2024-25 Season
Terence Blanchard's Picks
13 Concert Recommendations
SFJAZZ Executive Artistic Director Terence Blanchard provides an extensive list of recommended shows worth checking out during the upcoming 2024-25 Season. Tickets now on sale to SFJAZZ Members!
TERENCE BLANCHARD'S 2024-25 SEASON PICKS
See below for Terence's comments on each pick!
SEP 5-8 Stanley Clarke w/ Hiromi, Marcus Miller, & N 4 Ever
SEP 13 Kurt Elling & Joey Calderazzo
SEP 21 Keyon Harrold
SEP 26-27 Don Was & The Pan-Detroit Ensemble
OCT 10 John Beasley MONK'estra
NOV 2-3 Vijay Iyer Trio
NOV 9 Double Bill: Jon Cowherd Trio w/ Brian Blade & John Pattitucci • Ingrid Jensen Quartet
DEC 7 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
DEC 8 Gregory Porter
DEC 28-29 Take 6
DEC 31 Dirty Dozen Brass Band
JAN 17-19 Meshell Ndegeocello
MAR 6-9 Brandee Younger w/ New Century Chamber Orchestra
SFJAZZ MAGAZINE
› Terence Blanchard's Vision for the 2024-25 Season and Beyond
SEP 5-8, 2024
Stanley Clarke
Terence says: "Stanley Clarke is an icon who has revolutionized bass playing. He opened up my brain to an electric form of jazz while I was in school." Catch Stanley Clarke in duos with Hiromi and Marcus Miller, plus the Chick Corea/Return To Forever tribute N 4 Ever.
Buy TicketsSEP 5-8, 2024
Stanley Clarke
Terence says: "Stanley Clarke is an icon who has revolutionized bass playing. He opened up my brain to an electric form of jazz while I was in school." Catch Stanley Clarke in duos with Hiromi and Marcus Miller, plus the Chick Corea/Return To Forever tribute N 4 Ever.
Buy TicketsSEP 13, 2024
Kurt Elling & Joey Calderazzo
Terence says: "Should be a beautiful performance. Love Kurt’s voice. He has a very distinct sound and approach and is very thoughtful in how he uses improvisation. Joey is a premiere jazz pianist who isn’t recognized as much as he should be."
Buy TicketsSEP 13, 2024
Kurt Elling & Joey Calderazzo
Terence says: "Should be a beautiful performance. Love Kurt’s voice. He has a very distinct sound and approach and is very thoughtful in how he uses improvisation. Joey is a premiere jazz pianist who isn’t recognized as much as he should be."
Buy TicketsSEP 21, 2024
Keyon Harrold
Terence says: "Keyon is a relatively new musician who has taken innovative approaches and is not afraid to enter into uncharted waters." Keyon Harrold performs on a double bill with Immanuel Wilkins, part of Terence Blanchard's UpSwing series.
Buy TicketsSEP 21, 2024
Keyon Harrold
Terence says: "Keyon is a relatively new musician who has taken innovative approaches and is not afraid to enter into uncharted waters." Keyon Harrold performs on a double bill with Immanuel Wilkins, part of Terence Blanchard's UpSwing series.
Buy TicketsSEP 26-27, 2024
Don Was & The Pan-Detroit Ensemble
Terence says: "I just performed with them and loved Don Was because he is a musician’s musician who has so much respect for the tradition of jazz. This has allowed him to become President of Blue Note. Some of those guys have played together for 30 years. It is great to see an ensemble have that much fun."
Buy TicketsSEP 26-27, 2024
Don Was & The Pan-Detroit Ensemble
Terence says: "I just performed with them and loved Don Was because he is a musician’s musician who has so much respect for the tradition of jazz. This has allowed him to become President of Blue Note. Some of those guys have played together for 30 years. It is great to see an ensemble have that much fun."
Buy TicketsOCT 10, 2024
John Beasley MONK'estra
Terence says: "A great pianist with a great creative mind. Doing Thelonious Monk with Big Band will be a unique experience. I’ve enjoyed them every time I hear them."
Buy TicketsOCT 10, 2024
John Beasley MONK'estra
Terence says: "A great pianist with a great creative mind. Doing Thelonious Monk with Big Band will be a unique experience. I’ve enjoyed them every time I hear them."
Buy TicketsNOV 2-3, 2024
Vijay Iyer Trio
Terence says: "Vijay is one of the most unique pianists of our time, who is fearless in his approach to playing jazz and open to the purest form of improvisation." Iyer's peerless trio features Linda May Han Oh & Tyshawn Sorey.
Buy TicketsNOV 2-3, 2024
Vijay Iyer Trio
Terence says: "Vijay is one of the most unique pianists of our time, who is fearless in his approach to playing jazz and open to the purest form of improvisation." Iyer's peerless trio features Linda May Han Oh & Tyshawn Sorey.
Buy TicketsNOV 9, 2024
Double Bill: Jon Cowherd Trio / Ingrid Jensen Quartet
Terence says: "Jon Cowherd has an interesting approach to composition and performance that gives his music a sense of forward-thinking expression. His music is unique and while steeped in tradition, he breaks the boundaries of tradition and still sounds current." Cowherd performs with longtime Wayne Shorter sidemen Brian Blade and John Patitucci. Ingrid Jensen "is one of the most creative trumpet players I’ve known. I love her approach to creating melodies. Her sound is beautiful and inviting. Her compositions are inspiring and thought-provoking." Don't miss this double bill, part of Terence Blanchard's UpSwing series.
Buy TicketsNOV 9, 2024
Double Bill: Jon Cowherd Trio / Ingrid Jensen Quartet
Terence says: "Jon Cowherd has an interesting approach to composition and performance that gives his music a sense of forward-thinking expression. His music is unique and while steeped in tradition, he breaks the boundaries of tradition and still sounds current." Cowherd performs with longtime Wayne Shorter sidemen Brian Blade and John Patitucci. Ingrid Jensen "is one of the most creative trumpet players I’ve known. I love her approach to creating melodies. Her sound is beautiful and inviting. Her compositions are inspiring and thought-provoking." Don't miss this double bill, part of Terence Blanchard's UpSwing series.
Buy TicketsDEC 7, 2024
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Terence says: JALCO "has been holding down the tradition of swing for generations. Their dedication to the history of our music has been a blessing for me to witness and an honor to experience." They perform with special guest vocalists Ekep Nkwelle & Robbie Lee.
Buy TicketsDEC 7, 2024
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Terence says: JALCO "has been holding down the tradition of swing for generations. Their dedication to the history of our music has been a blessing for me to witness and an honor to experience." They perform with special guest vocalists Ekep Nkwelle & Robbie Lee.
Buy TicketsDEC 8, 2024
Gregory Porter
Terence says: "Gregory porter is a vocalist who has the unique ability to create music, stemming from the jazz tradition while steeped deeply in the history of soul. His approach to phrasing is a unique one where you can hear the history of R&B as well as an appreciation for the history of jazz vocalists."
Buy TicketsDEC 8, 2024
Gregory Porter
Terence says: "Gregory porter is a vocalist who has the unique ability to create music, stemming from the jazz tradition while steeped deeply in the history of soul. His approach to phrasing is a unique one where you can hear the history of R&B as well as an appreciation for the history of jazz vocalists."
Buy TicketsDEC 28-29
Take 6
Terence says: "Take 6 has always been a harmonic marvel. Their harmonization is daring, complicated, inspiring, and beautiful."
Buy TicketsDEC 28-29
Take 6
Terence says: "Take 6 has always been a harmonic marvel. Their harmonization is daring, complicated, inspiring, and beautiful."
Buy TicketsDEC 31, 2024
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Terence says this New Orleans powerhouse is "one of the most contagious performances you’ll ever witness. I dare anyone to go to this show and not wind up tapping their feet during the performance. Truly a festive sound and experience." Ring in a New Orleans New Year with this special concert.
Buy TicketsDEC 31, 2024
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Terence says this New Orleans powerhouse is "one of the most contagious performances you’ll ever witness. I dare anyone to go to this show and not wind up tapping their feet during the performance. Truly a festive sound and experience." Ring in a New Orleans New Year with this special concert.
Buy TicketsJAN 17-19, 2025
Meshell Ndegeocello: No More Water/The Fire Next Time
Terence says: "Meshell Ndegeocello is one of the funkiest and smartest bassists of our times and truly a brilliant artist who is very conscious of her surroundings and uses her art to help further mankind." She performs music from a new project, "No More Water/The Fire Next Time", inspired by the life and work of James Baldwin.
Buy TicketsJAN 17-19, 2025
Meshell Ndegeocello: No More Water/The Fire Next Time
Terence says: "Meshell Ndegeocello is one of the funkiest and smartest bassists of our times and truly a brilliant artist who is very conscious of her surroundings and uses her art to help further mankind." She performs music from a new project, "No More Water/The Fire Next Time", inspired by the life and work of James Baldwin.
Buy TicketsMAR 6-9, 2025
Brandee Younger w/ New Century Chamber Orchestra
Terence says: "Brandee Younger is a powerhouse of the harp. Those 2 words aren’t usually put together. In this case, it speaks to her creative genius and her passion for music."
Buy TicketsMAR 6-9, 2025
Brandee Younger w/ New Century Chamber Orchestra
Terence says: "Brandee Younger is a powerhouse of the harp. Those 2 words aren’t usually put together. In this case, it speaks to her creative genius and her passion for music."
Buy Tickets