Simon Rowe leads a trio in two sets of straight ahead, bebop and latin inflected jazz.

An Australian bitten by the jazz bug in Sydney at age 12, when his grandfather brought a Louis Armstrong lp into the house, Simon has traveled the American jazz byways ever since he packed off to Texas as a high school trumpet player.

Sojourns in American cities from St. Louis, Missouri (where he gained perhaps his deepest and most enduring jazz insights from a long bandstand association playing piano in the quartet of seasoned local tenor sax legend Willie Akins) to Fargo, North Dakota (where he taught and opened a night club) to Stockton, California (where he led the Brubeck Institute for five years) all preceded his arrival five years ago in San Francisco. Here, he designed, built and led a jazz degree program for the City’s 100-year old classical conservatory before striking off to explore the gigging trenches.  All along the way, Simon has been dedicated to the exploration and performance of jazz in America from its African roots to its flowering branches.  He’s also been a familiar and friendly face in Glen Park since moving to the neighborhood three years ago with his wife Kylie.

Tonight at Bird & Beckett, Simon is joined on the bandstand by long-time associate Brian Kendrick on drums and by his Diamond Heights neighbor Fred Randolph, an esteemed jazz bassist, composer and educator.

$20 cover charge (cash please).
Call for reservations – 415-586-3733.

BYOB. Proof of vaccination  and masks required.

Can’t attend in person? Catch the live stream on facebook or youtube.