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

Monday October 15th

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Showtime…The High Tide Trio is a sensational super instrumental band featuring Mitch Polzak on guitar and bass, Hank Maninger on guitar and bass, and Les James on drums. Les will not be playing guitar. Hank and Mitch will switch off on guitar and bass. Mitch and Hank will not be playing the drums. The band plays all sorts of interesting guitar instrumentals, including surf, country, jazz, bluegrass, and movie and TV show themes. 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

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

Tuesday October 16th

Bar Fluxus 18 Harlan Pl, San Francisco 9:00 PM-1:30 AM Showtime. Vibrason is another great band out of the Bay Area. Very reminiscent of some of the Cal Tjader bands. Highly recommended.. $10 Cover Charge.

Le Colonial 20 Cosmo Pl, 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

Revolution Cafe 3248 22nd St, San Francisco 8:30 PM-11:30 PM Showtime..Inspired by many world musical traditions, The Pickpocket Ensemble inhabit a country all their own. Original and fresh, this quintet creates a contemporary chamber café music that moves both body and soul. Highly recommended!!! N/C

Verdi Club 2424 Mariposa St, San Francisco 9:00 PM-11:30 PM Showtime… 29th Street Swingtet is another of my local favorite ensembles. I love that their music is heavily influenced by Django Reinhardt but includes all sorts of flavors in their original compositions – blending gypsy jazz, swing, bebop, latin, blues and touches of pop music. Highly recommended!! $10 Cover Charge

Yoshis 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 8:00 PM Showtime.. Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee J.D. Souther is “one of the most celebrated songwriters of his generatio.n Raised on a steady diet of big band and jazz during his childhood, Souther has routinely returned to that music—as well as the genius songwriters of the early 20th century (Gershwin, Cole Porter)—for inspiration. On his latest studio album, Tenderness, Souther combines these musical threads, striking a perfect balance between understated jazz and the ineffable pop narratives that have been the backbone of much of his greatest work.. Highly recommended!! $39-$65 Cover Charge.

Wednesday October 17th

Bimbo’s 365 Club 1025 Columbus Ave, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime.. Tom Morello-The Atlas Underground Experience.. Legendary musician singer/songwirtier and potlical activist and guitar-god Tom Morello will be in performance promoting his new highly anticipated collaborative album “The Atlas Underground”! Highly recommended!!! $50 Cover Charge..

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Showtime.. Lulu & The Rent Party.. One of my favorite bay Area bands. They play an eclectic selection of jazz, latin, and pop tunes. They are really fun. Highly recommended!! N/C

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 9:30 PM-12:30 AM Showtime. The Patrick Wolff Bebop Quartet is deeply rooted in the bebop tradition established by Bird, Clifford Jordan and Dexter Gordon. Patrick is absolutely my favorite Bay Area tenor player and he leads an outstanding group of musicians..N/C.

Brick & Mortar Music Hall 1710 Mission St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime.. A really good show tonight. Headlining are The Hottman Sisters a three-piece, indie pop/rock band centered around melodic guitar riffs, synth, samples, and tight harmonies. Also on the bill tonight are Ruby Force Music which is the musical brainchild of Erin McLaughlin, captures her personal journey of self-discovery…marked by a maturity and ease in tone, lyrics that elicit confidence in the midst of questions, and a flirty playfulness that will melt anyone’s heart. All this – with an invitation to listen and engage in her twisted tales of life and love, lost and gained. Opening the show is the Americana funk rock band The Morning Drive. Highly recommended!!! $15 Cover Charge..

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM Showtimes.. 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..

The Back Room 1984 Bonita Ave, Berkeley 9:00 PM Showtime.. One of contemporary folk music’s most beloved artists Tracy Grammer is renowned for her springwater-clear alto, perfectly intoned violin, and guitar playing that is by turns percussive and delicate, Grammer is also a gifted storyteller whose incantations add a rare mixture of vulnerability, intimacy, and hard-won insight to her performances. Highly recommended!!!! $18 Cover Charge…

If you live in and around Santa Cruz you may want to check out

Kuumbwa Jazz Center 320 Cedar St # 2, Santa Cruz 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM Showtimes.. Aside from being one of the principal innovators of modern jazz guitar, John Scofield is a creative artist of an even rarer sort: a stylistic chameleon who has forged a consistent, rock-solid aesthetic identity. Looking to commemorate his 66th year, Scofield penned twelve original compositions and formed a swinging new group to record and tour the music including Gerald Clayton on piano, drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Vicente Archer. John is one of the great guitaists of his generation and I highly recommend seeing him!!!!! $42 Cover Charge..

Thursday October 18th

The Fillmore 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime.. Country music singer/songwriter Randy Hauser‘s stripped-down, back-to-basics approach an unique sound is a reason why his star on the rise. I really like his latest album “Magnolia” which Randy described as a return to the rootsy sound he grew up hearing and playing in the tiny town of Lake, Mississippi. Highly recommended!!!$28.50 Cover Charge.

Bottom of the Hill 1233 17th St, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime.. With his raspy, soulful voice and instantly memorable original songs, roots-rocking multi-instrumentalist Eric Lindell is a true one-of-a-kind talent. Mixing West Coast rock and swampy New Orleans R&B with honky tonk country and Memphis soul, Lindell creates American roots music that is both surprisingly fresh and sweetly familiar. Since his first self-release over two decades ago, Lindell has earned critical and popular acclaim, first in his dual home bases of New Orleans and Northern California and then across the country. Although influenced by American roots music from blues to country to rock, Lindell’s style is all his own. He has performed thousands of gigs in roadhouses, clubs, concert halls and festivals and has appeared on national radio and television. His live shows overflow with happy, dancing people singing the words to every song. Rounding out the night is the great word blues drummer Peter Joseph Burtt and soul/funk/reggae musician Sam Ravenna. Highly recommended!!!!!! $30 Cover Charge.

Brick & Mortar Music Hall 1710 Mission Street, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime…The Austin, Texas transcendental folk band The Deer has developed a unique indentity by marrying moody southern gothic rock with tranquil, vivid dream-pop. Highly recommended!!! $15 Cover Charge..

Swedish American Hall 1319, 2174 Market St, San Francisco 6:30 PM Showtime..Michael Nesmith‘s eclectic, electric life spans his star-making role on The Monkees, his invention of the music video, and his critical contributions to movies, comedy, and the world of virtual reality. His funny and thoughtful memoir Infinite Tuesday takes readers on a pilgrimage in search of a set of principles to live by, from a childhood in Dallas, where his single mother Bette invented Liquid Paper, to the set of The Monkees, the heart of swinging London, and an unexpected oasis of brilliance in the Santa Fe desert, where friendships with Douglas Adams and Los Alamos scientists pointed him toward the power of the infinite. A true American original. In conversation with writer and actor Beth Lisick. Book sales and signing to follow. $25 Cover Charge…

Mr.Tipples 39 Fell St, San Francisco 8:30 PM Showtime.. The Ben Misterka Collectivity Trio is the Bay Area’s most original jazz funk and psychedelic soul trio. Ben is a great guitarist and puts on some of the most memorable live performance I have seen locally. 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 Camaros you should. They are such a fun rock and roll band. They will have Tupelo rockin’ out. N/C

Friday October 19th

The Chapel 777 Valencia St, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime.. Celebrating the 45th anniversary of Grammy winning dub & reggae pioneer Lee “Scratch” Perry’s landmark 1973 album “Blackboard Jungle Dub”, the world’s first dub album, Scratch, now 82 years young, is touring with his hybrid band of new school electronics and veteran Jamaican musicians performing music from their album “Super Ape Returns To Conquer”, and classics from Perry’s work with the likes of Bob Marley, Max Romeo, and many more. Highly recommended!!!! $35 Cover Charge..

Pier 23 Pier 23 The Embarcadero, San Francisco 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Showtime. One of the very best boogie-woogie, jump blues and jazz pianist and singers Mitch Woods will be performing with his trio. A great opportunity to see one of the vesry best performers of his genre. Highly recommended!!! N/C

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM Showtime Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers is internationally recognized as The Queen Of Classic Jazz & Blues in the authentic style of the 1940’s and 1950’s as the band pays tribute to the swingin’ Kansas City tradition, featuring the music of Count Basie, Jimmy Rushing, Joe Williams, Helen Humes, Lester Young, Jay McShann, Walter Brown, Jimmy Witherspoon, Myra Taylor & Big Joe Turner! Highly recommended!! $24 Cover Charge

Bird & Beckett 653 Chenery St, San Francisco 5:30 PM-8:00 PM Showtime.. The Scott Foster Quartet has been performing regularly for the last several years and compiled a large repertoire. Joining Scott will be Dave Scott (Trumpet), Surya Prashanka (Drums), and Aaron Germain (Bass) led by Scott (Guitar). Scott is a great jazz guitarist and this band really cooks. Highly recommended!!! $10 Cover Charge

The Black Cat Jazz Club 400 Eddy St, San Francisco 6:30 PM-9:30 PM Showtime.. singer/songwriter Lilan Kane is one of the Bay Areas very best soulful r&b/funk/pop & jazz vocalists. Lilan and her band has opened for Hall & Oates, Sharon Jones and Trombone Shorty. She is a great performer. Highly recommended!!! $20 Cover Charge..

The Fox Theatre Oakland 1807 Telegraph Ave, Oakland 8:00 PM Showtime.. One of the great American soul bands St. Paul & The Broken Bones will be playing their brand of southern blue eyed soul music. This is a great performance band. Highly recommended!!!$37 Cover Charge..

Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley 8:30 PM Showtime.. The International Body Music Festival Minifest which focuses on the Body Music stories of a host of Bay Area artists featuring Balinese Kecak from Dewa Berata; Stepping from Antwan Davis; South Indian Solkatu from Jim Santi Owen; Contemporary Body Music from Evie Ladin’s MoToR/dance, flamenco from Clara Rodriguez y AguaClara Flamenco, The Ranky Tanky from Rhonda Benin, and Balkan Dance from Ivan Velev and Sean Tergis.. Highly recommended!!! $20 cover Charge..

If you live in and around Santa Cruz you might want to check out

Moes Alley 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz 9:00 PM Showtime.. The B Side Players are an 8-piece band taking part in a new movement in popular music. A band that honors the international cross-pollination that has always made music the universal language. They use any beat that catches their ear, regardless of geography or genre, to create a compelling, horndriven, polyrhythmic groove. They continue exploring the multifaceted grooves of Latin America and the Caribbean, incorporating the sounds of Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico and Brazil with the funk, rock, jazz and hip-hop rhythms of their homeland, dropping bits of Cumbia, Salsa, gritty street Samba, Son Montuno, Jarocho and Boogalo into the mix. Highly recommended!!! $20 Cover Charge..

Saturday October 20th

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM Showtimes.. For over 30 years Roy Rogers & The Delta Kings have continued to bring the blues to its legions of fans around the world. Rogers is considered one of the Blues scene’s preeminent slide guitarist. His distinctive guitar style is instantly recognizable and certainly unforgettable. His haunting and alluring musical renderings are firmly set in the heart of the Delta. A night with the Roy and The Delta Rhythm Kings features classics and originals ranging from the acoustic slide blues of Robert Johnson, Lighting Hopkins to the rockin’ blues of John Lee Hooker and Muddy Water songs such as. “Shake Your Money Maker”, “Walkin’ Blues”, “Terraplane Blues” “Dust My Broom” and “The Sky is Crying”. Highly recommended!!!!! $35 Cover Charge..

Bimbos 365 Club 1025 Columbus Ave, San Fancisco 9:00 PM Showtime. Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mason Jennings has toured the world for close to 20 years. He is on tour promoting his new album “ Songs From When We Met”. He is a great performer and quite engaging. Opening up the show is singer/songwriter Paula Fraiser‘s unique, ethereal voice and beautiful songs are frequently described as dark country with an eclectic and lush mix of folk, blues, rock, and pop. She performs with her band Tarnation, which consists of guitarist Jacob Aranda, a talented artist in his own right, Sam Berman on drums and David Cuetter on pedal steel. Highly recommended!!!! $25-$45 Cover Charge!!!

The Black Cat Jazz Club 400 Eddy St, San Francisco 6:30 PM-9:30 PM Showtime.. Danielle Wertz is wonderful jazz vocalist and the Bay Areas best interpreter of the “Great American Songbook”. I like the way she combines elements of jazz and folk creating her own distinctive voice. II like he “Swinging Band” as well. Highly recommended!!!! $20 Cover Charge..

Brick & Mortar Music Hall 1710 Mission St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime.. It’s time to get you funk up and put on your dancing shoes because Sinister Dexter is celebrating the band’s 20th anniversary. The ten-piece soul/funk band features a really great vocalist in Rebecca Lipon. This will be a great night of music. Highly recommended!!! $15 Cover Charge..

HopMonk Tavern 224 Vintage Way, Novato 8:00 PM Showtime… The B Side Players are an 8-piece band taking part in a new movement in popular music. A band that honors the international cross-pollination that has always made music the universal language. They use any beat that catches their ear, regardless of geography or genre, to create a compelling, horndriven, polyrhythmic groove. They continue exploring the multifaceted grooves of Latin America and the Caribbean, incorporating the sounds of Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico and Brazil with the funk, rock, jazz and hip-hop rhythms of their homeland, dropping bits of Cumbia, Salsa, gritty street Samba, Son Montuno, Jarocho and Boogalo into the mix. Highly recommended!!! $20 Cover Charge..

Bing Concert Hall/ Stanford 327 Lasuen St, Stanford 7:30 Showtime.. Grammy Award–winning Kronos Quartet premieres a new program featuring music from the original seven “banned” countries—Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen—among others. Kronos’ Music for Change: The Banned Countries highlights a rich diversity of artistic voices, including works composed specifically for the performance, new collaborations, and signature works from Kronos’ extensive repertoire. Highly recommended!!!$32-$52 Cover Charge..

Sunday October 21st

Bird & Beckett Books and Records 653 Chenery St, San Francisco 4:40 PM-6:30 PM Showtime.. Howell Devine is my favorite Bay Area blues band…The massively talented trio plays a mix of old Delta/country blues but with a rollicking present day sound that really sets them apart from other blues bands. The group consists of triple threat talent Joshua Howell (slide guitars, harmonica, voice), percussion savant Pete Devine (drums, washboard) and snappy doghouse bassist Joe Kyle Jr. deftly mix sinuous Delta/country blues with wildly syncopated rhythms to create a rollicking present day sound from the past. Nice setting to see them perform as well. Highly recommended!!!! $10 Cover Charge..

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM Showtimes.. Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s have been the torchbearers of a great American blues musical heritage, not for three years but three decades. Taking their inspiration from the great jump n’ boogie outfits of the late 40s and early 50s, they breathe fresh life into the music that gave birth to rock n’roll. Woods styled his group after the jumpin’ n’ jivin’, shoutin’ n’ honkin’, pumpin’ n’ poundin’ bands of Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, Joe and Jimmy Liggins, Amos Milburn, and Roy Milton. Adding a healthy dose of New Orleans rhythm and blues, piledrivin’ piano, and some of his own contemporary playful lyrics, Woods and His Rocket 88s forge their own brand of music they call “rock-a-boogie.” Highly recommended!!!!! $230 Cover Charge..

HopMonk Tavern 224 Vintage Way, Novato 5:00 PM Showtime.. Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express will be performing as part of the Hopmonk Tavern’s Cookout Concert Series.. Nice way to spend the late afternoon enjoi=ying good food and grest music. Highly recommended!! $25 Cover Charge..

The Lucky Horseshoe Bar 453 Cortland Ave, San Francisco 4:00 PM-7:00 PM Showtime.. Bernal Hillbillies.. A great three hours of bluegrass music at a really great venue reminiscent of the jams at the Old Paul Saloon many years ago. N/C

Amnesia Bar 853 Valencia St, San Francisco 8:30 PM-10:30 PM Showtime.. The Hot Baked Goods are a band of young jazz musicians playing hot tunes of the 30’s. Most of the band members started as swing dancers, and became so infatuated with the music that they decided to make some themselves. I saw them at the Amnesia and this band really swings. N/C

Video Pick Of The Week..

The Allen Toussaint Touch is documentary that gives a charming portrait a gives unique access to the very private man behind some of the best-loved songs of the twentieth century – New Orleans songwriter and producer, Allen Toussaint.