During every season, SFJAZZ Education hosts intimate conversations with international performing artists prior to select performances. Free to ticket holders, Pre-Concert Talks provide deep insight into the performer’s music and creative process. They begin one hour before show time. Here are the upcoming Pre-Concert Talk events:
Sunday, March 18, 7:00pm • SF Conservatory of Music
Keyboard wizard Uri Caine first made a name for himself as sideman to edgy improvisers like John Zorn and Dave Douglas. Across 22 albums as a leader, he’s since carved out a niche as a true sonic adventurer with projects that place him at the forefront of today’s jazz world.
Friday, April 20, 8:00pm • Swedish American Hall
Kate McGarry’s show was one of the highlights of our 2010 Spring Season, and she returns in the midst of a creative streak that puts her firmly in the first rank of jazz singers. The new album Girl Talk is the latest collaboration with her husband, guitarist Keith Ganz, keyboard ace Gary Versace, and the remarkable drummer Clarence Penn.
Saturday, April 21, 8:00pm • Herbst Theatre
Jazz and country music have long been seen as antithetical cultural forces, but don’t try telling that to guitar wizard Bill Frisell. His latest project, The Great Flood, is a multimedia investigation into the 1927 Mississippi River flood, an epic disaster that killed over 200 people across seven states.
Saturday, April 28, 8:00pm • Jewish Community Center of SF
Israel’s profile on the international jazz circuit has exploded in recent years. Following the rise of burgeoning Israeli scenes at New York’s Small’s Jazz Club and Boston’s Berklee College of Music, musicians like saxophonist Anat Cohen have worked to redefine the cultural composition of modern jazz.
Thursday, May 17, 7:30pm • YBCA Forum
Touring and recording with superstar Beyoncé has put saxophonist Tia Fuller at the center of the pop music universe, reaching millions of listeners with her concise, beautifully crafted solos. The 36-year-old is a rising force on saxophones (both alto and soprano) as well as flute — a savvy bandleader, composer, and arranger.
Sunday, June 17, 7:00pm • Herbst Theatre
At just 40, bassist Christian McBride already has more notches than can fit on any belt. Among the more than 300 albums he’s appeared on are sessions by many of the most illustrious figures in jazz, including Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson and Pat Metheny, while also collaborating with artists as diverse as Sting and Questlove.
Pre-Concert Talk with Ellis Marsalis
Music appreciation classes for adults, offering insights into jazz music, history and culture.
