jason Moran sent to us this morning: a fresh skate video from Ben Gore, filmed exclusively at night in San Francisco, beautifully complemented by Moran's solo piano piece "For Coleman Hawkins." We can't wait for Round 2 in June! Skateboarding & Jazz returns to the SFJAZZ Center 6/7-8, part of Moran's final week as a 2013-14 SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director.

Watch footage of last year's Skateboarding & Jazz. Grab a seat before it sells out again at sfjazz.org.

PHOTO: Wynton Marsalis & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) at SFJAZZ Center

Wynton Marsalis + JLCO

Wynton Marsalis & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) were swinging hard on a diverse selection of Duke Ellington works last night at the SFJAZZ Center. JLCO gives four more sold out concerts throughout weekend, featuring the music of New Orleans, Basie, Monk and Mingus! All photos courtesy of Scott Chernis.

Pre-Concert Talk: Wynton Marsalis + SFJAZZ Education's Rebeca Mauleon

 Peering over the top: JCLO

Standing ovation for one more

Keep up with the SFJAZZ Calendar. Check out more photos of artists at SFJAZZ on Flickr.

REVIEW: Cecile McLorin Salvant + 'Getz/Gilberto' Hotplate at SFJAZZ Center

Cecile McLorin Salvant

A big night at the SFJAZZ Center—Cecile McLorin Salvant and sidemen Aaron Diehl (piano), Paul Sikivie (bass) and Pete Van Nostrand (drums) left a sold out Miner Auditorium breathless! In tasteful moments of silence, the audience was dead silent in anticipation. So much could be said, but San Francisco Chronicle's David Wiegand was right on point:

"I have never heard McLorin Salvant sing the same song the same way twice. Each time she approaches a song, it becomes something different. She probes and explores it with her insanely supple voice, lolling in the deepest contralto range and building back to a high, breathy soprano. Vibrato can flutter like Nina Simone, or swing slow and deep. She modulates tone like a sculptor models clay."

Definitely worthwhile to read the full article→"Happy birthday, SFJazz Center." On his way out, Wiegand also gave a shout out to the Claudia Villela / Harvey Wainapel 'Getz/Gilberto' Hotplate in Joe Henderson Lab. Looking into the transparent Lab with a few others, "...it was almost as if I could have touched the sound."

Claudia Villela / Harvey Wainapel 'Getz/Gilberto' Hotplate

Read more at SFGate Blog. Keep up with the SFJAZZ Calendar. For more photos from last night, check out SFJAZZ Flickr.