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

Monday August 19th

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.. Highly recommended!!!! 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

Local Edition 691 Market St, San Francisco 8:00 PM-Midnight Showtime..
The Fil Lorenz Orchestra is a high-voltage, crowd-pleasing big band born of the blues, with a sound defined by a searing, relentless horn section. Saxophonist/arranger Lorenz has assembled a musical cast of the highest standard, bringing some of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most accomplished and adventurous jazz veterans together with some of the fertile San Francisco scene’s most promising up-and-coming players. Highly recommended!!!! N/C…

Comstock Saloon 155 Columbus Ave, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime. Gaucho is a masterful Bay Area band that combines the influence of gypsy jazz of 1930’s Europe with the rhythmic drive and collective improvisation of New Orleans swing music, gutbucket blues and elements of ragtime.

Mountain Winery Concert Series 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga 7:30 PM Showtime.. Two of the most iconic voices in American music rock and blues legend Boz Scaggs and New Orleans vocal ambassador of r&b and soul Aaron Neville team up for what should be one memorable night of music… Highly recommended!!!!!! $59-$325 Cover Charge..

Tuesday August 20th

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.

Slims 333 11th St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime. The Grinns are one of the great Southern California surf rock, 60’s British invasion/garage rock bands. This is an energetic dance your ass off band.. . Indie alternative rockers The Red Pears open the show. Highly recommended!!!!!!! $15 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

Jupiter 2181 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley 8:00 PM-11:00 PM Showtime.
Clyde The Blynd and His Trio will be performing his original compositions both old and new, plus songs from Don Cherry, Wayne Shorter and Augustus Pablo in this latest version of Clyde’s unique vision. N/C

Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley 8:00 PM-11:30 PM Showtime..
Tom Rigney and Flambeau is the Bay Area’s preeminent cajun & zydeco band. This is such a fun band. Highly recommended!! $15 Cover Charge..

People in Plazas is free noontime musical concert series in San Francisco public spaces. This is a great summer music series with over 120 free performances at lunchtime in a number of downtown public plazas Monday through Friday in July, August and September. Today’s noontime concert series lineup includes the Brazilian samba sounds of Pure Brazil performing at Rincon Center located at 121 Spear Street.

Mountain Winery Concert Series 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga 7:30 PM Showtime.. An incredible night of music is in store. Headlining is two-time GRAMMY-winning blues icon Taj Mahal is the closest thing we have to an American griot. His music embraces the raw energy of field hollers, the rent-party gumption of early jazz, the urbane grooves of rhythm and blues, the church-derived cadences of soul music and the rhythms of West Africa, via New Orleans and the Caribbean. Opening up the show is Americana folk rock singer/songwriter and Grammy winner Marc Cohen with special guests the critically acclaimed five-time Grammy award-winning gospel icons the Blind Boys Of Alabama. Highly recommended!!!!!! $39-$275 Cover Charge..

Wednesday August 21st

Mr.Tipples 39 Fell St, San Francisco 7:00 PM-10:00 PM Showtime..
The Midnight Moods are one of the Bay Areas best kept secrets. This is a wonderful classic jazz trio led the amazing Jacqueline Corona on vocals with Alex Farrell on bass and Julian Shipp on piano. 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.

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!! $22 Cover Charge.

The Lucky Horseshoe Bar 453 Cortland Ave, San Francisco 8 PM-Midnight Showtime..
Ed Ivey’s Weekly Blues Jam gets the bar rocking. His weekly jam is really fun. 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..

Local Edition 691 Market St, San Francisco 8:00 PM-11:45 PM 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

Amnesia Bar 853 Valencia St, San Francisco 9:00 PM-11:55 PM Showtime..
Gaucho a masterful Bay Area band that combines the influence of gypsy jazz of 1930’s Europe with the rhythmic drive and collective improvisation of New Orleans swing music, gutbucket blues and elements of ragtime. Highly recommended!!!!! N/C

People in Plazas is free noontime musical concert series in San Francisco public spaces. This is a great summer music series with over 120 free performances at lunchtime in a number of downtown public plazas Monday through Friday in July, August and September. Today’s noontime concert series lineup includes one of the Bay Area’s most soulful guitarist’s and vocalist’s Pat Wilder performing at 101 California Street; the great jump/swing Louis Jordan dedication band Stompy Jones will perform at 525 Market Street; Jazz bassist Kurt Ribak and his quartet will perform at 555 California Street; The really wonderful bluegrass/western swing ensemble The Vivants will be performing at 505 Howard Street.

Thursday August 22nd

Atlas Cafe 3049 20th Street, San Francisco 8:00 PM-10:00 PM Showtime.. The Gil Cohen Trio is a really wonderful jazz trio. When I first heard Gil playing he reminded me a lot of Roy Eldridge’s sound. It turns that Roy was one of his major influences. Gil and his trio is definitely worth checking out. Highly recommended!!! N/C

Stookey’s Club Moderne 895 Bush St, San Francisco, 7:30 PM- 10:00 PM Showtime. The Steve Lucky Carmen Getit Trio in a rare performance without the “Rhumba Bums”. I love the trio because it showcases the great musicianship of Steve and and Carmen’s vocals are reminiscent of Dina Washington, Ruth Brown and Etta James. Highly recommended!!!! N/C…

Tupelo 1337 Grant Ave, San Francisco 9:00 PM-1:00 AM Showtime.. Somewhere between
Joan Jett and Bonnie Raitt lies GG Amos. This is one badass chick with one badass band. This is one of my very favorite local blues band. Highly recommended!! N/C

Local Edition 691 Market St, San Francisco 8:00 PM-11:45 PM 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

People in Plazas is free noontime musical concert series in San Francisco public spaces. This is a great summer music series with over 120 free performances at lunchtime in a number of downtown public plazas Monday through Friday in July, August and September. Today’s noontime concert series lineup includes a great latin jazz band Charlie Barreda SF Latin Jazz performing at 303 Second Street; Jazz/rock/blues influenced Josh Klipp and The Klipptones performs at 333 Market Street; Bollywood blues musician Aki Kumar performs at 595 Market Street.

The Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison St, Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime..
Freight Fiddle Summit 2019 is a rousing evening of fiddle magic steeped in talent and tradition. Performing this evening are Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser & the brilliant California cellist Natalie Haas, master musicians Ryan McKasson & Eric McDonald, Galacian master violinist Begona Riobo, Liz & Feijoo Trio, and dancer Nic Gareiss. Highly recommended!!!! $34 Cover Charge..

Friday August 23rd

Boom Boom Room 601 Fillmore St, San Francisco 9:15 Showtime.. Two really great up and coming bands perform tonight. The Heavy Pets are a funky-azz rock and roll band from South Florida. Called “a living, breathing force of nature” by Relix magazine, they are known for their song craft and powerhouse live performances.. The Soul Project New Orleans soulful grooves and impeccable musicianship brings the vibrant spirit of New Orleans everywhere they go. Crowds can’t help but “let loose” to their energetic and original mix of Funk, Jazz, Soul, Blues, and Gospel… Highly recommended!!!!!$15 Cover Charge..

Hotel Utah 500 4th St, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime.. The Blackfoot Gypsies are the Nashville based raucous powerhouse rock/hillbilly and blues inspired down home hillbilly funk quartet. This is one of the most fun and entertaining bands on the planet.. Highly recommended!!!!!$10 Cover Charge…

Mr.Tipples 39 Fell St, San Francisco 9:00 PM-11:30 PM Showtime..
Robert Dehlinger & The Alpha Rhythm Kings influences range from vintage lounge music, 1940s R&B, swing, and boogie-woogie. This is a swinging fun band led by Robert’s vocals and superb trumpet playing. Highly recommended!!! N/C

People in Plazas is free noontime musical concert series in San Francisco public spaces. This is a great summer music series with over 120 free performances at lunchtime in a number of downtown public plazas Monday through Friday in July, August and September. Today’s noontime concert series lineup includes Winners of the Will Rogers Cowboy Award “Western Swing Group of the Year” and “Western Swing Album of the Year” The Saddle Cats performs at 560 Mission; Afro Peruvian Wassaka Project will perform at 425 Market Street.

Comstock Saloon 155 Columbus Ave, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime. Gaucho a masterful Bay Area band that combines the influence of gypsy jazz of 1930’s Europe with the rhythmic drive and collective improvisation of New Orleans swing music, gutbucket blues and elements of ragtime. Highly recommended!!!!!! N/C

Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley 8:30 PM-11:30 PM 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!! $20 Cover Charge..

The Greek Theatre 2001 Gayley Rd, Berkeley 7:00 PM Showtime. A great show tonight featuring music icon Herbie Hancock, jazz multi-instrumentalist Kamasi Washington and jazz pianist Robert Glasper. This should be one of the best nights of music this year. Highly recommended!!!!!!! $49.50-$125.00 Cover Charge..

Ivy Room 860 San Pablo Ave, Albany 8:30 PM Showtime. Headlining tonight is the great California 80’s street punk rock bands The Swingin Utters. Also on the bill are the upbeat & dark punk tinged rockers The New Trust, indie rockers Sweet Reaper and head bangers Pushing It.. Highly recommended!!!!! $16 Cover Charge..

The Sweetwater Music Hall 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley 9:00 PM Showtime.. Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives are a great group. I saw them last year and had so much fun. Marty is the ultimate entertainer. I highly recommend seeing them.. $70.00 Cover Charge..

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

Moes Alley 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. 8:30 PM Showtime…On Stage Together! Roots music legends, Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore have been friends for 30 years, but only recently realized they had never played music with each other before. So in 2017, Grammy winner Alvin and Grammy nominee Gilmore, decided to hit the highway to swap songs, tell stories, and share their life experiences. Opening the show is Americana roots group Taylor Scott Band…Highly recommended!!!!! $35 Cover Charge

Mountain Winery Concert Series 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga 7:30 PM Showtime.. Singer/songwriter actor & performer Kris Kristofferson will be performing with Merle Haggard ‘s band The Strangers. Kris and the Strangers will be performing some of Kris’s iconic songs like Me and Bobby Mcgee, For The Good Times, Help Me Make It Through The Night and Sunday Morning Coming Down along with Merle Haggard standards and maybe a little Bob Wills as well.. Highly recommended!!!!!!! $39-$274 Cover Charge….

Saturday August 24th

Revolution Cafe 3248 22nd St, San Francisco 5:00 PM-8:30 PM Showtime..
Westside Jazz Club, lead by the wonderful tenor saxophonist Scott Silverberg, is a collective of innovative jazz musicians performing jazz standards, challenging modern compositions and freshly-updated classics. I have seen this ensemble a number of time and they never disappoint.. Highly recommended!!! N/C

Boom Boom Room 601 Fillmore St, San Francisco 9:15 Showtime.. A fun night of dance your ass off funk music with two great bands. Ideateam is a 9-piece ensemble driven hefty chunk of soul funk. They dare you not to sway, as brass melodies swirl with guitar rhythms, with a deep pocket thump that is stronger than a 6 am cocktail. With a vibrant percussion element, Ideateam brings an onslaught of grooves, exploring both instrumental and vocal arrangements, sure to make you turn to your friend and say, “Hot damn, I can’t believe I never saw this band before!” The Fell Swoop is a 7 piece San Francisco based dance/funk/soul and pop band. Highly recommended!!!!! $12 Cover Charge..

Cafe Du Nord 2174 Market St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime… The 2019 Noise Pop Festival presents Portland based Kyle Craft & Showboat Honey, a joyful straight up rollicking indie rock’ n’ roll band. I really love the bluegrass and swamp blues influence on the music. Highly recommended!!!!! $12 Cover Charge..

Sausalito Seahorse 305 Harbor Drive, Sausalito 8:00 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..

Fox Theatre Oakland 1807 Telegraph Ave, Oakland 8:00 PM Showtime.. A renowned horn-driven outfit, Tower of Power emerged in the late ’60s playing a dynamic blend of R&B, soul, funk, and AM pop. Along with similarly inclined groups like Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears Tower of Power helped push the sound of brass-infused music into the rock era. Led by Detroit-born tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo , the Oakland, California-based group scored hits like “You’re Still a Young Man” and “What Is Hip?” throughout the ’70s. They also became one of the most sought-after backing ensembles in pop, playing on recordings by Elton John, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Aerosmith, Josh Groban, and more. While their lineup has changed over the years, Castillo remains a constant and continues to guide the ensemble live and in the studio. The Americano rock/soul and r&b band title Con Brio opens the show. Highly recommended!!!!!! $59.50/$79.50 Cover Charge.

Piedmont Piano Company 1728 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland 4:00 PM- Showtime..
Dick Whittington and his trio of Robb Fisher on bass and Vince Lateano on drums with special guest saxophonist Andrew Speight present an evening of “Straight Ahead” Be-Bop, featuring the compositions of John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Miles Davis, John Lewis, as well as Standards by Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and George Gershwin. Highly recommended!!!!! $20 Cover Charge…

Fifth Street Farms 1517 Fifth Street, Berkeley 7:30 Showtime..
High Country has earned its place as the West Coast’s premier traditional bluegrass band. Strongly influenced by the classic styles of Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs and the Stanley Brothers, the band’s blend of banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, guitar and bass delivers the upbeat excitement of true bluegrass music. With driving rhythm, skillful picking and soulful singing, High Country brings the energy and experience of six seasoned professionals to this spirited American art form. After four decades of performing, the band remains fresh and exciting, bringing their love of traditional bluegrass music to an ever-widening audience.Highly recommended!!!!! $20 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 7:30 PM Showtime. World renown Jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and his trio pay tribute to Nate King Cole’s 100 Birthday. John is a great performer, very funny and was recently described as “hip as a wink”. If you can make it over to Yoshis, I highly recommend seeing him. Highly recommended!!!!! $46.62 Cover Charge..

Sunday August 25th

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

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

Moes Alley 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. 3:00 PM Showtime.. New Orleans based Americana roots singer/song musician Eric Lindell and blues guitarist
Anson Funderburgh. Eric 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. Anson is a master of both Chicago blues and Texas blues. Highly recommended!!!!! $25 Cover Charge..

Mountain Winery Concert Series 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga 7:30 PM Showtime.. Oakland, California music legends and Soul and Funk giants the Grammy award winning
Tower Of Power is an institution and the most dynamic and distinctive band of survivors in Soul Music. Opening up for TOP are anything from ‘average,’Average White Band, mixing classic sounds of Memphis Motown and Philly R&B to produce serious hits including “Cut The Cake” and “Pick Up The Pieces”.. Highly recommended!!!!!! $40-$249 Cover Charge…

Rancho Nicasio 1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio 4:00 PM Showtime.. On Stage Together! Roots music legends, Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore have been friends for 30 years, but only recently realized they had never played music with each other before. So in 2017, Grammy winner Alvin and Grammy nominee Gilmore, decided to hit the highway to swap songs, tell stories, and share their life experiences. Highly recommended!!!!!!!! $35/$40 Cover Charge…

Video Pick Of The Week..

A Not So Average Joe… Twenty years after the death of legendary guitarist Joe Pass who recorded the seminal album “For Django,” the remaining members of his quartet, jazz giants Colin Bailey, John Pisano & Jim Hughart along with Joe’s protege Frank Potenza came together over two days to record for Capri Records Ltd. a tribute that documents that recording session. Also in the film is recently discovered concert footage of Joe not seen for decades. Highly recommended….