Thu, Jun 12 2025 | 8:00 PM
SFJAZZ Center
Tickets Are Now On Sale
— Packages Listed Below!
All-Star Gala Concert Featuring
Terence Blanchard • Don Was • Ambrose Akinmusire
Melissa Aldana • Gabrielle Cavassa • Kurt Elling
Lisa Fischer • Bill Frisell • Charles Lloyd • Jason Moran
Larry Grenadier • Eric Harland • Salar Nader • Alam Khan
SFJAZZ Collective + more!
Gala Concert Hosts
Delroy Lindo
Paul Reiser
After Party Featuring
DJ Andre Power
DJ Wonway Posibul
SFJAZZ High School All-Stars + more!
Join us on Thursday, June 12 for the SFJAZZ Gala 2025 with Executive Artistic Director Terence Blanchard honoring legendary producer, musician, and Blue Note Records President Don Was with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Gala is SFJAZZ’s largest fundraiser of the year and includes a number of exciting events, including our festive VIP Cocktail Reception and Dinner catered by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering located at our Gala Tent, our Luminary Reception at SFJAZZ Center, an All-Star Gala Concert hosted by actor and comedian Paul Reiser and award-winning actor Delroy Lindo, featuring Terence Blanchard, honoree Don Was, vocal greats Kurt Elling and Lisa Fischer, trumpet superstar Ambrose Akinmusire, saxophonist Melissa Aldana, guitar icon Bill Frisell, jazz legend Charles Lloyd and his Sky Quartet with pianist Jason Moran, bassist Larry Grenadier, and drummer Eric Harland, the award-winning ensemble SFJAZZ Collective, rising star vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa and more.
Zakir Hussain Tribute
The evening will also include a heartfelt tribute celebrating the remarkable life and legacy of the late Zakir Hussain, a tabla virtuoso and former SFJAZZ Trustee. Zakir was a cherished member of the Bay Area community and sadly passed away in mid-December. The tribute performance will include longtime collaborators and saxophone great Charles Lloyd and Eric Harland, along with guitarist Bill Frisell, pianist Jason Moran, and bassist Larry Grenadier performing "Hymn to the Mother", followed by an extended raga from Salar Nader (tabla) & Alam Khan (sarod). These performances will be followed by a special video tribute celebrating Zakir Hussain's life.
The festivities will continue into the night with the lively Gala After Party, an unforgettable dance party with renowned Los Angeles-based deejay Andre Power, as well as late-night bites, wine, beer, and craft cocktails throughout the SFJAZZ Center.
Be an integral supporter of SFJAZZ’s artistic and education initiatives as we further the reach of jazz throughout our Bay Area community and beyond.
Please email [email protected] to get involved and learn more about our Gala events.
Born in Detroit in 1952, he has enjoyed a multi-faceted career as a musician, record producer, music director, film composer, documentary filmmaker and radio host. Since 2011, he has also served as President of America’s venerated jazz label, Blue Note Records.
For his work as a record producer, he has won six Grammy Awards – including Album of the Year in 1989 for Bonnie Raitt’s Nick of Time and Producer of the Year in 1994. Records that Don has produced have sold close to 100 million albums for a wide array of artists like The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, John Mayer, Ringo Starr, Wayne Shorter, The B52s and Charles Lloyd. As President of the iconic jazz label Blue Note Records, Was has signed and produced many of the label’s recent roster of artists including Robert Glasper, Charles Lloyd, Wayne Shorter, Dr Lonnie Smith, Gregory Porter and Jason Moran. He has also spearheaded the acclaimed Tone Poet and Classic Jazz audiophile release series. In 2018 Don Was joined Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir to form the Wolf Brothers.
“Don Was is one of the most famous and fêted producers on the planet today. Over the last 15 years, he's collected a list of credits so long and impressive that it makes you gasp” — Sound on Sound
“A music legend behind and in front of the scenes” — Santa Barbara Independent
Terence Blanchard on why SFJAZZ is honoring Don Was with a
Lifetime Achievement Award
Host Committee Chairs
Jeffrey Whipps and Susan Greenleaf Whipps
Host Committee
Rafael Costas
Molly Joel Coye
Bruce and Hala Cozadd
David and Natasha Dolby
Lauren Harwell Godfrey and Patrick Godfrey
Rodney Haynes and Reno Cross
Jay Jeffers
Katie Hall and Tom Knutsen
Betsy Linder
Delroy and Nashormeh Lindo
Divesh and Diksha Makan
Mike and Alison Mauzé
Shakeya A. McDow
Ali Pincus
Lisa S. Pritzker
Timothy Simon and Kimberly Brandon
Rick and Darian Swig
Denise S. Young
Luminary Committee Co-Chairs
Navid Armstrong
Rich Hanif
Luminary Committee
Katie Colendich
Susan Corlett
Matthew Denckla
Beth Feingold
Lindsey Humphrey
Jeannine Lewis
Mica Eades Mayo
Heather Rangel
Jessica Smith
After Party Co-Chairs
Camilla de Bragança
Jacqueline Mills
After Party Committee
Jasmine Alves
Theresa Brockett
Rob Canali
Erik Greenfrost
Louise Ireland
Ayden Johnson
David Miro Llopis
Cara Pardo
Anisa Qureshi
Jason Garcia Ragonton
Farah Shirzadi
Ambika Rustagi
Bryce Wied
GALA TICKETS
The SFJAZZ Gala is a benefit for SFJAZZ’s artistic and education programs with the goal of advancing the art form of jazz in the Bay Area and beyond.
In accordance with IRS regulations, donor advised funds and IRA qualified charitable contributions cannot be used to purchase tickets to the Gala where the donor intends to attend the event.
For table sponsorships please reach out to [email protected] by April 15, 2025. You can fill out and email the pledge form below.
VIP DINNER TABLE TICKETS
Lead Sponsor • $125,000 • SEATING 10 GUESTS • Tax Deductible Amount: $119,300
► VIP Cocktail Reception and Seated Dinner
► 10 premier seats during Gala Concert and admission for 24 to the After Party
► Invitation for 8 to a private Pre-Gala Salon on April 9 with guest artist Kenny Barron
Legendary Sponsor • $75,000 • SEATING 8 GUESTS • Tax Deductible Amount: $71, 600
► VIP Cocktail Reception and Seated Dinner
► 8 premier seats during Gala Concert and admission for 14 to the After Party
► Invitation for 6 to a private Pre-Gala Salon on April 9 with guest artist Kenny Barron
Visionary Sponsor • $50,000 • SEATING 6 GUESTS • Tax Deductible Amount: $47,500
► VIP Cocktail Reception and Seated Dinner
► 6 premier seats during Gala Concert and admission for 10 to the After Party
► Invitation for 4 to a private Pre-Gala Salon on April 9 with guest artist Kenny Barron
Major Sponsor • $25,000 • SEATING 4 GUESTS • Tax Deductible Amount: $23,400
► VIP Cocktail Reception and Seated Dinner
► 4 premier seats during Gala Concert and admission for 4 to the After Party
► Invitation for 2 to a private Pre-Gala Salon on April 9 with guest artist Kenny Barron
Single VIP Dinner Ticket • $5,000 • SEATING 1 GUEST • Tax Deductible Amount: $4,600
► VIP Cocktail Reception and Seated Dinner
► 1 premier seat during Gala Concert and admission for 1 to the After Party
► Invitation for 1 to a private Pre-Gala Salon on April 9 with guest artist Kenny Barron
LUMINARY RECEPTION TICKETS
Luminary Table of 5 • $7,500 • SEATING 5 GUEST • Tax Deductible Amount: $6,000
► Private Luminary Cocktail Reception with entertainment throughout the SFJAZZ Center
► Dedicated Luminary Table for 5 with special food and drink table service
► 5 preferred seats during Gala Concert and admission for 5 to the After Party
Single Luminary Table Ticket • $1,500 • SEATING 1 GUEST • Tax Deductible Amount: $1,200
► Private Luminary Cocktail Reception with entertainment throughout the SFJAZZ Center
► Luminary Table seat for 1 with special food and drink table service
► 1 preferred seat during Gala Concert and admission for 1 to the After Party
Luminary Reception Ticket • $750 • Tax Deductible Amount: $530
► Private Luminary Cocktail Reception with food, drink, and entertainment throughout the SFJAZZ Center
► 1 preferred seat during Gala Concert and admission for 1 to the After Party
GALA CONCERT + AFTER PARTY TICKETS
Champion Gala Concert Ticket • $500 • Tax Deductible Amount: $355
► 1 seat during Gala Concert and admission for 1 to the After Party
► Note: there is NO pre-concert reception
After Party Ticket • $150
► Admission for 1 to the After Party
► The After Party begins at the nearby San Francisco Conservatory of Music's Bowes Center for a pre-Gala party and continues with a celebration throughout the SFJAZZ Center following the Gala Concert
Support SFJAZZ
The SFJAZZ Gala and After Party is a benefit for SFJAZZ’s artistic and education programs with the goal of advancing the art form of jazz in the Bay Area and beyond. The organization reaches nearly 200,000 patrons annually through its curated artistic programming. Its educational initiatives inspire hundreds of public school students via a range of free and low-cost programs. The SFJAZZ At Home digital platform greatly expands the reach of these programs to jazz fans and students around the world. Each gift is tax deductible. If you wish to make a fully tax deductible gift toward SFJAZZ artistic and education programs, please click below:
Donate NowWatch Online
The Gala Concert will once again be livestreamed and available free to the public on our streaming service, SFJAZZ At Home.
Watch HereWatch Online
The Gala Concert will once again be livestreamed and available free to the public on our streaming service, SFJAZZ At Home.
Watch HereSupport SFJAZZ
The SFJAZZ Gala and After Party is a benefit for SFJAZZ’s artistic and education programs with the goal of advancing the art form of jazz in the Bay Area and beyond. The organization reaches nearly 200,000 patrons annually through its curated artistic programming. Its educational initiatives inspire hundreds of public school students via a range of free and low-cost programs. The SFJAZZ At Home digital platform greatly expands the reach of these programs to jazz fans and students around the world. Each gift is tax deductible. If you wish to make a fully tax deductible gift toward SFJAZZ artistic and education programs, please click below:
Donate Now