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

Monday December 17th

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

Sweet Water Music Hall 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley 7:00 PM Showtime. The Christmas Jugband is invading Sweetwater for a return to the namesake that was the band’s main home turf for 20+ years. This irreverent crew of stalwart purveyors of the jugabilly mystique is a seasonal assemblage of misfits of Commander Cody alumni & others from notable Bay Area musical aggregations such as Those Darn Accordions, The Moonlighters, Jesse Colin Young, and Elvis Costello. What started as Wild Turkey-inspired momentary lapse of sanity is now, 5 albums (over 25,000 sold) & 35 years of fruitcakes later, an unconventional tradition of highly skewed merriment. One never knows exactly what form this 100% acoustic folk-skiffle-swing jug band will take from one season to the next, but those who attend will get a guaranteed full dose of tongue-in-cheek holiday high jinks! Highly recommeded.. $27 Cover Charge..

Amnesia Bar 853 Valencia St, San Francisco 6:30 PM-8:30 PM Showtime.. The Handsome Ladies, the best ladies-only bluegrass ensemble, hold an early jam session. If you are a lady, bring your instrument and get involved. Highly recommended!! N/C

The Independant 628 Divisadero St, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime. Music icon George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic is appearing in San Francisco for possibly the last time.. He has called this his final tour. The God Father of Funk, his recordings both as Parliament and Funkadelic, George Clinton revolutionized R&B during the ’70s, twisting soul music into funk by adding influences from several late-’60s acid heroes:Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and Sly Stone. I saw Clinton last year and it a great show. Highly recommended!!!

Rickshaw Stop 155 Fell St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime.. The Shacks are already well on their way to becoming one of the year’s big breakouts, and their remarkable debut album, ‘Haze,’ solidifies their status as a band with ability to deliver on the well-deserved buzz. Also on the bill is the a great Americana soul band Evan & The Live Oaks. Highly recommended!!! $12 Cover Charge,,

The Fox Theatre Oakland 1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland 8:00 PM Showtime. Jack Black and Kyle Gass make up the Greatest Band in the World: Tenacious D. They started playing together in Kyle’s studio apt on Cochran Ave in Los Angeles. No one could have ever dreamed of where the band’s genius would take them, but take them it did. The band had a variety series on HBO that aired in 1999. Their self-titled album was released in the fall of 2001 with Epic Records and was quickly certified at gold-selling status, and has since been certified platinum. The duo completed their first feature film together -Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny – for New Line Cinema, which was released in November 2006. The album Rize of the Fenix followed in 2012, receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album. Highly recommended!!!! $55-$75 Cover Charge..

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

Kuumbwa Jazz Center 320 Cedar St # 2, Santa Cruz 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM Showtimes.. With a career spanning 25 years and almost 20 albums Charlie Hunter consistently ups his game as an innovative writer and bandleader. He has worked with the likes of Norah Jones, Mos Def, John Mayer, D’Angelo and countless others. He is widely considered the authority on the seven and eight-string guitar, and continues to stun audiences with his ability to simultaneously play bass parts, melodic leads and swinging rhythms. This trio concert features Lucy Woodward vocalist and drummer Derrek Phillips .Highly recommended!!!! $43 Cover Charge..

Tuesday December 18th

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.

Great American Music Hall 859 O’Farrell, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime.. With a career spanning 25 years and almost 20 albums Charlie Hunter consistently ups his game as an innovative writer and bandleader. He has worked with the likes of Norah Jones, Mos Def, John Mayer, D’Angelo and countless others. He is widely considered the authority on the seven and eight-string guitar, and continues to stun audiences with his ability to simultaneously play bass parts, melodic leads and swinging rhythms. This trio concert features Lucy Woodward vocalist and drummer Derrek Phillips. Highly recommended!!!! $22 Cover Charge..

Bottom Of The Hill 1233 17th St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime. Four really good bands tonight with the campy alt rock band hailing from Philadelphia headlining Ready Now.. San Francisco based fem rockers Buzzed Lightbeer, San Francisco based jangle pop garage rock band Kilroi and soft pop band rounding out the night. Highly recommended!!!!! $12 Cover Charge..

The Fox Theatre Oakland 1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland 8:00 PM Showtime. Jack Black and Kyle Gass make up the Greatest Band in the World: Tenacious D. They started playing together in Kyle’s studio apt on Cochran Ave in Los Angeles. No one could have ever dreamed of where the band’s genius would take them, but take them it did. The band had a variety series on HBO that aired in 1999. Their self-titled album was released in the fall of 2001 with Epic Records and was quickly certified at gold-selling status, and has since been certified platinum. The duo completed their first feature film together -Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny – for New Line Cinema, which was released in November 2006. The album Rize of the Fenix followed in 2012, receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album. Highly recommended!!!! $55-$75 Cover Charge..

Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley 8:30 PM Showtime. Tom Rigney and Flambeau is the Bay Areas preeminent cajun & zydeco band. This is such a fun band. Highly recommended!! $15 Cover Charge..

Wednesday December 19th

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.

Slims 333 11th St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime.. Redd Kross is an American alternative rock band who had their roots in 1978 in a punk rock band called the Tourists. This is a great performance band. Highly recommended!!! $18 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.” Tonight’s special guest is vocalist Tony Lindsay.. Highly recommended!! $20 Cover Charge.

Revolution Cafe 3248 22nd St, San Francisco 8:30 PM-11:55 PM Showtime…The Jazz Beaus is a wonderful exuberant ensemble. It’s a real treat that they are performing this evening. I will be there to see them. Highly recommended!!!! N/C

Cats Corner 2174 Market St, San Francisco 9:30 PM-Midnight. Cosmo Alleycats is one of my favorite Bay Are jazz ensembles. The Alleycats are so good and so much fun and one of the better jazz bands in the Bay Area. Highly recommended. $10 Cover Charge..

Local Edition 691 Market St, San Francisco 8:00 PM-Midnight Showtime…Steve Lucky and the Rumba Bums perform vintage jazz, pounding boogie woogie rhythms, sultry ballads, and funky-swinging New Orleans R&B. This band simply gives you the beat to move your feet. This will be a fun show. N/C

If you live in and around the North Bay you may want to check out

Blue Note Napa 1030 Main St, Napa 7A:00 PM & 8:45 Showtimes.. Barrio Manouche is a great Bay Area ensemble performing a repertoire of original instrumental compositions with a unique sound that it’s difficult to classify but instantly recognizable deeply influenced by a range of musical traditions, from the swing of Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, to the hot jazz of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli,the gypsy soul of eastern europe, the flamenco of Paco de Lucía to the avant-garde sounds of Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane… Highly recommended!!!!$35 Cover Charge..

Thursday December 20th

SF Jazz 201 Franklin St, San Francisco 7:30 Showtime.. The Marcus Shelby Orchestra will be performing Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite. Special guests include vocalists Kenny Washington and Tiffany Austin. Highly recommended!!!!! $15/$27/$30/$37/$55/$75 cover charge..

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Showtime. Loretts Gooden & The B3 Band is one of the Bay Area’s most down home soulful blues bands led by Loretta’s powerful, gospel infused vocals. 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

The Backroom 1984 Bonita Ave, Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime… Roberta Donnay & The Prohibition Mob Band Holiday Party, with special guests. The Prohibition Mob features trumpeter Rich Armstrong (Boz Scaggs), trombonist Mike Rinta (Santana, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter), bassist Simon Planting (Mathilde Santing, Bill Frisell), pianist Sam Cady (Noel Jewkes) and drummer Kelly Fasman (Peter Cetera, Kenny Loggins). Roberta is a favorite of mine and this should be a swinging holiday show.. Highly recommended!!!! $20 Cover Charge..

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music 2367 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley 8:30 PM Showtime..Myles Parrish annual holiday party is one of the fun Bay Area Christmas shows. Joining Myles are The Chels , The Ya Ya Family, Jakeswav and Priceless da Roc. Highly recommended!!!! $20 Cover Charge..

The Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison Street Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime.. The Christmas Jug Band brings together an all-star crew of clever and crafty Bay Area musicians for a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the season to be jolly! Their latest album, Jugology, features old favorites from their classic Christmas albums of yore, Mistletoe Jam, Tree-Side Hoot, Rhythm on the Roof, Uncorked, and On the Holiday Highway. Mistletunes.com calls Jugology another light-hearted romp from some West Coast experts in old-school American music. The result is music that’s fun, funny, and full of Christmas cheer! Highly recommended!!!! $28 Cover Charge..

Friday December 21st

Bird & Beckett 653 Chenery St, San Francisco 5:30 PM-8:00 PM Showtime.. The Scott Foster Quartet takes a look at the famous Wes Montgomery/Wynton Kelly collaboration. Joining Scott are Ben Stolorow on piano, Noah Schenkeron bass & Omar Aran on drums. Highly recommended!!! $20 Cover Charge..

Great American Music Hall 859 O’Farrell, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime..The eclectic alternative rock, punk ska heavy soul band Fishbone will be hosting their 7th annual Christmas party. Highly recommended!!! $30 Cover Charge..

Royal Cuckoo 3202 Mission St, San Francisco 7:30 PM Showtime.. Lavay Smith sings at the hippest bar in San Francisco, accompanied by Chris Siebert on the Hammond organ. You’ll love the vibe, the cocktails, and the world-class collection of vintage vinyl spinning for your listening pleasure. Highly recommended!!! N/C

Bottom Of The Hill 1233 17th St, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime. A good show tonight with the psych r&b rockers Killer Whale headlining.. Garage soul band Failure Machine and indie rock and blues band Moondog Matinee round out the night.. Highly recommended!!! $12 Cover Charge..

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 9:30 PM-12:30 AM Showtime. Cosmo Alleycats is one of my favorite Bay Are jazz ensembles. The Alleycats are so good and so much fun and one of the better jazz bands in the Bay Area. Highly recommended. No Cover Charge..

Red Poppy Art House 2698 Folsom St, San Francisco 7:30 PM-10:00 PM Showtime. Two of the Bay Area’s most revered musicians Will Bernard & Beth Custer will be performing original chamber jazz.. Highly recommended!!!! $25 Cover Charge…

SF Jazz 201 Franklin St, San Francisco 7:30 Showtime.. Pianist Adam Shulman reprises his tribute to Bay Area jazz legendVince Guaraldi and his soundtrack to Charles Schulz’s 1965 holiday classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Among the most beloved holiday albums of all time Shulman will be joined by bassist John Wiitala and drummer James Gallagher. Highly recommended!!!! $15/$25/$30/$35/$50/$70 Cover Charge..

The Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison Street Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime.. Mandolin master virtuoso David Grisman has played with everyone from Stephane Grapelli to Jerry Garcia, from Doc Watson to Hal Blaine. Tonight he returns to his swing jazz sweet spot, joined by an all-star lineup of stalwarts – George Cole on guitar, George Marsh on percussion, Matt Eakle on flute, Jim Kerwin on bass, and Chad Manning on fiddle – and perhaps a few special guests! Highly recommended!!!! $44 Cover Charge..

Ivy Room 860 San Pablo Ave, Albany 8:00 PM Showtime.. A great show tonight featuring two of my favorite local bands. Barrio Manouche is a great Bay Area ensemble performing a repertoire of original instrumental compositions with a unique sound that it’s difficult to classify but instantly recognizable deeply influenced by a range of musical traditions, from the swing of Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, to the hot jazz of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, the gypsy soul of Eastern Europe, the flamenco of Paco de Lucía to the avant-garde sounds of Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane…Howell Devine is the massively talented NorCal trio featuring Joshua Howell (Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica)Pete Devine (Drums & Washboard) and Joe Kyle Jr. (Upright Bass). Triple threat talent Joshua Howell (slide guitars, harmonica, voice) and percussion savant Pete Devine (drums, washboard) plus 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. HowellDevine breaks from the norm, providing rich and complex textures integral to the music rather than simple backing for a soloist. The result is a sound which stands in stark contrast to the typical blues heard in bars these days and would more likely be shaking the floors of a Southern juke joint some 70 years ago. Highly recommended!!!!$14 Cover Charge..

The Fox Theatre 1807 Telegraph Ave, Oakland 8:00 PM Showtime.. Critically acclaimed, multi-platinum singer-songwriter John Legend is on his Legendary Christmas tour promoting his new Christmas Album “A Legendary Christmas”. Highly recommended!!!$149-$249 Cover Charge..

If you live in and around the North Bay you may want to check out

Mystic Theatre 23 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma 8:00 PM Showtime.. This holiday season The Blind Boys of Alabama are touring in support of their latest Christmas album, “Talkin’ Christmas!” That album features blues legend Taj Mahal and includes several original holiday songs. This special concert will include songs from the “Talkin’ Christmas!” album as well as the band’s previous Grammy-winning Christmas recording, “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” along with Blind Boys’ Gospel classics and other gems from a 70-plus-year career. Highly recommended!!! $43/$48 Cover Charge..

Saturday December 22nd

SF Jazz 201 Franklin St, San Francisco 11:00 AM Showtime.. Pianist Adam Shulman reprises his tribute to Bay Area jazz legendVince Guaraldi and his soundtrack to Charles Schulz’s 1965 holiday classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Among the most beloved holiday albums of all time Shulman will be joined by bassist John Wiitala and drummer James Gallagher. Highly recommended!!!! $15/$25/$30/$35/$50/$70 Cover Charge..

SF Jazz 201 Franklin St, San Francisco 7:30 PM Showtime.. This holiday season The Blind Boys of Alabama are touring in support of their latest Christmas album, “Talkin’ Christmas!” That album features blues legend Taj Mahal and includes several original holiday songs. This special concert will include songs from the “Talkin’ Christmas!” album as well as the band’s previous Grammy-winning Christmas recording, “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” along with Blind Boys’ Gospel classics and other gems from a 70-plus-year career. Highly recommended!!! $17/$27/$35/$37/$47/$55/475/$95 Cover Charge..

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 9:30 PM-1:00 AM Showtime..Mitch Polzak is a master guitarist and he and The Royal Deuces. has been one of the premier Rockabilly bands since staring in 1999. I am a huge fan. Highly recommended!! N/C

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM Showtimes. The Elvin Bishop Band led by legendary blues and rock icon Elvin Bishop is a great highly entertaining band. This band will rock the house!! Highly recommended!!!! $50 Cover Charge..

Boom Boom Room 1601 Fillmore St, San Francisco Founded in Oakland. 9:15 PM Showtime.. Time to get your funk out tonight with The Funk Revival Orchestra was established to bring 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 throughout California with a style that blends the latin, breakbeat, hip-hop and rare groove feels into one package. Big Sticky Mess and Bay Area icon DJ Kevvy Kev round out a great night of music. $12 Cover Charge..

Bottom Of The Hill 1233 17th St, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime. A really good night of music featuring three fun local bands. Headlining is the idie rockers from Oakland Classic Hat. Also on the bill are bedroom fuzz grunge alt rockers Sour Widows and bedroom dream pop group Dream Haste. Highly recommended!!! $10 Cover Charge..

The Fox Theatre 1807 Telegraph Ave, Oakland 8:00 PM Showtime.. Critically acclaimed, multi-platinum singer-songwriter John Legend is on his Legendary Christmas tour promoting his new Christmas Album “A Legendary Christmas”.. Highly recommended!!!$149-$249 Cover Charge..

The Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison Street Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime.. Mandolin master virtuoso David Grisman has played with everyone from Stephane Grapelli to Jerry Garcia, from Doc Watson to Hal Blaine. Tonight he returns to his swing jazz sweet spot, joined by an all-star lineup of stalwarts – George Cole on guitar, George Marsh on percussion, Matt Eakle on flute, Jim Kerwin on bass, and Chad Manning on fiddle – and perhaps a few special guests! Highly recommended!!!! $44 Cover Charge..

Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley 9:00 PM-Midnight Showtime.. For the last 25 years, the trio called the Broun Fellinis has been one of the most innovative Bay Area bands creating a sonic expression inspired by the ancient to future traditions of Jazz, Rock, Funk, Hardcore, Afrocentric Hip hop, Dub, film music and African/Indian trance sounds.They play with passion, precision and soul in energetic performances that embrace freedom and structure equally. Out of nowhere, improvised themes and motifs morph into well-crafted songs with evocative melodies, exotic harmonies and infectious rhythms. One of the most creativer djs,DJ Charlotte The Baroness will be opening the show. Highly recommended!!!!! $18 Cover Charge..

Sunday December 23rd

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

Royal Cuckoo 3202 Mission St, San Francisco 7:30 PM Showtime.. Lavay Smith sings at the hippest bar in San Francisco, accompanied by Chris Siebert on the Hammond organ. You’ll love the vibe, the cocktails, and the world-class collection of vintage vinyl spinning for your listening pleasure. Highly recommended!!! N/C

SF Jazz 201 Franklin St, San Francisco 3:00 PM Showtime.. This holiday season The Blind Boys of Alabama are touring in support of their latest Christmas album, “Talkin’ Christmas!” That album features blues legend Taj Mahal and includes several original holiday songs. This special concert will include songs from the “Talkin’ Christmas!” album as well as the band’s previous Grammy-winning Christmas recording, “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” along with Blind Boys’ Gospel classics and other gems from a 70-plus-year career. Highly recommended!!! $17/$27/$35/$37/$47/$55/475/$95 Cover Charge..

The Chapel 777 Valencia St, San Francisco.. 8:00 PM Showtime.. The hippest of hipsters, The Fabulous Bud E. Luv Christmas show has been a great tradition for years. So put on your best cocktail dress and swinging dinner jacket and STAY in the Christmas spirit for one more day. So lose your bah humbugs and quit whining about what you didn’t get for Christmas/Hanukah/Quanza, take a trip to Vegas without leaving town and swing with The Budster and his full 9 piece Big Band on December 23rd! Highly recommended!!!! $25 Cover Charge..

The Backroom 1984 Bonita Ave, Berkeley 7:00 PM Showtime… Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist/composer, Brooklyn resident and Berkeley native Peter Apfelbaum returns to his hometown, making his Back Room debut with musicians from his various ensembles. This is an incredible ensemble featuring Peter Apfelbaum – saxes/piano/organ/vocals, Jeff Cressman – trombone/bass, Jill Ryan – alto sax/flute/vocals Paul Hanson – bassoon, Rachel Durling – violin, Will Bernard – guitar, Sequoia Denton – piano/flute/vocals and Deszon Claiborne – drums. This is a show definitely worth checking out.. Highly recommended!!! $20 Cover Charge..

Video Pick of The Week..

I wanted to share this great holiday music documentary with all of you.
Jingle Bell Rocks, directed by Mitchell Kezin, delves into the minds of some of the world’s most legendary Christmas music fanatics and hits the road to hang with his holiday heroes – including hip hop legend Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons of RUN-D.M.C., The Flaming Lips’ frontman Wayne Coyne, filmmaker John Waters, bebopper Bob Dorough, L.A. DJ and musicologist Dr. Demento, and Calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow. In his search for the twelve best, underappreciated Christmas songs ever recorded, Kezin both asks and answers the question, “Why, when Christmas rolls around, are we still stuck cozying up with Bing Crosby under a blanket of snow?” Equal parts social history, pop culture pilgrimage, and revealing character study, JINGLE BELL ROCKS! follows this motley crew of merry misfits as they confront the Christmas music mainstream, reinventing the seasonal soundtrack for the 21st century. With rollicking live performances, intimate interviews, and a kaleidoscope of touching and rare archive footage, JINGLE BELL ROCKS! is a cinematic sleigh-ride into the strange and sublime universe of alternative Christmas music. It’s also a mix-tape of twelve of the weirdest, wildest, most poignant Christmas songs you’ve never heard.