Another great week of live in the Bay Area. Here are some suggestion for this week..

Monday April 2nd

Pier 23 Pier 23 The Embarcadero, San Francisco 5:00 PM-8:00 PM Showtime Frederick Hodges is back at Pier 23. Hodges is a master technician of stride piano. If you love ragtime, stride piano, and novelty numbers of the teens, 1920s and 30s, then do not miss this rare performance. N/C

Mr.Tipples 39 Fell St, San Francisco 7:00 PM-10:00 PM Showtime Le Hot Jazz The spirit of Django is alive and well in San Francisco. This is a great ensemble. Highly recommended!! N/C

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 9:30 PM-12:30 AM Showtime Mike Olmos Presents The Sessions Mike is a such a great trumpet player. He leads his all star Sessions for a great night of jazz.. N/C

If you live near Santa Cruz be sure to check out

Kuumbwa Jazz Center 320 Cedar St # 2, Santa Cruz, CA 8:00 PM Showtime Jazz organist extraordinaire Joey DeFrancesco & The People are in town. I have seen Joey a few times and he is just a great musician. Highly recommended!!! $29-$59 Cover Charge

Tuesday April 3rd

Mr.Tipples 39 Fell St, San Francisco 7:00 PM-10:00 PM Showtime The Kevin Gerzevitz Trio plays the music of Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Herbie Nichols and more. Exploring the repertoire of ’50’s bebop and ’60’s soul jazz, the band enjoys the power of the piano trio format, weaving chromatic bounce through the repertoire of the historical legends of the period, as well as through compositions of their own. Kevin Gerzevitz on piano, Gabriel Case on bass, Vijay Anderson on drums. N/C

Yoshis 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 8:00 PM Showtime Jazz organist extraordinaire Joey DeFrancesco & His Trio are in town. DeFrancesco’s new quartet, features him on the Hammond B-3—plus contributions on keyboards, trumpet and as a vocalist. Accompanying DeFrancesco are drummer Jason Brown, guitarist Dan Wilson and saxophonist Troy Roberts—collectively billed as the People. I have seen Joey a few times and he is just a great musician. Highly recommended!!! $29-$59 Cover Charge

Wednesday April 4th

Pier 23 Pier 23 The Embarcadero, San Francisco 6:00 PM-9:00 PM ShowtimeMitch Woods boogie woogie, blues and r&b master pianist is playing a solo gig. Mitch is a Bay Area treasure and this is a great venue to see him perform. Highly recommended N/C

Tupelo 1337 Grant Ave, San Francisco 9:00 PM-1:00 AM Showtime If you don’t know Johnny Z and the Camarros you should. They are such a fun rock and roll band. They will have Tupelo rockin’ out. N/C

Cigar Bar & Grill 850 Montgomery St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime The French American Quartet is an outstanding Django inspired gypsy jazz and American standard ensemble. Steve Froberg is jusat a great guitarist. Highly recommended..N/C

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM Bay City Blues featuring Chris Cain is a weekly showcase of world class Blues music and superb instrumental talent. This event is a celebration of the Blues in all its forms and an adventure into the depth of a national genre. Hosted by the nationally recognized Chris Cain & his All-Star cast of Musicians, every week they invite a new special guest to accompany them on stage and present new, upcoming, & old talent from the blues world! Bay City Blues is our tribute and exploration into the Blues genre, it is a special event in which we all get to help, share, & “Preserve the Blues.” Highly recommended!! $20 Cover Charge

Elbo Room Jack London Square 311 Broadway, Oakland 9:00 PM-1:00 AM Showtime The Howling Wolfmen have built-up a rep for been crazy and I mean Crazy!But don’t be fooled,these guys can play!! It’s all good ,fun stuff and these guys are one band to watch! Highly recommended! $10 Cover Charge

Thursday April 5th

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Showtime Buena Vista Jazz Band is a great jazz band performing classic jazz and blues tunes at are the classic songs of New Orleans jazz, along with selections from America’s blues and Tin Pan Alley in the tradition of the great Eddie Condon bands of the 1940’s and 1950’s. Highly recommended!! No Cover Charge..

Hemlock Tavern 1131 Polk St, San Francisco 8:30 PM-11:55PM Showtime This should be a fun night of music headlined by The Sweet Bones taking garage and punk rock beyond their genres including The Kinks, The Ramones, Primal Scream, The Clash and The MC5 with latin, surf music and Punk influences at play. The Power pop garage punk band All Day Breakfast and Mott The Hoople inspired The Royal Panics open the show. $7 Cover Charge..

Cigar Bar & Grill 850 Montgomery St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime The 29th Street Swingtet is a highly talented and youthful gypsy jazz/swing/world group that is heavily rooted in the ‘gypsy jazz’ sound of French swing guitarist Django Reinhardt. This ensemble draws upon various different jazz oriented genres including be-bop, blues and Latin. Highly recommended!!! N/C

Sweetwater Music Hall 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley 8:00 PM Showtime Some bands want to change the world Five Alarm Funk‘s goal is much simpler, they want you to sweat!! This is a horn powered, percussion fueled sonic and visual assault that will keep you dancing all night. This will be a great show by a great band. Highly recommended!! $14 Cover Charge

Friday April 6th

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 10:00 PM Showtime Lavay Smith & Her 8 Piece Little Band Lavay is the reigning Queen Of Classic Jazz & Blues in the authentic style of the 1940’s and 1950’s. She will be performing with her 8 piece little band. Lavay is one of my favorite singers. Highly recommended!! N/C

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM Showtimes.. I have been following the Vanessa Collier Blues Band for a while now. Recently nominated for a 2017 Blues Music Award (BMA) Vanessa Collier, returns to Biscuits & Blues with her talented 5-piece band. Dubbed an “old soul”, Vanessa’s songwriting and arrangements are steeped with blues, funk, rock, and soul influences. She is a multitalented saxophonist, vocalist, and award-winning songwriter. Vanessa delivers soulful bluesy vocals and gritty saxophone solos, demonstrating masterful musical skill in each incredible high-energy performance. I am looking forward to seeing this show. $24 Cover Charge

Red Poppy Art House 2698 Folsom St, San Francisco 8:00 Showtime Het Hat Club consists of four street musicians who put their own spin on classic Django-style jazz standards and Balkan folk melodies. Formed nearly two years ago, saxophonist Valentin Desmarais, guitarists Isaac Misri and Antonio D Erchie Jr., and accordionist Bito Janos continue to hone their sound playing street performances, concerts, festivals, and tours throughout Europe. Should be a good show. $20 Cover Charge

Bottom Of The Hill 1233 17th St, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime Nina Diaz the highly talented singer songwriter, who fronted the critically hailed indie-punk band “Girl in a Coma” will be performing promoting her debut solo album “The Beat is Dead”. Houston’s peripatetic pop troupe The Wild Moccasins and the San Francisco dream-pop ballads and glam-rock influenced duo Love Jerks round out a really good night of music. $15 Cover Charge

The Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison St, Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime Omara Portuondo is a diva in the best sense, an ambassador of Cuba to the world. Now in her mid-eighties, there is a sense in which the curtains of an era are slowly, elegantly coming down. But she will forever, as the old show business adage has it “Always leave them wanting more.” As Cuban writer Ivan Garcia put it “Her voice is still lush, as it was when she sang in her parents’ dressing room”. This should be a great opportunity to see this legendary singer.. $50 Cover Charge

Saturday April 7th

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM Showtimes.. I have been following the Vanessa Collier Blues Band for a while now. Recently nominated for a 2017 Blues Music Award (BMA) Vanessa Collier, returns to Biscuits & Blues with her talented 5-piece band. Dubbed an “old soul”, Vanessa’s songwriting and arrangements are steeped with blues, funk, rock, and soul influences. She is a multitalented saxophonist, vocalist, and award-winning songwriter. Vanessa delivers soulful bluesy vocals and gritty saxophone solos, demonstrating masterful musical skill in each incredible high-energy performance. I am looking forward to seeing this show. $24 Cover Charge

Bottom Of The Hill 1233 17th St, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime This is going to be a great night of music headlined by Soccer Mommy twenty-year-old Sophie Allison the bedroom pop and indie rock singer/songwriter musician and Nashville native. Madeline Kenny and Rose Droll are the opening sets. $12 Cover Charge..

Boom Boom Room 1233 17th St, San Francisco 9:30 Showtime Funk Revival Orchestra brings old school rare funk, grooves and soul to the masses.With 11 members and growing F.R.O. brings a high energy, heavy sound to audiences with a style that blends the latin, breakbeat, hip-hop and rare groove feels into one package. This show always brings a huge crowd, and party you will never forget. West Grand Boulevard opens the night with their brand of classic Motown, R&B, and Soul hits. Highly Recommended!! $12 Cover Charge

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 2:30 PM-5:30 PM Showtime Banda Sin Nombre is an outstanding five-piece street band performing folk music from around the world. Mixing rich vocal harmonies with acoustic instruments including guitar, fiddle, charango, cajon, and bass, the band’s inspirations range from Peruvian Chicha to Catalan Rumba and Appalachian old time to Cumbia. This is one of the best live performance bands in the Bay Areas!! N/C

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Showtime Howell Devine My favorite Bay Area blues band. They will have the house rockin at the Deluxe. N/C

If you live or are around the North Bay check out

Rancho Nicasio 1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio, CA 8:30 PM Showtime Chuck Profit And The Mission Express are one of the Bay Area’s great performers. One of my favorite groups Chuck always puts on a great show. Highly recommended!! $20 Cover Charge

Sunday April 8th

Hotel Utah 500 4th St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime Swamp Child the San Francisco based rock band combining the soulful and dreamy pop influence of New Orleans born singer Brandi Cheek and the Chicago garage blues sound of guitarist Robb Hagle. Together they create an alternative pop and rock sound that melds classic influences with a modern indie approach. I really love this band. The Hell Tones and Smoky Knights round out a good night of music. $10 Cover Charge…

SF Masonic 1111 California St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime The Breeders are back on tour!! The American alternative rock band formed in 1989, and led by a favorite rocker of mine Kim Deal, is promoting their new album “All Nerve”. I really like new recording. Highly recommended!! $29-$45 Cover Charge

Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society 311 Mirada Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 4:30 PM Showtime Benny Golson Jazz icon Benny Golson returns to the Bach with his Quartet. Golson has played in the bands of Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Earl Bostic, and Art Blakey. As the only living jazz artist to have written 8 standards for jazz repertoire, he has more than 30 albums and 300 compositions to his credit during his 60+ year career. This humble musical giant continues to impress critics, fans and fellow musicians with his prodigious contributions to the world of jazz. This is a show you won’t want to miss! Benny Golson – Tenor Saxophone; Sharp Radway – Piano; Marcus Shelby – Bass; Darrell Green – Drums $55 Cover Charge $35 for Students.

Yoshis 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 8:30 PM Showtime The horn-fueled, jumping, swinging, award-winning band, Roomful of Blues , touring in support of their latest Alligator CD, 45 Live, will perform at Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA on April 8th. With their masterful combination of jumping, horn-heavy, hard-edged blues and R&B, it’s no wonder why the great Count Basie called them “the hottest blues band I’’ve ever heard.” Since 1967, the group’s deeply rooted blend of swing, rock ‘n’ roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it five Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues Music Awards. Highly recommended!! $26 Cover Charge.

The UC Theatre 2036 University Ave, Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime I always get excited when The Dustbowl Revival comes to the Bay Area. This Americana and Soul band with eight full-time members who mash the sounds of New Orleans funk, bluegrass, soul, pre-war blues, and roots music has become known for their free-flowing and joyous live shows, combining their funk rhythm and brass section with a fast-picking string band section. If you are near Berkeley This is a show not to be missed. Highly recommended!!! $22.50 Cover Charge

If you live or are around the North Bay check out

Rancho Nicasio 1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio, CA 5:00 PM Showtime Mike Lipskin is one of the greatest stride/jazz pianists in the universe and & Dina Lee is one of the Bay Area’s best jazz vocalists. If you are out and around Nicasio you really should check this show out. Plus added bonus No Cover Charge!!!

Video Pick Of The Week

Finding Fella Finding Fella Trailer

This ambitious music project was dreamed up by theater producer Stephen Hendel, and resulting from his obsession with the passion of the Nigerian musical powerhouse Fela Kuti, who generated 70 albums over decades. Born in 1938, jailed 200 times, and at his peak of popularity in the 70’s and 80’s, Kuti finally died of AIDS in 1997. Over the years Hendel acquired many Kuti rights; he commandeered the hit Tony-winning Broadway musical “Fela,” which is one focus of the Alex Gibney movie. If the play told the story of the musician, the film is about the process of understanding the man. Gibney and editor Lindy Jankura faced over 1200 hours of excavated footage that they had to assemble over two years into a complex narrative. Music is front and center, along with the complex Nigerian government politics that Fela navigated as a global superstar.