CartCELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY at SFJAZZ
Almost 100 years ago, noted historian and scholar Carter G. Woodson launched Black History Week, which over time became an officially recognized month in the United States, for the celebration and education of the history and culture of Black People. A vital element of this history is Black American Music ... Jazz, an art form rooted and born of the African American and Afro-Caribbean experience.
At SFJAZZ, we are grateful for these opportunities for expanded recognition and celebration. We believe that Black history is everyone’s history… therefore we are continuing in our commitment to honor our history on a daily basis… and strengthen our relationships with Black communities locally and globally.
Please join us here at SFJAZZ to celebrate Black heritage, Black experiences, Black voices… all year long!
Visit SFJAZZ social media channels for ongoing Black History videos, photos, curated playlists, and more:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
PLAYLISTS
Freedom Now!
African Diaspora
Pioneering Black Women in Jazz
FEB 18 • 11AM | FAMILY MATINEE
MARCUS SHELBY NEW ORCHESTRA: BLUES IN THE CITY
The Marcus Shelby New Orchestra combines music, text, and video in live performance that addresses Black history—past, present, and future. For this one-hour matinee, which features live performance, audience participation, and Q&A, Shelby's Orchestra will perform a musical suite in reflection of life in SF during the COVID-19 pandemic — Lockdowns, social unrest, the plight of the unhoused, and more. Perfect concert for the whole family — all ages welcome!
Buy TicketsFEB 18 • 11AM | FAMILY MATINEE
MARCUS SHELBY NEW ORCHESTRA: BLUES IN THE CITY
The Marcus Shelby New Orchestra combines music, text, and video in live performance that addresses Black history—past, present, and future. For this one-hour matinee, which features live performance, audience participation, and Q&A, Shelby's Orchestra will perform a musical suite in reflection of life in SF during the COVID-19 pandemic — Lockdowns, social unrest, the plight of the unhoused, and more. Perfect concert for the whole family — all ages welcome!
Buy TicketsFEB 25-26 | World Premiere
Terri Lyne Carrington: Seen/Unseen w/ live visuals by Mickalene Thomas
NEA Jazz Master, SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director and composer/drummer Terri Lyne Carrington teams up with renowned visual artist Mickalene Thomas, an all-star jazz septet featuring trumpeter Etienne Charles, flutist Elena Pinderhughes, vibraphonist Simon Moullier, pianist Orrin Evans, Del Sol Quartet strings ensemble, dancer Babatunji Johnson (of LINES Ballet) and more to present a powerful multimedia concert addressing racial and social injustices that face Black women from the day they are born and through the remainder of their life.These concerts are made possible through the generous support from Lisa and Kenneth Jackson.
Buy TicketsFEB 25-26 | World Premiere
Terri Lyne Carrington: Seen/Unseen w/ live visuals by Mickalene Thomas
NEA Jazz Master, SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director and composer/drummer Terri Lyne Carrington teams up with renowned visual artist Mickalene Thomas, an all-star jazz septet featuring trumpeter Etienne Charles, flutist Elena Pinderhughes, vibraphonist Simon Moullier, pianist Orrin Evans, Del Sol Quartet strings ensemble, dancer Babatunji Johnson (of LINES Ballet) and more to present a powerful multimedia concert addressing racial and social injustices that face Black women from the day they are born and through the remainder of their life.These concerts are made possible through the generous support from Lisa and Kenneth Jackson.
Buy TicketsBlack music, history, and culture are deeply important to us at SFJAZZ, and therefore we invite you to join and celebrate with us in February and every month thereafter.
Denise Young, SFJAZZ Trustee Chair
Black music, history, and culture are deeply important to us at SFJAZZ, and therefore we invite you to join and celebrate with us in February and every month thereafter.
Denise Young, SFJAZZ Trustee Chair
I invite you to join us as we celebrate the beautiful, phenomenal heritage of this music we call jazz during Black History Month and throughout the year.
Angela Davis, SFJAZZ Trustee
I invite you to join us as we celebrate the beautiful, phenomenal heritage of this music we call jazz during Black History Month and throughout the year.
Angela Davis, SFJAZZ Trustee
Art Blakey once said, jazz washes away the dust of everyday life. We invite and welcome you here to our amazing jazz center to celebrate the music, and wash off the dust of everyday life all year long.
Bernard Boudreaux, SFJAZZ Trustee
Art Blakey once said, jazz washes away the dust of everyday life. We invite and welcome you here to our amazing jazz center to celebrate the music, and wash off the dust of everyday life all year long.
Bernard Boudreaux, SFJAZZ Trustee
We invite you into our amazing SFJAZZ Center to celebrate Black music and Black history EVERY month of the year.
John Santos, SFJAZZ Trustee
We invite you into our amazing SFJAZZ Center to celebrate Black music and Black history EVERY month of the year.
John Santos, SFJAZZ Trustee
Jazz has a unique place in Black History, it has been a unifying element throughout our community ... a source of love, hope, and joy. That's why at SFJAZZ we celebrate Black History today and everyday.
Shakeya A. McDow, SFJAZZ Trustee
Jazz has a unique place in Black History, it has been a unifying element throughout our community ... a source of love, hope, and joy. That's why at SFJAZZ we celebrate Black History today and everyday.
Shakeya A. McDow, SFJAZZ Trustee
Black music and Black history are deeply important to us all, and we invite you to enjoy and celebrate it with us ... in February and EVERY month.
Herman Gray, SFJAZZ Trustee
Black music and Black history are deeply important to us all, and we invite you to enjoy and celebrate it with us ... in February and EVERY month.
Herman Gray, SFJAZZ Trustee
As an organization that celebrates jazz as an artform born from and rooted in the African-American experience, SFJAZZ understands the importance of using our platform to connect and engage with vital Bay Area and national organizations focused on furthering social justice, ending racism, and supporting arts and culture in Black communities. SFJAZZ encourages you to learn more about these organizations, what they do, how they are affecting change, and how you can get involved.
Learn MoreAs an organization that celebrates jazz as an artform born from and rooted in the African-American experience, SFJAZZ understands the importance of using our platform to connect and engage with vital Bay Area and national organizations focused on furthering social justice, ending racism, and supporting arts and culture in Black communities. SFJAZZ encourages you to learn more about these organizations, what they do, how they are affecting change, and how you can get involved.
Learn More