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

Monday January 27th

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.. 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!!!! No Cover Charge…

Amnesia Bar 853 Valencia St, San Francisco 9:00 PM-11:55 PM Showtime..
The Earl Brothers are back. The bad boys of bluegrass, are irreverent energetic and a hell of a lot of fun. Highly recommended N/C

Tuesday January 28th

The Pagan Idol 375 Bush St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime..
The Steve Lucky Carmen Getit duo in a rare performance without the “Rhuba 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…

Local Edition 691 Market St, San Francisco 8:30 PM-11:45 PM 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. N/C

Yoshis 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM Showtimes….
Steve Gadd is of the most highly acclaimed and prolific drummers in history performing on thousands of recording sessions and live gigs. He has supplied the core rhythmic foundation on iconic recordings from an astounding list of artists such as Steely Dan, Paul McCartney, B.B. King, George Benson, James Brown and Al Jarreau, just to cite a tiny percentage of his discography. Steve will be backed by his stellar band featuring Walt Fowler on trumpet and flugelhorn, Jimmy Johnson on bass, Michael Landau on guitars and Kevin Hays on keyboards and vocals. Highly recommended!!!!! $32-$84 Cover Charge…

Wednesday January 29th

Brick & Mortar Music Hall 1710 Mission St, San Francisco 8:30 PM Showtime. Singer-songwriter, mixer, and producer Charlee Remitz takes modern pop and turns it on its head, merging stunning instrumentals and melodies with darker, personal lyrics. She is someone I really like. Also on the bill is singer/songwriter Melanie Iglesias and singer/songwriter Jared Harper. Highly recommended!!!!!! $12 Cover Charge..

Local Edition 691 Market St, San Francisco 8:30 PM-11:45 PM Showtime..
Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums is one of the fun bands in the Bay Area performing vintage jazz, pounding boogie woogies, sultry ballads, and funky-swinging New Orleans R&B. Tonight they focus on giving you the beat to move your feet. Highly recommended!! No Cover Charge..

Le Colonial 20 Cosmo Pl, San Francisco 8:00 PM-11:00 PM Showtime.
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers are just a superb internationally recognized swing big band in the authentic style of the 1940’s and 1950’s as the band. Lavay the reigning “Queen Of Classic Jazz & Blues” 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!! No Cover Charge.

Thursday January 30th

SF Jazz 201 Franklin St, San Francisco 7:00 PM Showtime. The SF Jazz Gala 2020 After Party features two great party bands. Con Brio is a San Francisco Bay Area seven-piece that plays energetic soul, psych-rock and R&B. Named for an Italian musical direction meaning with spirit, charismatic singer Ziek McCarter bringing “the dance moves, splits and all, of James Brown” (KQED) and a tight, veteran band that “comes across like a party punk version of Sly and the Family Stone” (Consequence of Sound), Con Brio is known to convert anyone who sees their electric live show. The Suffers are Houston’s award-winning 8-piece ensemble that have redefined the sound of Gulf Coast Soul. I saw them a while back on The Late Show with David Letterman and was blown away. This will be a great show. $145 Cover Charge..

Bottom of the Hill 1233 17th St, San Francisco 8:30 PM Showtime.. Another night of great music featuring a rockin’ Irish style punk/folk rock group from San Francisco
The Quiet Men. Also on the bill are another San Francisco based psychedelic folk/punk rock band Varona and opening the show is another San Francisco based dark cabaret steam punk band Dizzy Twin. This is a Highly recommended!!!!!! $12 Cover Charge..

The Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison Street Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime.. American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor Loudon Wainwright III‘s career spans four decades and is highlighted by more than two dozen album releases. He is a great performer and story teller. Highly recommended!!!!! $15-$30 Cover Charge..

The Backroom 1984 Bonita Ave, Berkeley 3:00 PM Showtime…
Howard Alden is simply one of greatest jazz guitarists this side of the Milky Way. He has performed with a whose who of jazz greats including Benny Carter, Flip Phillips, Mel Powell, Bud Freeman, Kenny Davern, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, and George Van Eps, as well as notable contemporaries such as Scott Hamilton. Howard Alden joins veteran violinist Kit Eakle and his project DjangoSphere for an evening of standards, originals, and the music of Thelonious Sphere Monk and Django Reinhardt. Howard and Kit are joined by Don Bennett on Bass and Rory Judge on drums. This should be a memorable show. Highly Recommended!! $25 Cover Charge

Sweetwater Music Hall 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley 7:00 PM Showtime.. World-renowned guitarist and jazz legend Stanley Jordan explores and plays his tribute to a rock legend Jimi Hendrix. In his new live show called “Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi” Jordan builds on Jimi’s legacy in a creative way as if Jimi were still alive and playing today by re-imagining his music and channeling his persona in order to try to bring that fantasy to life. Highly recommended!!!!!! $32-$37 Cover Charge.

Friday January 31st

Bird & Beckett Books and Records 653 Chenery St, San Francisco.. 5:30 PM-8:00 PM Showtime.. The Bay Area’s premier New Orleans R&B ambassador Macy Blackman will be performing with his trio with Macy on piano and vocals, Nancy Wright on tenor sax & vocals and Bing Nathan on bass. Should be a great show. Highly recommended… $20 Cover Charge..

Atlas Cafe 3049 20th Street, San Francisco 8:00 PM-10:00 PM Showtime..
Jon Frank Jazz Quartet play a mixture of original jazz and standards. JFJQ released their debut album “Syncopated Strut” in 2016. Their leader drummer Jon Frank has been gigging in the Bay Area since 1974.with jazz luminaries such as Woody Shaw, Eddie Henderson, and Bobby McFerrin. Highly recommended!!!!! No Cover Charge…

Yoshis 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM Showtimes…. Since the late ’80s, American jazz saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Gerald Albright has been one of the most influential R&B and contemporary jazz musicians. Should be a good show. Highly recommended!!!!! $32-$74 Cover Charge..

The UC Theatre 2036 University Ave, Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime.. San Francisco based
Zepparella the Led Zeppelin all female powerhouse tribute band have brought their passion for the sacred music of the greatest band in the world all over the US and Canada. Zepparella shows replicate the nuance and detail of Zeppelin’s catalog while honoring the powerful improvisational journeys for which Zeppelin shows were renowned. The band features vocalist Anna Kristina, guitarist Gretchen Menn, bassist Holly West, and drummer Clementine. I really lover this band.. Highly recommended!!!!!! $25 Cover Charge..

The Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison Street Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime.. It can be easily argued that it was Booker T Jones who set the cast for modern soul music and is largely responsible for its rise and enduring popularity. Booker T’s Stax Revue is a presentation of Booker’s hits with the MGs, such as “Green Onions,” “Hang ‘Em High” and “Time is Tight” and of the classics recorded on Stax Records by legendary artists such as “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding, “When Something is Wrong with my Baby” by Sam and Dave and “Gee Whiz” by Carla Thomas. The Stax Revue features a ten-piece big band with three lead vocalists, a three-piece horn section and Booker’s usual rhythm section and delivers a high energy experience curated to take the audience on a journey through Booker’s eyes. Highly recommended!!!!!! $18-$50 Cover Charge..

Ivy Room 860 San Pablo Ave, Albany 9:00 PM Showtime.. For over 25 years, the trio the
Broun Fellinis have been innovating and disseminating their “Brounsoun”, 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. Opening up the set is the all-star collective ensemble Skip The Needle with Shelley Doty of X-Tet on guitar, Kofy Brown of Sistas In The Pit on drums, Katie Cash of Dolorata on guitar and Vicki Randle of Tonight Show and Mavis Staples fame on bass. This is the show of the show of the weekend. Not to be missed. Highly recommended!!!!! $14-$20 Cover Charge..

Saturday February 1st

The Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison Street Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime.. It can be easily argued that it was Booker T Jones who set the cast for modern soul music and is largely responsible for its rise and enduring popularity. Booker T’s Stax Revue is a presentation of Booker’s hits with the MGs, such as “Green Onions,” “Hang ‘Em High” and “Time is Tight” and of the classics recorded on Stax Records by legendary artists such as “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding, “When Something is Wrong with my Baby” by Sam and Dave and “Gee Whiz” by Carla Thomas. The Stax Revue features a ten-piece big band with three lead vocalists, a three-piece horn section and Booker’s usual rhythm section and delivers a high energy experience curated to take the audience on a journey through Booker’s eyes. Highly recommended!!!!!! $18-$50 Cover Charge..

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Showtime.
The Cottontails are one of the Bay Area’s best vintage jazz ensembles playing a wide range of styles ranging from 20’/30’s Gatsby-era jazz, classic 40’s swing, and vintage 50’s/60’s r&b featuring a truly great jazz vocalist Karina Denike fronting the group. Highly recommended!!!! No Cover Charge..

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 9:30 PM-12:30 AM Showtime.
The Americano Social Club plays music for “la dolce vita”: a mix of romantic and eclectic melodies from all over the world including pop, jazz, folk, classical, rock, opera, the music of Brazil and Europe’s cafés as well as some great original pieces. This is a great ensemble. Highly recommended!!!! N/C

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!!!

Bird & Beckett Books and Records 653 Chenery St, San Francisco 7:30 PM-10:00 PM Showtime.. Jazz pianist, organist, composer, and arranger Tammy Hall will be in performance along with her outstanding quartet of Kristen Strom on saxophone, Alex Baum on bass and Ruthie Price on drums. Highly recommended!!!!!! $25 Cover Charge..

Brick & Mortar Music Hall 1710 Mission St, San Francisco 10:00 PM Showtime. One of the most fun and joyous music ensembles around, Makru is a unique visual experience which fuses Rumba, Flamenca, Ska, Reggae, Cumbia and other global beats to create a unifying, positive vibe in the Bay Area through its music. Highly recommended!!!!!!! $12 Cover Charge..

Cafe Claude 7 Claude Lane, San Francisco. 7:00 PM-10:00 PM Showtime.
The Steve Lucky Carmen Getit Trio in a rare performance without the “Rhuba 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…

Ivy Room 860 San Pablo Ave, Albany 9:00 PM Showtime.. For over 25 years, the trio the
Broun Fellinis have been innovating and disseminating their “Brounsoun”, 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. Opening up the set is the all-star collective ensemble Skip The Needle with Shelley Doty of X-Tet on guitar, Kofy Brown of Sistas In The Pit on drums, Katie Cash of Dolorata on guitar and Vicki Randle of Tonight Show and Mavis Staples fame on bass. This is the show of the show of the weekend. Not to be missed. Highly recommended!!!!! $14-$20 Cover Charge..

Yoshis 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM Showtimes…. Since the late ’80s, American jazz saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Gerald Albright has been one of the most influential R&B and contemporary jazz musicians. Should be a good show. Highly recommended!!!!! $36-$74 Cover Charge..

Sunday February 2nd

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. Highly recommended!!! N/C

Video Pick Of The Week.

Echo In The Canyon celebrates the explosion of popular music that came out of LA’s Laurel Canyon in the mid-60s as folk went electric and The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield and The Mamas and the Papas gave birth to the California Sound. It was a moment (1965 to 1967) when bands came to LA to emulate The Beatles and Laurel Canyon emerged as a hotbed of creativity and collaboration for a new generation of musicians who would soon put an indelible stamp on the history of American popular music. Featuring Jakob Dylan, the film explores the beginnings of the Laurel Canyon music scene. Dylan uncovers never-before-heard personal details behind the bands and their songs and how that music continues to inspire today. Echo in the Canyon contains candid conversations and performances with Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Michelle Phillips, Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Roger McGuinn and Jackson Browne as well as contemporary musicians they influenced such as Tom Petty (in his very last film interview), Beck, Fiona Apple, Cat Power, Regina Spektor and Norah Jones..