Upcoming Shows

Coming on the heels of an October concert at Berklee College of Music in Boston with the Laszlo Gardony Quintet, Artmann will be joined by pianist Laszlo Gardony, bassist Jeff Denson, drummer Yoron Israel, and vocalist Elena McEntire. The shows are a reunion for the longtime collaborators and provide an opportunity to introduce new material, which Artmann plans to record in early 2027.

“Not only are these players some of my very favorite musicians in the world,” says Artmann, “but there are deep connections running through the band—a special, joyous chemistry that is hard to find nowadays where long-term touring bands have become the exception rather than the norm. I used to study composition and improvisation with Laszlo, and out of that teacher-student relationship developed a mentorship, a friendship,” and then, about 10 years ago, a professional association as colleagues onstage and in the recording studio.

“Laszlo and Yoron have been performing and recording together for a couple of decades,” adds Artmann, “as part of the amazing Laszlo Gardony Trio and elsewhere. Together with Jeff, we all have Berklee connections one way or another. Jeff, Laszlo, and I also relate as musicians who are very comfortable in both jazz and classical music, and Elena adds to that as a singer coming primarily from classical music (Lieder and opera).”

Artmann is enthusiastic about the new music that audiences will be hearing for the first time at the Bay Area shows next month, before the group enters the recording studio early next year. “The new repertoire follows my deep passion for crossing boundaries and creating universal music,” he says, “so while everything is rooted in the jazz tradition, there are elements of prog rock, funk, classical harmony, and spiritual/Buddhist themes throughout, at times exploring very open spaces but then again locking into odd-metered, dance-like grooves.”

Among the new songs are “The Calling,” “Dark Matter,” “Not That Deep,” “Dorothea,” “Habeas Corpus,” “Abhaya,” “Keep on Dreaming,” “Planet Blue,” and a couple that have yet to be named.

“I am truly very excited about this new material,” says Artmann. “It’s a big step forward for me, going deeper into my own musical consciousness, showing full commitment to just write the music that comes through me from the universe, as opposed to ‘trying’ for a particular sound, style, or accomplishment. As such, it is both very inspired and very honest music.”

Christian Artmann’s debut as a leader came with Uneasy Dreams (2011), followed by Fields of Pannonia (2015), Our Story (2018), and The Middle of Life (2023). His fifth album will be recorded and released in 2027. He records for Sunnyside Records and is a Miyazawa Artist.

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.

Contemporary jazz pianist, keyboardist and composer, Peter Horvath has been perfecting his craft since the age of six when he began taking classical piano lessons. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he attended the BelaBartok Conservatory of Music. At age 17, he won the National Jazz ComboCompetition in Hungary and two years later moved to Austria to attend theVienna Conservatory of Music. In 1983, Peter moved to the United States,where he studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has since performed, recorded and toured nationally and worldwide with a long line of world-class artist, including jazz greats Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson,Richie Cole, Ernie Watts, Eddie Henderson, Charles McPherson, Benny Maupin, the Victor Bailey Group, Lenny White, Arturo Sandoval, RandyBrecker, Marcus Miller, Pee Wee Ellis Funk Assembly, Bob Mintzer, BobSheppard, Craig Handy, Tiger Okoshi, Lalah Hathaway, Melba Moore,Ledisi, Keith Washington, Rosie Gaines, Ray Obiedo, Pete Escovedo and the Oakland Symphony. Peter composed for and performed with David Garibaldi for his critically acclaimed Warner Brothers video/CD series and recorded the tracks for Aretha Franklin’s performance of the NationalAnthem at the 1993 World Series.Peter Horvath’s first solo recording, “

Jazz Mafia co-founder Adam Theis brings his own compositions to the Keys stage with a 12-piece all-star ensemble of strings, horns and rhythm section. Adam has been writing for strings for more than 20 years, from Cosa Nostra Strings to his Brass, Bows & Beats Hip-Hop Symphony, and this lineup is one of his favorite sounds to write for: a huge palette of lush textures and colors, wide dynamics, and plenty of muscle when the music calls for it.

Expect a full night of Adam Theis originals played by some of the Bay Area’s finest string players and improvisers, from the delicate to the downright powerful.

Featuring Mike Olmos (trumpet), Chloe Scott Jones (flute), Tommy Occhiuto (sax), Adam Theis (trombone), Shaina Evoniuk (violin), Irene Sazer (violin), Michi Aceret (viola), Lewis Patzner (cello), Dan Zemelman (piano), Sascha Jacobsen (upright bass), Aaron Kierbel (drums), and special guests

This show kicks off a special Birthday celebration week as Keys celebrates 4 years in San Francisco!

“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!

Join us as one of the Bay Area’s most beloved artists helps us celebrate four years at Keys!

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

Join us as one of the Bay Area’s most beloved artists helps us celebrate four years at Keys!

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. 

Join us as one of the Bay Area’s most beloved trios helps us celebrate four years at Keys!

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

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 Lou 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 from decades of the jazz tradition and multiple continents.

Saxophones- Patrick Wolff

Guitar- Jack Tone Riordan

Organ- Adam Shulman

Drums- Miles Turk

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!

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.

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

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.

Three special shows by Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers will set the mood and keep the party rolling, conjuring the heady days of North beach when John Steinbeck, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner and Bing Crosby frequented El Matador.

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!

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers have performed at many of the top festivals and concert venues in the US, Europe, Japan and Canada.  They have headlined at Jazz At Lincoln Center on New Year’s Eve, and were featured at the official Oscars after-party in Hollywood.  Performing classics and obscure gems from the golden age of jazz, blues and R&B, Lavay and her all-star band serve up soulful candy for your ears and an instant recipe for dancing and good times.

Tickets: $50 per ticket, per show or purchase the 6pm VIP ticket ($120) for a champagne reception and all three shows!