A Presidential election year in which the Democratic candidates were an African American and a woman. A year that California affirmed the rights of marriage for all—a fight that began right here in San Francisco. A year tht oil prices had us all thinking of ways to be greener.

For over 100 years, jazz music has reflected and served as a catalyst for social change and cultural upheaval. The 26th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival honors that spirit with a carefully selected roster of artists that have taken stands, crossed boundaries, defied expectations, and fundamentally altered the way we look at the world.

Artists that embody the spirit of our times.

Look carefully at each of these shows and you’ll see this transformative power made manifest. You’ll find artists like Randy Newman, whose song “Louisiana, 1927” was reborn as an anthem in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; Cecil Taylor, who spurred an artistic revolution with his dense, percussive “free” jazz; Mavis Staples, whose voice was a beacon for the civil rights movement; and the Liberation Music Orchestra, whose powerful Vietnam-era protest music has echoed down for over 40 years.

We hope you’re inspired to join us this fall, in the spirit of change. Close