Past Shows

Especially for jazz guitar enthusiasts: West Coast standard-bearers Jack Tone Riordan and Jeffrey Burr are your hosts for an evening of jazz guitar delights. Fans of Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Grant Green, Charlie Christian etc will not want to miss this special homage and celebration of six-string swingdom. 

A true treasure of the Bay Area jazz scene, vocalist Paula West is celebrated for her rich contralto voice and deeply expressive interpretations of song.Her repertoire moves effortlessly from the Great American Songbook to inspired reinventions of music by artists like Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Johnny Cash, always delivered with nuance, emotional depth, and impeccable phrasing.West has performed in renowned venues across San Francisco and New York, including residencies at the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel and appearances at Jazz at Lincoln Center, SFJAZZ, Feinstein’s at the Nikko, and Yoshi’s. Her performances at the Algonquin earned three consecutive New York Magazine Nightlife Awards for Outstanding Female Jazz Vocalist.Praised by The New York Times for a voice that has “ripened into a driving expressive force,” Paula West continues to captivate audiences with performances that are both timeless and strikingly personal.Join us at Keys Jazz Bistro for an unforgettable evening with one of the great vocal stylists in jazz

Love-Centric. Soul-Crafted. Groove-Infused.

AgapeSoul fuses soul, funk, jazz, and R&B into a sound that’s undeniably soulful and deeply uplifting. Led by bassist and visionary Darryl Anders, the band delivers tight rhythms, rich harmonies, and infectious feel-good energy.

Fronted by powerhouse vocalists Fred Ross and Sonya Distel, and anchored by an electrifying rhythm section—Anders on bass, George Jackson on drums, Mike Wynar on guitar, and Immanuel Junaedy on keys—AgapeSoul crafts music with a message and a groove that can’t be denied. This is more than a band—it’s a soulful experience.

After 25 years as the lead vocalist for Santana, Tony Lindsay has garnered 11 Grammy awards, traveled on numerous world tours and recorded on seven Santana CDs: Milagro (1992), Supernatural (1999), Shaman (2002), Ceremony (2003), Food for Thought (2004), Ultimate Santana (2007), Multi-Dimensional Warrior (2008).

In addition to many Grammy Show performances, Tony’s time with Santana included a 2003 pre-game performance at Super Bowl XXXVII where they were joined onstage by Beyonce. In 2015, Carlos Santana decided to change personnel in his band and set the wheels in motion for Tony to start on his 5th solo CD “Something Beautiful”. His previous solo albums are “Different Moods” (1995), “The Message is Love” (1997), “Tony Lindsay” and “Memoirs” (2014).

Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Fog City Swing! The bay area’s newest and hottest jazz and swing band featuring an electrifying three horn front line, stellar crooning vocals, and a swing till you drop rhythm section. Enjoy an evening of swing, hard bop, and even some classic pop favorites performed only the way they can! This seven piece ensemble will transport you to the 1940’s and beyond, it is truly the world’s smallest big band!

Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of “Ritmo y Voz”, where the deep-rooted traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz meet the power of dynamic vocals. This high-energy performance features an all-star lineup, including guitarist Kai Lyons, percussion master Ernesto, bassist Mazar, and the incomparable Einar Leliebre Nuñez, whose fiery rhythms and soaring voice bring the soul of Santiago de Cuba to life. Drawing from the rich traditions of Rumba, Timba, Changüí, and Batá, the group weaves a tapestry of sound that pulses with history, spirit, and innovation. Their collective experience includes collaborations with legendary artists like Omar Sosa, John Santos, and other torchbearers of the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz traditions.

Einar “Tito” Leliebre – Vocals, Percussion

Ernesto Kindelan Mazar- Bass

Kai Lyons-Guitar

 Tammy Hall-Piano and Vocals

Valerie Trout-Vocals

Kristen Strom-Saxophone

Kevin Goldberg-Bass

Ruth Price-Drums

Tammy L. Hall is a Grammy® award winning pianist/composer/educator/collaborator/musical  director whose career spans some 40+ years. She currently works with SFJAZZ Organization  as a Lead Teaching Artist. Hall has worked with a wide array of vocalists and instrumentalists,  including the late Etta Jones and Ernestine Anderson; Renée Wilson, Ms. Loretta Devine, Kim  Nalley, Ph.D., Antoinette Montague, Susanne Mintzer, Marcus Shelby, Tiffany Austin, Terri Lyne  Carrington, Regina Carter, Kristen Strom, Tia Fuller, Houston Person, Laurie Anderson, Gerald  Clayton, Mads Tolling, Linda Tillery, Leberta Lorál, Holly Near, Barbara Dane, Hector Lugo, Kalil  Wilson, Mimi Fox and Destiny Muhammad. In 2021 Tammy had the distinct honor of being the  inaugural Artist-In-Residence for the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. Other collaborative highlights  include working with the late Maestro Michael Morgan and members of the SF Symphony on  the project, Currents: Bay Area Blue Notes (2019). Tammy also received the inaugural  Pleasant-Leidesdorff Community Stalwart award in recognition of her work in the community, from  the San Francisco Chapter of the Human Rights Commission. In 2017 she received the Bay  Area Theatre Critics Circle award for Best Musical Direction, for her work with Pamela Rose’s  Blues Is A Woman. 

Jazz trumpeter/steelpan musician Chris Aschman enjoys a multi-faceted career as a performer, educator, studio musician, and arranger. A Baltimore native, Chris segued to Philadelphia to study jazz trumpet at the University of the Arts in 2004 and became a mainstay in the Philly scene. Since this time he has enjoyed a diverse career, having shared the stage with artist such as Paquito D’Rivera, Stanley Clarke, Dionne Warwick, Bakithi Kumalo, Chaka Khan, Kool and the Gang, Andy Narell, Ray Holman, Lotus, Dopapod, Tauk, and many others. Since relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2022, he has launched his new original project, the Chris Aschman Volcanic Band, and is now releasing his debut jazz record after years of fine tuning his compositional skills. His writing features a unique architecture that combines funky pocket grooves with odd meters and a pervasive Caribbean influence, giving each song a unique rhythmic signature.

Chris Aschman – Trumpet, Steelpan

Tony Peebles – Saxophone

Kai Lyons – Guitar

Adam Klipple – Keyboards, Organ

Henry Plumb – Drumset

Guitarist Liberty Ellman has been performing on the international jazz scene for many years, having with worked with the likes of Joe Lovano, Greg Osby, Jason Moran, Vijay Iyer, Steve Lehman, Myra Melford, Wadada Leo Smith, JD Allen, and standout vocalists Somi, and Ledisi among others. Performed faculty concerts with Dave Liebman, Mark Turner and Terri Lyne Carrington. Mr. Ellman is perhaps best known for his 20 year tenure with Henry Threadgill’s groundbreaking ensemble Zooid. Their recording “In For a Penny, In For a Pound” was awarded a Pulitzer prize in 2016. Liberty was voted #1 Rising Star in DownBeat magazine’s 2016 Critics Poll, and he was also honored in the 2015 Jazz Times expanded critics poll, as one of the four guitarists of the year alongside Bill Frisell, John Scofield and Julian Lage. As a composer and bandleader Mr. Ellman has produced five critically acclaimed recordings of original work: Orthodoxy (Red Giant Records), Tactiles, Ophiuchus Butterfly, Radiate, and Last Desert (Pi Recordings). Ellman’s compositional style has been described as “At once highly controlled and recklessly inventive,” and “quite original and subtle.” Ben Ratliff of the New York Times wrote: “Mr. Ellman’s ballads are special, exotic things: their melodies are memorable.” Playing a combination of original music and songs from the classic repertoire, Mr. Ellman will be joined by some of the Bay Area’s best: Matt Clark on piano, Jeff Denson on bass, and Jaimeo Brown on drums.

The sensitive and sophisticated vocal stylings of Carla Helmbrecht are the perfect complement to the soulful, blues- and swing-influenced style of the Brad Leali ensemble. Not only do they explore classic jazz standards and original materials, but they are able to infuse historical and modern components to their unique arrangements. This dynamic duo will be backed tonight by a world class trio with Adam Shulman (piano/organ), Brian Fishler (drums), and Matthew Montgomery (bass).

With a unique style and sound that echo the influences of his past, Brad Leali is one of the most notable saxophonists of current times. Leali toured and recorded with numerous jazz greats, including several years with Harry Connick, Jr. and later with the Count Basie Orchestra. Leali was a standing member of the Kennedy Center Honors Band and performed for President Obama’s first inaugural celebration. He tours and is a featured soloist with the Grammy-winning musician and actor, Lyle Lovett. Brad is currently the Professor of Jazz Saxophone at the University of North Texas

“Saxophonist Brad Leali was among the most soulful and exciting I’ve heard recently.” – New York Times

“His solos are sparkling and Cannonball Adderley influenced.”
- Evening Standard (London, England)

Grammy-nominated singer/song-writer, Carla Helmbrecht, began her love affair with music at a young age. Her recording ONE FOR MY BABY earned a prominent position on Gavin’s Jazz Chart, while BE COOL BE KIND debuted as “the most added jazz record on radio in the nation” and received three Grammy nominations. Carla is a featured artist on numerous other recordings, television and major motion picture films. She lives in San Francisco and tours nationally and internationally

“… imaginative…poetic and sophisticated…She’s hip without being frenetic, laid-back without sounding haphazard, and best of all, the lady swings without sweating…the lyric writer’s best friend.”   -Harvey Siders, JazzTimes

“She exudes warmth in spades…An unusually gifted vocalist, impeccable phrasing…steeped in a swinging jazz sensibility that reminds me of Mel Torme….” -Carol Archer, R & R Magazine

An Irish guy, a black guy, a Hungarian, and a Jew, walked into a bar. Once they were perched on their barstools, the soulful organ master Jimmy McGriff, streamed through the laptop speakers. “Rock Candy” was the song, and it pleased the four men very much. So much so, the men, who just happened to be distinguished musicians, decided on the spot, to organize an organ dominate quartet, name it SMOKEHOUSE, and get some gigs. That’s exactly what they did, and now the rest of the story.

Eamonn Flynn – organ, vocals and songwriting

Eamonn was born and raised in Ireland. Prior to moving to America, Flynn was best known for playing Hammond B3 organ, and piano on the soundtrack for “The Commitments”, a film about an Irish Soul band. The soundtrack sold 14,000,000 copies. Flynn relocated to San Francisco, in 1997. He went on to record and tour globally with Michael Franti & Spearhead, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Pee Wee Ellis, Maria Muldaur, and Meters’ drummer, Zigaboo Modeliste to name a few. 

Anthony Paule – guitar, vocals and songwriting

Anthony, is creator and leader of the twelve piece, horn driven, “Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra featuring Willy Jordan”. APSO performs and records original Blues and Soul music. Under Paule’s direction APSO, has received seventeen BMA nominations, and recorded six albums. Anthony has also toured and/or recorded with Boz Scaggs, Charlie Musselwhite, the Johnny Nocturne Band, Jackie Payne, Mark Hummel, Home Cookin’, Frank Bey, Wee Willie Walker, Maria Muldaur, and Van Morrison. 

Willy Jordan – drums, vocals, songwriting

Willy, has a varied musical background (blues, zydeco, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, rock, and jazz). He has performed and/or recorded with Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Carlos Santana, and Motordude Zydeco. From 1996 to 1998 Willy toured and recorded with blues legend John Lee Hooker. “Something Smells Funky ‘Round Here” recorded with Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio, garnered Willy two Grammy nominations. “I Found A Love”, a duet Willy sang with John Nemeth, for John’s double BMA winning “May Be The Last Time”. Willy is now lead vocalist with The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra.

Endre Tarczy – bass, vocals, songwritingEndre Tarczy is a first call bassist around the San Francisco Bay Area. He has played with iconic musicians such as John Lee Hooker, Gregg Allman, Robben Ford, Chris Cain, and Coco Montoya. Tarczy is a frequent collaborator at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, often appearing as part of the “Greaseland All Stars” alongside producer Kid Andersen. He has played on countless releases recorded at Greaseland including albums by Terry Hanck, Jackie Payne, Kid Andersen, Diuna Greenleaf, and many others. From 2018 to 2025 Tarczy held down the bass chair in the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra performing at festivals all around the U.S. and Europe.

Keys favorite Kenny Washington always brings concert thrills and spills to Keys. Don’t miss out on one of our very own world class bay area artists!Kenny Washington has thrilled audiences across the globe with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and inventive scatting. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington appeared in 2013 with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, alongside vocalists Gregory Porter and Paula West. 

Bay Area multi-instrumentalist Smith Dobson continues the Horns of SF series at Keys Jazz Bistro on the saxophone, with his long-running quartet, featuring Keith Saunders on piano, Eric Markowitz on bass, and Tony Johnson on drums. The quartet, which held court every Tuesday for nearly a decade at the now defunct Club Deluxe, will be exploring material from the great American songbook, as well as bebop classics and originals. 

“Hammond Organ Party! is an exceptional collaboration…Rose and De La Cruz have hit a home run!”  – Pete Fallico, Doodlin’ Lounge

“Outstanding vocals…Rose hits that jazz & soul sweet spot with Wayne De La Cruz and Hammond Organ Party!”  Frank-John Hadley, DownBeat

Jazz and blues audiences will associate vocalist and educator Pamela Rose with her work of the past 15 years, a celebration of women songwriters in her book, recording and touring multimedia shows Wild Women of Song: Great Gal Composers of the Jazz Era and Blues is a Woman.  

But San Francisco fans know that Rose’s enduring passion for the swinging and soulful sounds of the Hammond B-3 organ have often paired her with jazz B-3 master Wayne De La Cruz at local clubs and festivals.  De La Cruz approached Rose with the idea of taking that partnership into the studio with special arrangements structured for voice and B-3. 

The result is Hammond Organ Party!, an inexplicably rare encounter between a soul-drenched singer and a prodigious B-3 practitioner. Loose and limber, moving and grooving, this project feels like a Saturday night celebration, with Rose and her top-shelf cast romping through rare jazz standards, blues and R&B classics.Joined onstage by guitar great Danny Caron (Charles Brown, Bonnie Raitt), drummer Mark Lee, this group is ready to Party!

Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Fog City Swing! The bay area’s newest and hottest jazz and swing band featuring an electrifying three horn front line, stellar crooning vocals, and a swing till you drop rhythm section. Enjoy an evening of swing, hard bop, and even some classic pop favorites performed only the way they can! This seven piece ensemble will transport you to the 1940’s and beyond, it is truly the world’s smallest big band!

Best known for her iconic 1970s hit, “Band of Gold,” Freda Payne is a Detroit native whose vocal talents were discovered early in her life. From singing at local events and appearing on television talent shows, including Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour, she joined The Don Larges Make Way for Youth radio show at just fourteen. Her early career included an album deal with Impulse Records/ABC Paramount and later with MGM Records.

A protégé of Quincy Jones during his big band era, Freda also graced the stage of the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2008 as part of his seventy-fifth birthday celebration. While she is widely recognized for her gold records “BAND OF GOLD” and “BRING THE BOYS HOME” produced by Holland, Dozier, and Holland, Freda’s talent has garnered her a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Female Vocalist for “Band of Gold,” and another nomination from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science for her album “CONTACT.”

Beyond music, Freda has also appeared in several films, including “The Book of Number 1s,” “Rag Doll,” “Sprung,” “Nutty Professor the Klumps,” “Cordially Invited,” “Rhapsody,” “The Divorce,” and the upcoming Netflix series “Family Reunion.”

Her extensive experience in musical theatre includes roles in productions such as “DUKE ELLINGTON’S SOPHISTICATED LADIES,” “AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’,” “DADDY GOODNESS,” “JELLY’S LAST JAM,” “BLUES IN THE NIGHT,” and her recent acclaimed portrayal of Ella Fitzgerald in “ELLA FITZGERALD FIRST LADY OF SONG.”

Freda has just released her 26th CD, a Capitol Records studio recording titled “LET THERE BE LOVE,” featuring jazz big band arrangements and duets with renowned artists like Johnny Mathis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling, and Kenny Lattimore, which is currently charting in the jazz world. Her previous album, “Come Back Love,” was a return to her jazz roots. Additionally, her new memoir, “Band of Gold,” co-written with Mark Bego, which recounts her remarkable life story, is now available on Amazon.

Continuing to captivate audiences, Freda frequently performs at Jazz Festivals, appears as a guest with artists such as Michael Feinstein at Lincoln Center and Christian McBride, and consistently draws large crowds at R&B Soul Festivals, including sold-out shows in London for over 10,000 fans.

Adam Shulman – piano
Eric Markowitz – bass
Smith Dobson – drums

Known for her deep and thoughtful interpretations of the Great American Songbook, San Francisco Bay Area native Lori Carsillo was raised on a healthy diet of Julie London, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, and other jazz greats and was augmented by an early and enduring exposure to classical music. Her unique phrasing and less-is-more sound has led her to perform at such renowned venues as SFJAZZ, Yoshi’s, Albuquerque’s The Outpost, as well as international events such as the Fillmore Jazz Festival and Santa Fe Music Collective Jazz Series.

As a master songstress and storyteller, Carsillo has released five diverse albums and a multitude of singles to date. She continues to delve into songwriting and the worlds of theater, video production and film. As an artist—one with an insatiable desire to create—she is driven to bring her unique flavor of jazz to brand new audiences, and take it to bold new heights.

Eric Schugren – tenor sax, 

Cornel Fauler – drums, 

Willem von Hombracht – bass 

This trio has been playing together on and off for 35 years, ever since they first met in the early 1990s, when all three of them lived in Los Angeles. Their collaboration began at The World Stage, a jazz & poetry venue in the Leimert Park neighborhood of South Central LA, founded by drummer Billy Higgins and poet Kamau Da’houd. The trio branched off from a larger group called The Jazz Mission X-tet, and worked in several venues around ghe LA area. A long-standing weekly gig was at a live performance/health food spot, The Good Life. Since then each of the members have traveled widely, and worked with many other artists, but always took any opportunity to reunite. Schugren now lives in New York, and von Hombracht settled in St. Louis, but Fauler remains in his native Los Angeles. 

Their repertoire includes both original compositions and favorite standards. 

This will be their first appearance together at Keys; be sure to come out for some swinging grooves and good vibes!

Mike Olmos (trumpet)
Raffi Garribedian (tenor)
Greg Jacobs (piano)
Jaimeo Brown (drums)
Marcus Shelby (bass)

Miles Dewey Davis was born on May 26, 1926 making this entire year the centennial anniversary of arguably the most influential trumpet player in history. Marcus Shelby and his Quintet will pay homage to Miles by performing repertoire from his 1950-1960s catalog. This era was an artistically rich and innovative period for Miles Davis that included working with John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, Red Garland, Cannonball Adderley, Jimmy Cobb. Paul Chambers, and many others. During this 20 year period, Miles released a treasure trove of historical albums including Cookin’, Relaxin’, Workin’, Steamin’, Milestones, Miles Ahead, Kinda Blue, ESP, Seven Steps to Heaven, Nefertiti, Sorcerer, Miles Smiles, and dozens of live recordings. Much of this music is the cornerstone of our beloved art form. The Marcus Shelby Quintet featuring Mike Olmos (trumpet), Raffi Garribedian (tenor), Greg Jacobs (piano), Jaimeo Brown (drums), and Marcus Shelby (bass), will play a wide range of music from the Miles Davis repertoire from the 1950s through the 1960s and add commentary, stories, text, and reflection to one of the most creative and iconic geniuses of the 20th Century.

Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of “Ritmo y Voz”, where the deep-rooted traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz meet the power of dynamic vocals. This high-energy performance features an all-star lineup, including guitarist Kai Lyons, percussion master Ernesto, bassist Mazar, and the incomparable Einar Leliebre Nuñez, whose fiery rhythms and soaring voice bring the soul of Santiago de Cuba to life. Drawing from the rich traditions of Rumba, Timba, Changüí, and Batá, the group weaves a tapestry of sound that pulses with history, spirit, and innovation. Their collective experience includes collaborations with legendary artists like Omar Sosa, John Santos, and other torchbearers of the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz traditions.

Einar “Tito” Leliebre – Vocals, Percussion

Ernesto Kindelan Mazar- Bass

Kai Lyons-Guitar

Noel Jewkes is one of the premier saxophone players in Northern California.He has worked in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 35 years, and has earned a distinguished reputation with lovers of Jazz music.Noel has recorded with John Hendricks, Wesla Whitfield, Mary Stallings, Paula West, Mike Greensill, Lavay Smith, Bill Bell, Mimi Fox, Graham Bruce, Bobbe Norris, Larry Dunlap, Larry Vuckovich, Pat Yankee and Jerry Hahn, as well as his own ensembles.

Patrick Wolff is a jazz saxophone and clarinet player with a long history in the jazz scenes of New York City and San Francisco. His playing has been characterized by a focus on lyricism and an embrace of the whole lineage of jazz styles. For this special show, he is joined by Helen Sung, an elegant and swinging piano stylist who effortlessly travels across different styles of modern jazz and classical music. She has performed with Clark Terry, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, Regina Carter, Terri Lyne Carrington, Cecile McLorin Salvant, and the Mingus Big Band, and has fronted a long and diverse list of bands playing her original music. Joined by one of the Bay Area’s finest drum and bass teams, Smith Dobson and John Wiitala, this will be a special night of the finest bop and post bop repertoire.

Returning to Keys, Suzanna Smith fronts another stellar ensemble to work her magic around the Peggy Lee songbook. “There are relatively few contemporary female vocalists who evoke Peggy Lee, at least not genuinely. Suzanna Smith numbers among that rare ilk. That Smith sounds like Lee — slightly breathy and warmly sensual with a hint of huskiness — is undeniable, but the parallels extend much further. Lee’s ability to not just caress a ballad but smother it in mink has seldom been matched. She was also a sage swinger — never too much, never too little — as well as a first-rate songwriter. Smith checks all those boxes.”

— Christopher Louden, Jazz Times

Kate Lamont crafts original music with emotional depth that grooves. A frequent vocalist with the Jazz Mafia family, Kate’s reputation as a genre-fluid vocalist keeps audiences guessing as to what she’ll do next. Her collaborative nature has produced a wide variety of arrangements (and a TED talk you can find on her website, katelamont.com ) giving each song a unique jumping off point. A creative interpreter, Kate uses spacious arrangements to cover some of her favorite artists like Joni Mitchell and Nancy Wilson, and Michael Jackson.

Kate will be joined by Mike Blankenship (keys) Miguel Castuera (bass), and Darian Gray (drums)

Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of “Ritmo y Voz”, where the deep-rooted traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz meet the power of dynamic vocals. This high-energy performance features an all-star lineup, including guitarist Kai Lyons, percussion master Ernesto, bassist Mazar, and the incomparable Einar Leliebre Nuñez, whose fiery rhythms and soaring voice bring the soul of Santiago de Cuba to life. Drawing from the rich traditions of Rumba, Timba, Changüí, and Batá, the group weaves a tapestry of sound that pulses with history, spirit, and innovation. Their collective experience includes collaborations with legendary artists like Omar Sosa, John Santos, and other torchbearers of the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz traditions.

Einar “Tito” Leliebre – Vocals, Percussion

Ernesto Kindelan Mazar- Bass

Kai Lyons-Guitar

After 25 years as the lead vocalist for Santana, Tony Lindsay has garnered 11 Grammy awards, traveled on numerous world tours and recorded on seven Santana CDs: Milagro (1992), Supernatural (1999), Shaman (2002), Ceremony (2003), Food for Thought (2004), Ultimate Santana (2007), Multi-Dimensional Warrior (2008). In addition to many Grammy Show performances, Tony’s time with Santana included a 2003 pre-game performance at Super Bowl XXXVII where they were joined onstage by Beyonce. In 2015, Carlos Santana decided to change personnel in his band and set the wheels in motion for Tony to start on his 5th solo CD “Something Beautiful”. His previous solo albums are “Different Moods” (1995), “The Message is Love” (1997), “Tony Lindsay” and “Memoirs” (2014).

Howard Wiley presents a celebration of soul-jazz, funk, gospel, and R&B steeped in West Coast flavor, combining Wiley’s hard-driving originals with a funkified selection of classics.

Wiley has been a standout on the Bay Area music scene since he was a teenager in the mid-1990s, and he’s taken on the mantle of mentor, sage, and prophet of jazz. More specifically, jazz as a populist art form that thrives best when its shared roots with blues, funk, R&B, soul, hip-hop, and gospel live close to the surface.

LJ Holoman – Organ

Dante “Taz” Roberson – Drums

Robert Kennedy is a Hammond organist, pianist, and accordionist born and raised in the American South and resident in the Bay Area since 1988. He has released two albums as a bandleader on Hammond Organ; his 2018 album “Closer to Home” was widely heard, peaking at #1 on RMR’s jazz chart.

Robert’s Quartet is built around the soul jazz and hard bop of the middle 20th century, drawing from players like Lee Morgan, Herbie Hancock, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, and of course the greats of the Hammond organ: Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Charles Earland, and others. Along the way the group makes frequent forays into blues, funk, bebop, TV themes, pop tunes, and originals.

Robert Kennedy – organ

Ben Torres – tenor sax

Kai Lyons – guitar

Michael Reed – drums

Love-Centric. Soul-Crafted. Groove-Infused.

AgapeSoul fuses soul, funk, jazz, and R&B into a sound that’s undeniably soulful and deeply uplifting. Led by bassist and visionary Darryl Anders, the band delivers tight rhythms, rich harmonies, and infectious feel-good energy.

Fronted by powerhouse vocalists Fred Ross and Sonya Distel, and anchored by an electrifying rhythm section—Anders on bass, George Jackson on drums, Mike Wynar on guitar, and Immanuel Junaedy on keys—AgapeSoul crafts music with a message and a groove that can’t be denied. This is more than a band—it’s a soulful experience.

Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of “Ritmo y Voz”, where the deep-rooted traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz meet the power of dynamic vocals. This high-energy performance features an all-star lineup, including guitarist Kai Lyons, percussion master Ernesto, bassist Mazar, and the incomparable Einar Leliebre Nuñez, whose fiery rhythms and soaring voice bring the soul of Santiago de Cuba to life. Drawing from the rich traditions of Rumba, Timba, Changüí, and Batá, the group weaves a tapestry of sound that pulses with history, spirit, and innovation. Their collective experience includes collaborations with legendary artists like Omar Sosa, John Santos, and other torchbearers of the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz traditions.

Einar “Tito” Leliebre – Vocals, Percussion

Ernesto Kindelan Mazar- Bass

Kai Lyons-Guitar

Keys favorite Kenny Washington always brings concert thrills and spills to Keys. Don’t miss out on one of our very own world class bay area artists!Kenny Washington has thrilled audiences across the globe with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and inventive scatting. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington appeared in 2013 with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, alongside vocalists Gregory Porter and Paula West. 

Bay Area multi-instrumentalist Smith Dobson continues the Horns of SF series at Keys Jazz Bistro on the saxophone, with his long-running quartet, featuring Keith Saunders on piano, Eric Markowitz on bass, and Tony Johnson on drums. The quartet, which held court every Tuesday for nearly a decade at the now defunct Club Deluxe, will be exploring material from the great American songbook, as well as bebop classics and originals. 

Award-winning violin legend Tim Kliphuis (Holland) teams up with America’s rising star on gypsy jazz guitar Jimmy Grant (LA) to celebrate the music of famed musical duo, Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Re-creating the 1930s in Paris, and drawing inspiration from current-day classical and folk music as well, they alternate moments of dazzling interplay with melancholy and sheer exhilaration, in an inspired conversational journey that is different every night. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Fog City Swing! The bay area’s newest and hottest jazz and swing band featuring an electrifying three horn front line, stellar crooning vocals, and a swing till you drop rhythm section. Enjoy an evening of swing, hard bop, and even some classic pop favorites performed only the way they can! This seven piece ensemble will transport you to the 1940’s and beyond, it is truly the world’s smallest big band!

In a career that has spanned over 65 years, international jazz vocal legend Mary Stallings has earned a unique place in modern jazz. After decades of performing around the globe alongside a who’s who of talented collaborators, while quietly accumulating a series of thoughtful and well respected recordings, she still continues to challenge her boundaries and creative potential. Yet it is her deep connection to her roots and the community that nurtured her talent that reveal her artistry. Utilizing a wide and diverse repertoire, Stallings music expresses a profound spiritual essence combined with a love for that community that supported her. “This music is deep. lt is a life force. lt is a history of people’s lives and struggles. It is not just a bunch of notes., she explains. For this historic  debut performance at Keys, Mary returns to the Neighborhood where she first began her artistic journey, decades ago.

 Tammy L Hall Quartet: Tammy L. Hall, piano&vox; 

Ashley Jemison, Alto Sax; 

Amina Michelle Scott, contrabass; 

Ruth Price, drums. 

Songs we love about Love and all it’s joys and pains.

Tammy L. Hall is a Grammy® award winning pianist/composer/educator/collaborator/musical  director whose career spans some 40+ years. She currently works with SFJAZZ Organization  as a Lead Teaching Artist. Hall has worked with a wide array of vocalists and instrumentalists,  including the late Etta Jones and Ernestine Anderson; Renée Wilson, Ms. Loretta Devine, Kim  Nalley, Ph.D., Antoinette Montague, Susanne Mintzer, Marcus Shelby, Tiffany Austin, Terri Lyne  Carrington, Regina Carter, Kristen Strom, Tia Fuller, Houston Person, Laurie Anderson, Gerald  Clayton, Mads Tolling, Linda Tillery, Leberta Lorál, Holly Near, Barbara Dane, Hector Lugo, Kalil  Wilson, Mimi Fox and Destiny Muhammad. In 2021 Tammy had the distinct honor of being the  inaugural Artist-In-Residence for the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. Other collaborative highlights  include working with the late Maestro Michael Morgan and members of the SF Symphony on  the project, Currents: Bay Area Blue Notes (2019). Tammy also received the inaugural  Pleasant-Leidesdorff Community Stalwart award in recognition of her work in the community, from  the San Francisco Chapter of the Human Rights Commission. In 2017 she received the Bay  Area Theatre Critics Circle award for Best Musical Direction, for her work with Pamela Rose’s  Blues Is A Woman.

San Francisco-based guitarist/bandleader Nick Rossi is now best know for leading one of the West Coast’s most dynamic and popular swing dance combos, but he cut his teeth in the Bay Area playing in a string of great R&B bands. With this quartet, centered around the Hammond organ, Rossi explores a wide-range of repertoire incorporating elements of both swing and soul in a classic jazz format.

Nick Rossi – electric guitar

Kamrin Ortiz – tenor saxophone

Adam Shulman – Hammond organ

Michael Reed – drums

Will Bernard is in town performing with some of his long time associates, Adam Klipple and Deszon Claiborne. They will perform a mix of Will’s original music and jazz and soul-jazz classics drawn from the jazz organ trio repertoire.

Will and Deszon have been performing together  going back to Peter Apfelbaum’s Hieroglyphics ensemble from the 80’s and 90’s and continuing to the present day. Will and Adam started performing together when Will Moved to New York in 2007 and now on Will’s visits back to his Bay Area home town.

Although currently a New Yorker, Grammy nominated guitarist Will Bernard’s unique voice was formed fro the most part from the rich cultural roots of the San Francisco Bay Area. Along the way he studied classical music, jazz, played in basements and coliseums, and absorbed the Bay Area Multi-Kultii, the New York downtown edge, and the loose funk of New Orleans. He has performed or recorded with Charlie Hunter, Stanton Moore, Robert Walter, John Medeski, Dr Lonnie Smith, Ben Sidran, Peter Apfelbaum, Jai Uttal, Tom Waits, Bill Laswell, Dr. John and a lot of other known and unknowns. 

Tony Monaco

Tony Monaco may be the best organ player you have yet to hear of flying stealth while playing arguably some of the hottest B-3 around. Mentored by the legendary Jimmy Smith in what is considered the more classic style, Monaco does not swing, smolder or smoke. “Tony Monaco burns is this most fitting!” CriticalJazz Review2012. Tony Monaco began his keyboard life at age eight. When he was twelve, his destiny as a jazz organist was sealed when he first heard Jimmy Smith. An enthusiastic student, Tony began working in Jazz clubs as a teenager in his native Columbus, Ohio, guided by local organ gurus Hank Marr and Don Patterson. Four years later, Jimmy Smith invited Tony to come play at his club in California, a peak lifetime experience for Tony.

Bruce Forman

A hectic touring schedule; twenty-one recordings as a leader,  countless sideman recordings including Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, Roger Kellaway; soundtrack performances on three of Clint Eastwood’s distinguished films—most notably Academy Award-winning Million Dollar Baby; raconteur, arranger, acclaimed educator, in residence at USC’s Studio/Jazz Guitar Dept., when does Bruce Forman rest? 

Deszon Claiborne

A native of the Bay Area, Deszon Claiborne began his musical career at the early age of ten. Virtually self taught in the beginning, he went on to study with world-renowned drummers such as Richard Peterson, Rick Quintinel (Chuck Brown school of Drumming), James Levi, Billy Cobham and Kenneth  Nash , an experience which provided him with a strong foundation in jazz, rhythm & blues and world music. He has had the pleasure to perform or record with the following artists: Peter Apfelbaum, Don Cherry, Charles brown, Angela Bofill, Les McCann, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Robin Ford, Boz Scaggs, Greg Howe, Henry Butler, Giovani Hildalgo, Kai Eckhardt, John Handy, Taj Mahal, Donald Harrison, Rodney Franklin, and may others.

The sensitive and sophisticated vocal stylings of Carla Helmbrecht are the perfect complement to the soulful, blues- and swing-influenced style of the Brad Leali ensemble. Not only do they explore classic jazz standards and original materials, but they are able to infuse historical and modern components to their unique arrangements. This dynamic duo will be backed tonight by a world class trio with Adam Shulman (piano/organ), Brian Fishler (drums), and Matthew Montgomery (bass).

With a unique style and sound that echo the influences of his past, Brad Leali is one of the most notable saxophonists of current times. Leali toured and recorded with numerous jazz greats, including several years with Harry Connick, Jr. and later with the Count Basie Orchestra. Leali was a standing member of the Kennedy Center Honors Band and performed for President Obama’s first inaugural celebration. He tours and is a featured soloist with the Grammy-winning musician and actor, Lyle Lovett. Brad is currently the Professor of Jazz Saxophone at the University of North Texas

“Saxophonist Brad Leali was among the most soulful and exciting I’ve heard recently.” – New York Times

“His solos are sparkling and Cannonball Adderley influenced.”
- Evening Standard (London, England)

Grammy-nominated singer/song-writer, Carla Helmbrecht, began her love affair with music at a young age. Her recording ONE FOR MY BABY earned a prominent position on Gavin’s Jazz Chart, while BE COOL BE KIND debuted as “the most added jazz record on radio in the nation” and received three Grammy nominations. Carla is a featured artist on numerous other recordings, television and major motion picture films. She lives in San Francisco and tours nationally and internationally

“… imaginative…poetic and sophisticated…She’s hip without being frenetic, laid-back without sounding haphazard, and best of all, the lady swings without sweating…the lyric writer’s best friend.”   -Harvey Siders, JazzTimes

“She exudes warmth in spades…An unusually gifted vocalist, impeccable phrasing…steeped in a swinging jazz sensibility that reminds me of Mel Torme….” -Carol Archer, R & R Magazine

Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Fog City Swing! The bay area’s newest and hottest jazz and swing band featuring an electrifying three horn front line, stellar crooning vocals, and a swing till you drop rhythm section. Enjoy an evening of swing, hard bop, and even some classic pop favorites performed only the way they can! This seven piece ensemble will transport you to the 1940’s and beyond, it is truly the world’s smallest big band!

In a career that has spanned over 65 years, international jazz vocal legend Mary Stallings has earned a unique place in modern jazz. After decades of performing around the globe alongside a who’s who of talented collaborators, while quietly accumulating a series of thoughtful and well respected recordings, she still continues to challenge her boundaries and creative potential. Yet it is her deep connection to her roots and the community that nurtured her talent that reveal her artistry. Utilizing a wide and diverse repertoire, Stallings music expresses a profound spiritual essence combined with a love for that community that supported her. “This music is deep. lt is a life force. lt is a history of people’s lives and struggles. It is not just a bunch of notes., she explains. For this historic  debut performance at Keys, Mary returns to the Neighborhood where she first began her artistic journey, decades ago.

An Irish guy, a Black guy, a Hungarian, and a Jew, walked into a bar. Once they were perched on their barstools, the soulful organ master Jimmy McGriff, streamed through the laptop speakers. “Rock Candy” was the song, and it pleased the four men very much. So much so, the men, who just happened to be distinguished musicians, decided on the spot, to organize an organ dominate quartet, name it SMOKEHOUSE, and get some gigs. That’s exactly what they did, and now the rest of the story.

Eamonn Flynn – organ, vocals and songwriting

Eamonn was born and raised in Ireland. Prior to moving to America, Flynn was best known for playing Hammond B3 organ, and piano on the soundtrack for “The Commitments”, a film about an Irish Soul band. The soundtrack sold 14,000,000 copies. Flynn relocated to San Francisco, in 1997. He went on to record and tour globally with Michael Franti & Spearhead,Evelyn “Champagne” King, Pee Wee Ellis, Maria Muldaur, and Meters’ drummer, Zigaboo Modeliste to name a few. 

Anthony Paule – guitar, vocals and songwriting

Anthony, iscreator and leader of the twelve piece, horn driven, “Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra featuring Willy Jordan”. APSO performs and records original Blues and Soul music. Under Paule’s direction APSO, has received seventeen BMA nominations, and recorded six albums. Anthony has also toured and/or recorded with Boz Scaggs, Charlie Musselwhite, the Johnny Nocturne Band, Jackie Payne, Mark Hummel, Home Cookin’, Frank Bey, Wee Willie Walker, Maria Muldaur, and Van Morrison.

Willy Jordan – drums, vocals, songwriting

Willy, has a varied musical background (blues, zydeco, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, rock, and jazz). He has performed and/or recorded with Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Carlos Santana, and Motordude Zydeco. From 1996 to 1998 Willy toured and recorded with blues legend John Lee Hooker.“Something Smells Funky ‘Round Here” recorded with Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio, garnered Willy two Grammy nominations. “I Found A Love”, a duet Willy sang with John Nemeth, for John’s double BMA winning “May Be The Last Time”. Willy is now lead vocalist with The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra.

Endre Tarczy – bass, vocals, songwriting

Endre Tarczy is a first call bassist around the San Francisco Bay Area. He has played with iconic musicians such as John Lee Hooker, Gregg Allman, Robben Ford, Chris Cain, and Coco Montoya. Tarczy is a frequent collaborator at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, often appearing as part of the “Greaseland All Stars” alongside producer Kid Andersen. He has played on countless releases recorded at Greaseland including albums by Terry Hanck, Jackie Payne, Kid Andersen, Diuna Greenleaf, and many others. From 2018 to 2025 Tarczy held down the bass chair in the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra performing at festivals all around the U.S. and Europe.

Keys favorite Kenny Washington always brings concert thrills and spills to Keys. Don’t miss out on one of our very own world class bay area artists!Kenny Washington has thrilled audiences across the globe with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and inventive scatting. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington appeared in 2013 with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, alongside vocalists Gregory Porter and Paula West. 

Grant Levin is a pianist and composer based in San Francisco. He has performed at the San Jose, Stanford, Fillmore, Cotati, Benicia, and SF jazz festivals.Levin has also performed at notable venues such as: SFJAZZ Center, Mildred Owen Concert Hall (Pacifica), Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall (SF),Yoshi’s (Oakland),Sam First(Los Angeles), and Dizzy’s (San Diego).He is a member of the Noel Jewkes quartet and leads his own group ‘Classic/Modern!

For this performance,the Trio breaks from its late night routine to create some midweek magic at Keys! Come hear Keys owner, Simon Rowe with two of the Bay Area’s finest.

His ‘Transcendent Trio’, formed for a “Jazz on the Patio” residency during the pandemic will feature the dynamic Dave Macnab-Guitar, the ebullient Brian Fishler-drums and Rowe on Hammond organ for a set of Blues, Bebop, Ballads and Banter.

Simon Rowe-Organ

Dave Macnab-Guitar

Brian Fishler -Drums

Returning to Keys, Suzanna Smith fronts another stellar ensemble to work her magic around the Peggy Lee songbook. “There are relatively few contemporary female vocalists who evoke Peggy Lee, at least not genuinely. Suzanna Smith numbers among that rare ilk. That Smith sounds like Lee — slightly breathy and warmly sensual with a hint of huskiness — is undeniable, but the parallels extend much further. Lee’s ability to not just caress a ballad but smother it in mink has seldom been matched. She was also a sage swinger — never too much, never too little — as well as a first-rate songwriter. Smith checks all those boxes.”

— Christopher Louden, Jazz Times

Having worked together for decades,Guitar Trifecta debut at Keys with their unique brand of interplay. Comprised of veterans Lloyd Gregory,Carl Lockett and Eddie Pasternak, these giants have blended their individual styles into one singular voice.

Carl Lockett is a Bay Area legend. A musical child prodigy, Carl started out as a drummer, then went to the guitar. By the age of 14, he was playing gigs around the Bay Area, even opening for the legendary Redd Foxx’s comedy shows. For over 4 decades, he has made a name for himself in the music industry.

Eternally youthful, and upbeat, he still wears his passion for music on his sleeve. At his live shows, if you watch closely, you’ll often see him break into a big grin, the music just gives him that much joy.

An award-winning guitarist and composer, San Francisco based Lloyd Gregory is a well-established musician whose style is smooth, soulful, melodic, flowing and immediately charismatic. His extensive R&B roots add a distinct texture to his styling. Gregory is a master of both acoustic and electric guitar.

“Lloyd expertly fuses soul, pop and jazz, forging a hybrid that is both enjoyable and intellectually stimulating.” — Minor 7th: Acoustic Music Review

“I love Lloyd’s style as a musician. He is a sweet, warm guy, which comes out in his music. His music reminds me of a modern-day Wes Montgomery.” — the legendary Stanley Clarke

Eddie Pasternak is a delightful presence with an abundance of warmth, wit, and charm. He consistently presents himself with the greatest of elegance and class. It is his combination of musicianship, style and personality that sets Eddie apart from other fine local musicians and makes him the perfect musical choice for the sophisticated venues of the San Francisco Bay Area.

For a quarter century, Eddie has been a mainstay of the Bay Area music scene. Eddie’s guitar work has been a welcome feature in swing-oriented performances with former members of Count Basie and Duke Ellington’s bands as well as in Motown dance bands. He has frequently performed in the Bay Area’s finest hotels and major local events. Noted Bay Area music critic Lee Hiderbrand describes him as a “remarkable guitarist who plays basslines and chords simultaneously. He generates intense swing.“

Eddie Studied with Warren Nunes from 1968 to 1975. Then, continued studying with pianists – Dick Hidman, Don Haas, Marcos Silva. Later, with guitarists – Joe Pass and John Stowell.

A cowboy and a samurai walk into a bar…it could happen! Bruce Forman and Akira Tana team up to explore the archetypes, and their relation to the jazz ethos. Expect thrilling improvisation, storytelling, and tons of fun! 

“Bruce Forman is one of the great lights of our age.” Barney Kessel, Jazz Times

A hectic touring schedule; twenty-one recordings as a leader,  countless sideman recordings including Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, Roger Kellaway; soundtrack performances on three of Clint Eastwood’s distinguished films—most notably Academy Award-winning Million Dollar Baby; raconteur, arranger, acclaimed educator, in residence at USC’s Studio/Jazz Guitar Dept., when does Bruce Forman rest? 

Born and raised in California, Akira Tana earned degrees from Harvard University and the New Conservatory of Music. Tana has worked with, among others, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Zoot Sims, Hubert Laws, Milt Jackson, Jim Hall, Art Farmer, The Paul Winter Consort, Paquito D’Rivera, James Moody, J.J. Johnson, Lena Horne, The Manhattan Transfer, Ruth Brown, Charles Aznavour, Maurice Hines, and Van Dyke Parks. He has appeared on over 200 recordings.

Love-Centric. Soul-Crafted. Groove-Infused.

AgapeSoul fuses soul, funk, jazz, and R&B into a sound that’s undeniably soulful and deeply uplifting. Led by bassist and visionary Darryl Anders, the band delivers tight rhythms, rich harmonies, and infectious feel-good energy.

Fronted by powerhouse vocalists Fred Ross and Sonya Distel, and anchored by an electrifying rhythm section—Anders on bass, George Jackson on drums, Mike Wynar on guitar, and Immanuel Junaedy on keys—AgapeSoul crafts music with a message and a groove that can’t be denied. This is more than a band—it’s a soulful experience.

Jazz wise it’s refreshing – something truly special – a unique combination that stands out from any other Latin jazz trio on the scene today. .………  Powerhouse Jazz/Latin Trio has a repertoire unlike any other Jazz/Latin trio on the scene today anywhere! This unique, wide-ranging repertoire includes outstanding rare swinging standards, jazz classics from Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Bill Evans, Sonny Clark, exciting Latin jazz pieces featuring romantic boleros, hot mambos, cha-cha’s, Brazilian classics, funky boogaloo Bluesy rhythms, a touch of the Balkan Middle Eastern – North African sounds, a bit from the local favorite Vince Guaraldi repertoire + more.…… As well is being a top-of-the-line Latin, Afro-Cuban percussionist, Hector Lugo has emerged as one of the top vocalists on the jazz scene anywhere. At recent concerts, Hector has been knocking at the audiences with his beautiful voice, singing romantic boleros, improvised jazz salsa on top of the montunos, doing Afro-Cuban chants, and more. Hector is constantly adding fresh new selections to his repertoire making the program something to be looking forward to. Completing this exciting trio is the seasoned, veteran highly respected bassist, Doug Miller. Don’t miss this exciting, creative performance that features inspiring, wide-ranging repertoire, which will definitely lift your spirits!

Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of “Ritmo y Voz”, where the deep-rooted traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz meet the power of dynamic vocals. This high-energy performance features an all-star lineup, including guitarist Kai Lyons, percussion master Ernesto, bassist Mazar, and the incomparable Einar Leliebre Nuñez, whose fiery rhythms and soaring voice bring the soul of Santiago de Cuba to life. Drawing from the rich traditions of Rumba, Timba, Changüí, and Batá, the group weaves a tapestry of sound that pulses with history, spirit, and innovation. Their collective experience includes collaborations with legendary artists like Omar Sosa, John Santos, and other torchbearers of the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz traditions.

Einar “Tito” Leliebre – Vocals, Percussion

Ernesto Kindelan Mazar- Bass

Kai Lyons-Guitar

“In sassy, solidly assured, crowd-pleasing form, a whole lot of interpretive brilliance.” —JazzTimes

Acclaimed for her inventive artistry and magnetic stage presence, Clairdee’s lustrous voice and soulful delivery hearkens back to a time when jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues often blended seamlessly together. Combining scene-stealing charisma with heartfelt humility and a sincere belief in the transformative power of music, she has honed a repertoire of standards set to state of the art arrangements that are equally smart and entertaining.

Her career highlights include collaborations with renowned musicians like Dick Hyman, Houston Person, Russell Malone, Regina Carter, and Ken Peplowski, as well as performances around the globe, including prestigious venues like Dizzy’s NYC and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Clairdee’s discography as leader includes four highly regarded albums which have garnered international airplay and press. She is a recipient of the Bay Area Jazz & Blues Artist Lifetime Achievement Award.

Clairdee, vocals

Ken French, piano, music director

John Wiitala, bass

Jason Lewis, drums

John Hoy, guitar

Bay Area multi-instrumentalist Smith Dobson continues the Horns of SF series at Keys Jazz Bistro on the saxophone, with his long-running quartet, featuring Keith Saunders on piano, Eric Markowitz on bass, and Tony Johnson on drums. The quartet, which held court every Tuesday for nearly a decade at the now defunct Club Deluxe, will be exploring material from the great American songbook, as well as bebop classics and originals. 

Patrick Wolff’s newest band is a swinging organ quartet that draws from the style of the late 50s/early 60s collaborations of Shirley Scott/ “Lockjaw” Davis and Lod Donaldson/ Big John Patton. Featuring two of the Bay’s experts in this idiom, pianist/organist Adam Shulman and guitarist Jack Tone Riordan and the talented up and coming drummer Miles Turk, this band grooves hard through repertoire classic and unexpected.

Saxophones- Patrick Wolff

Guitar- Jack Tone Riordan

Organ- Adam Shulman

Drums- Miles Turk

Ring in the New Year like it’s 1959!

Step into a time-machine of style, sound and sparkle as Keys Jazz Bistro transforms into the glamorous era of El Matador. Picture the bull-fight memorabilia and chic nights of Barnaby Conrad’s marquee nightclub—now reborn for one unforgettable evening. 

We’re  honoring the spirit of El Matador—once the must-go spot on Broadway for top names in jazz like Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, Cal Tjader and more. Because there’s something magical about crossing the threshold into a new year in vintage style, live music, and community.

Two special shows by jazz legends Mary Stallings & Kenny Washington,together in concert for the very first time. The sparks will be flying and the tears flowing as the Grand Dame of  SF, Mary Stallings joins Keys favorite, Kenny Washington.

And at 10:30pm — The infectious rhythms of Afro-Cuban ensemble Ritmo y Voz will carry us into midnight and beyond!

Dress the part: Channel your inner ’50s star—sharp suits, swing dresses, gloves, pearls, slicked-backs, and sparkles encouraged!

Because you deserve a night of elegance, swing, and memory‐making!

In a career that has spanned over 65 years, international jazz vocal legend Mary Stallings has earned a unique place in modern jazz. After decades of performing around the globe alongside a who’s who of talented collaborators, while quietly accumulating a series of thoughtful and well respected recordings, she still continues to challenge her boundaries and creative potential. Yet it is her deep connection to her roots and the community that nurtured her talent that reveal her artistry. Utilizing a wide and diverse repertoire, Stallings music expresses a profound spiritual essence combined with a love for that community that supported her.

Keys favorite Kenny Washington always brings concert thrills and spills to Keys. Don’t miss out on one of our very own world class bay area artists!Kenny Washington has thrilled audiences across the globe with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and inventive scatting. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington appeared in 2013 with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, alongside vocalists Gregory Porter and Paula West.

Tickets: $50 per ticket, per show

Ritmo y Voz take us into 2026 at 10:30pm

Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of “Ritmo y Voz”, where the deep-rooted traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz meet the power of dynamic vocals. This high-energy performance features an all-star lineup, including guitarist Kai Lyons, percussion master Ernesto, bassist Mazar, and the incomparable Einar Leliebre Nuñez, whose fiery rhythms and soaring voice bring the soul of Santiago de Cuba to life. Drawing from the rich traditions of Rumba, Timba, Changüí, and Batá, the group weaves a tapestry of sound that pulses with history, spirit, and innovation. Their collective experience includes collaborations with legendary artists like Omar Sosa, John Santos, and other torchbearers of the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz traditions.

Tickets: $40 per ticket