Jazz Classes Back in Session

In addition to acclaimed youth education programs like the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars, SFJAZZ produces a number of informal yet enriching educational programs for adults.

Pre-Concert Talks
Free for ticket holders, Pre-Concert Talks take jazz fans inside the music through compelling, spontaneous conversations with Festival artists. And the Discover Jazz class (running through October 8) breaks down the rudiments of jazz with listening examples, video clips, and live in-class performances.

The first Pre-Concert talk takes place this Saturday, September 22, and features guitarist and “Tonight Show” music director Kevin Eubanks in conversation with SFJAZZ Director of Education Cory Combs.

Upcoming Pre-Concert Talks for the 25th Anniversary San Francisco Jazz Festival include:

10/19 – Bassist Marcus Shelby and pianist Jon Jang both appear to discuss their new compositions, “Harriet Tubman” and “Unbound Chinatown”

10/27 – SFJAZZ Beacon Award Winner Pete Escovedo talks about his career before his Beacon Award concert

10/28 – SFJAZZ Director of Education Cory Combs talks about the groundbreaking career of Ornette Coleman

11/2 – Pianist Jason Moran discusses the intensive process of creating his new work “In My Mind”

11/8 – Tenor saxophone legend Joe Lovano talks about his storied career as a bandleader and as a member of the SFJAZZ Collective

Discover Jazz
Discover Jazz dives into the colorful mythology and history of jazz, swinging right into the music’s key figures, recordings, forms, and ideas. Each class hits upon essential concepts that, when taken as a complete series, give any fan the ability to hear between the lines of great jazz performances. In addition to the class content, there will be interactive live jazz performances, giving participants immidiate access to the process and practice of the jazz musician.

SFJAZZ Members can enjoy individual Discover Jazz classes even more with a new discounted rate—just $17 per class. Take advantage of this special price this Monday, September 24 at the Jewish Community Center as Discover Jazz delves into the ever-important “Rhythm” Changes.

Jazz greats from Charlie Parker to Ornette Coleman have deftly adapted the “I Got Rhythm” chords—known to jazzers as “rhythm changes”—into original compositions. We’ll listen to the masters and learn how these four chords are the keystones to jazz composition.