2019 June

Rova Saxophone Quartet

Saturday, June 29, 7:30 pm at Bird & Beckett

Rova Saxophone Quartet’s musical goal has always been, since 1978, to instigate, to challenge, and to inspire. The group explores the synthesis of composition and collective improvisation, creating exciting, genre-bending music. In existence for over forty years, Rova is one of the longest-standing groups in the music movement that has its roots in post-bop, free jazz, avant-rock, and 20th century new music.

The members are Bruce Ackley, soprano saxophone; Steve Adams, alto saxophone; Larry Ochs, tenor saxophone ; and Jon Raskin, baritone saxophone.

This is a Guaranteed Fair Wage Fund event where each musician will be paid $150 in advance, regardless of ticket sales. Jazz in the Neighborhood makes this possible by subsidizing 40% of their pay. Bird & Beckett and the Jazz Philanthropists Union guarantees the rest. For tickets and other information, please contact Bird & Beckett.

Bird & Beckett — 653 Chenery Street, San Francisco

Alpha Rhythm Kings

Friday, June 28, 9pm at Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio

The Alpha Rhythm Kings specialize in swing, vintage lounge, and boogie woogie. Led by Rob Dehlinger with his blazing trumpet and vocal stylings, the band will be Fil Lorenz, tenor sax; Richard Nelson Hall, piano; Danny Gerz, bass; and Russ Gold, drums.

Fans of Louis Prima, Louis Armstrong, and Harry James love this band! A favorite of swing dancers as well as festival and concert-going audiences, the A.R.K. love sharing their authentic jazzy vibe. They’ve brought their classic sound all over the world, from the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, to performances in Hungary, Austria, and Germany, and back to the USA to play at the 2018 Grammy Awards Nominee San Francisco Chapter Celebration.

This is a Guaranteed Fair Wage Fund event where each musician will be paid $150 in advance. Jazz in the Neighborhood makes this possible by subsidizing 40% of their pay. Mr. Tipple’s guarantees the rest. For additional information, please contact Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio.

Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio— 39 Fell Street, San Francisco
No admission charge. Call (415) 384-9365 for more info.

Passing Dreams Trio

Saturday, June 22, 7:30 pm at Bird & Beckett

This incarnation of Passing Dreams Trio will be bassist Frank Tusa, tabla player William Rossel, and guitarist Randy Vincent.

The trio’s ancestry is Lookout Farm, a seven-piece band from the 1970s led by saxophonist Dave Liebman notable for the merging of Indian classical instrumentation and rhythms with rock guitar and drum impulses into a jazz superstructure.

Bird & Beckett — 653 Chenery Street, San Francisco

Jon Jangtet CD Release

Wednesday, June 19, 7:30 pm at California Jazz Conservatory

The Jon Jangtet ensemble celebrates the release of The Pledge of Black Asian Allegiance, dedicated to Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X. This is their first CD and features Jang’s work “Can’t Stop Cryin’ for America: Black Lives Matter” as well as other works by Jang that are a hybrid of Chinese music and jazz.

Performers for this event are Hitomi Oba, tenor saxophone; Nick DePinna, trombone; Jon Jang, piano, Lisa Mezzacappa, double bass, Deszon X. Claiborne, multiple percussion.

Co-sponsored by the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center.

Rendon Hall at the California Jazz Conservatory, 2040 Addison St. Berkeley
$20 general admission / $10 full-time students

JITN Trio benefit performance

Saturday, June 8, noon-4 pm at 7 Mile House

The historic 7 Mile House has generously offered to donate 10% of sales during this event (noon to 4pm) to Jazz in the Neighborhood. On hand to perform as the Jazz in the Neighborhood Trio will be Mario Guarneri, trumpet; John Schott, guitar; and Lisa Mezzacappa, bass.

Make a reservation to hear great music and to support Jazz in the Neighborhood.

Established in 1858, the 7 Mile House is an award-winning, family and dog-friendly restaurant, sports bar, and live music venue, serving up a unique mix of homestyle Italian/American/Filipino food. It is the only mile-house left standing in its original location and has a colorful history dating from its rebel days in the 1800s to being a trucker/biker hangout and then an infamous sports gambling joint in the 80s. Today, this popular restaurant and bar presents live entertainment nearly every night. Regular performers include the bands of Vince Lateano, Dave Bendigkeit, and Rene Escovedo.

7 Mile House — 2800 Bayshore Blvd, Brisbane — 415-467-2343

Bill Belasco Quintet featuring Jules Rowell

Friday, June 7, 6 pm at Marin Country Mart

Trombonist Jules Rowell is a genuine scholar of contemporary jazz composing and arranging. A Bay Area native, Rowell has composed and arranged material for Pete Escovedo, Mark Little, Louie Romero and Masacote, the Hot Club of San Francisco, the Kronos String Quartet, the Mike Vax Orchestra, and Francisco Aguabella. Meticulously copied by hand, charts for his arrangements have been made available to many local musicians at no charge. As a performer, Rowell has played with Woody Herman, Eddie Palmieri, Art Lande, and many others.

The quintet is Jules Rowell, trombone; Steve Feierbend, sax; Steve Carter, piano; Chuck Bennett, bass; and Bill Belasco, drums.

This is a Guaranteed Fair Wage Fund event where each musician will be paid $150 in advance. Jazz in the Neighborhood makes this possible by subsidizing 40% of their pay. Marin Country Mart guarantees the rest. For additional information, please contact Marin Country Mart.

Marin Country Mart — 2257 Larkspur Landing Circle
No admission charge. Call (415) 461-5700 for more info.

The Afro-Cuban Tribe

Wednesday, June 5, 7:30 pm at California Jazz Conservatory

Pianist Edgar Pantoja presents Afro-Cuban jazz and world music from his first album Vivencias. Pantoja’s original compositions fuse the diverse music of Cuba—its folklore, rumba, son, and timba—with the international rhythms of samba, Moroccan Gnawa, jazz and funk.

He is joined by the accomplished musicians David Lechuga-Espadas on guitar, Ernesto Mazar Kindelán on acoustic and electric bass, Colin Douglas on drums, and Carlitos Medrano on percussion. These masters of Cuban music inspire and captivate with a fresh melodic and rhythmic experience during the evening’s performance.

Born in Santiago de Cuba, Edgar Pantoja has spent over 20 years performing modern and traditional Cuban music on the world’s most important stages. He has toured and collaborated with influential musicians including Rubén Blades, John Benítez, David Murray, Angelique Kidjo, Descemer Bueno, and Pedrito Martinez. He most recently formed part of the Grammy-nominated Pedrito Martinez Group as pianist/keyboardist and arranger.

Joining them as JITN’s Emerging Artist will be Sean Huang, saxophone.

Rendon Hall at the California Jazz Conservatory
$20 general admission / $10 full-time students

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