tbd_a quartet – take 2

Friday, January 11, 7:30 pm at Key Tea House and Kava Lounge inside Open Secret Bookstore

tbd_a quartet expands to include Mario Guarneri and Erik Jekabson on trumpets, Akira Tana on drums, with guest artists Tammy Hall on B3 organ and Jeff Massanari on guitar in the premiere performance of this combination. Imagine the sound of the classic B3 trio plus two trumpets! You know that Akira will be like a kid in a candy store!

The group’s name derives from its instrumentation of trumpets, bass, and drums (tbd). The ensemble evolves out of the great West Coast jazz tradition begun by Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, and Stan Getz in the 1950s and 60s and explores a new sound through original and standard jazz vehicles, with a fresh and original take.

Offered with no admission charge, these performances are being produced by Mario Guarneri with underwriting from the Music Performance Trust Fund, Local 6 American Federation of Musicians, Berp & Co., and the Magic Flute music store.

In a new development for Jazz in the Neighborhood, all the musicians performing in tbd_a quartet are members of the Musicians Union Local 6 and are being paid union scale along with union benefits for these shows. Union gigs are pretty rare for jazz musicians these days — for instance, not even SFJazz is a union house. Jazz in the Neighborhood hopes to raise awareness about the benefits of union gigs with this series. For more about the state of unions in SF, see An Open Letter from Mario Guarneri.

Please come out to hear these fabulous union musicians. There’s no cover charge and no tip jar, but donations to help support Jazz in the Neighborhood’s mission will be gratefully accepted.

Opening will be Herding Cats, an adult student jazz ensemble from the California Jazz Conservatory, comprised of Howard Gillis, trumpet and flugelhorn; Tina Smelser, flute; Timothy Hampton, guitar; Todd Lorenz, piano; Brian Allen, bass; and Matt Watson, drums.

No admission charge. Key Tea House and Kava Lounge inside Open Secret Bookstore, 923 C St. San Rafael