• Season Schedule
• Venue Information
• Summerfest 2006
• Summerfest 2007

August 21 • 6-7:30PM Le Jazz Hot & Friends The format of the Bay Area’s Le Jazz Hot is a standard “hot club” one — Evan Price on violin, guitarists Paul Mehling and Jason Vanderford, and Clint Baker on double bass. But Mehling might play violin and bass, and Baker might play guitar or even trumpet. When special guest Dave Miotke joins in with his accordion and Isabelle Fontaine sings, a swinging time is a sure bet.

August 28 • 6-7:30PM Claudia Villela Vocalist and Rio de Janeiro native Claudia Villela has been living in the Bay Area for almost 25 years. She incorporates the foundations of jazz, bossa nova, and African and European elements into music of extraordinary variety and depth. As adept in engaging in total improvisation as realizing through-composition, Villela is a stunningly complete musician.

For six weeks every Wednesday at noon, a panoply of jazz riffs, Latin rhythms, and more will fill the air at Levi's Plaza. Set amid the peaceful surroundings of rolling lawns, shade trees, and a running creek, this series presents the perfect opportunity for a mid-week picnic on the grass. Levi's Plaza is located between Battery and Bay Streets off the Embarcadero. Produced in association with Interland-Jalson Property Management.

Sept 3 • 12-1:30PM San Francisco Guitar Quartet In the European classical tradition, the concept of the quartet evokes a gentile liveliness. In jazz, the quartet can signify the sound (and fury) of unlimited potential. The four fretmen of the San Francisco Guitar Quartet have been bringing both characteristics of the quartet format, plus global flavors, to their unique style of music since 1997.

Sept 10 • 12-1:30PM Kristen Strom “With a tone that’s lithe and lustrous, Kristen Strom embodies her musical philosophy in every note she plays” (San Jose Mercury News). A melodic master, saxophonist Strom shines brightest leading her own group, bringing together a group of like-minded musicians to expressing the stylistic diversity that has typified her entire career.

Sept 17 • 12-1:30PM Tango #9 San Francisco’s Tango #9 takes a reverent, yet modern, approach to the national music of Argentina. Violinist and bandleader Catharine Clune, trombonist Greg Stephens, pianist Joshua Raoul Brady and accordion & bandoneón player Isabel Douglass have also collaborated with local tango dancers to bring the music full circle back to its roots.

Sept 24 • 12-1:30PM Cory Combs Quintet Last year, bassist Cory Combs explored Brazilian choro music. This year, it’s all about the funk, as our esteemed SFJAZZ Director of Education teams up with a Bay Area supergroup including saxophonist Dave Ellis, organist Wil Blades, guitarist Dave McNab and drummer Jeff Mars to cook up a set of originals and classic soul chestnuts.

Oct 1 • 12-1:30PM The Royal We 3 Trio Saxophonist and composer Kasey Knudson leads a sextet, septet, and plays in the 12-piece Ganbare Spirits Ensemble. Yet it is when the Berkeley resident is at the head of her own Royal We Trio that she’s able to stretch out her playing the most in a challenging chordless setting with just double bass and drums.

Oct 8 • 12-1:30PM Nice Guys Trio If the race is for vibrant, creative music then nice guys—or at least the Nice Guys Trio—indeed finish first. Trumpeter Darren Johnston, accordionist Rob Reich and bassist Daniel Fabricant have a mission statement to explore the world’s folk musics. From Klezmer and Afro-beat to jazz and Balkan dance, the collective writes original compositions and explores old favorites.