a nonprofit presenter of jazz artistic and education programs
percussion & propulsion
Backyard Alchemy
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Jesús Diaz y su QBA Dormido
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Scott Amendola and Will Blades Wee
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Jaz Sawyer Mary Lou
artist personnel
Jesus Diaz Y Su QBA Jesus Diaz musical director, lead vocals orlando torriente vocals melecio magdaluyo saxophone jeff lewis trumpet jeff cressman trombone murray low piano ayla davis bass collin douglas drums, timbales javier navarrette congas wil blades vs. scott amendola wil blades hammond b-3 organ scott amendola drums jaz sawyer and drum circle: next generation jaz sawyer drums, congas Savannah Harris drums Lawrence McDonald Drums Denzel Merritt Drums JoJo Ramirez Drums Ayinde Webb drums Malachi Whitson drums Scott Lowrie drums Elena Pinderhughes flute Ranzel Merritt Tenor Saxophone Dylan Wiggins Piano Gilbert Fix bass
Backyard Alchemy Jesús Diaz, Scott Amendola & Jaz Sawyer wednesday, november 4, 8PM Great American Music Hall
$20 General Admission buy tickets

San Francisco has always fostered a lively music community, attracting transplants from throughout the world. Our Backyard Alchemy series highlights formidable talent residing right here in the Bay Area and this edition is focused on three rhythmatists, each with their own explosive ensemble.

Jesús Diaz—Cuban-born percussionist Jesús Diaz is a fixture on the Bay Area music scene. He has appeared with scores of major artists including Santana, Dizzy Gillespie, the Caribbean Jazz Project and Planet Drum, to name only a few.

Scott Amendola—Scott’s buoyant style, always with the funk in mind, has placed him in high demand on the national scene. His dozens of credits include Bill Frisell, Charlie Hunter, John Zorn, Alan Pasqua, Will Bernard and Nels Cline among others.

Jaz Sawyer—A Bay Area native who cut his teeth at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Sawyer has gone on to heavyweight gigs with Wynton Marsalis, George Benson, Abbey Lincoln, Bobby Hutcherson, Jacky Terrasson and more.