Songs of the silk road… a reading by Mahnaz Badihian and Youssef Alaoui, with music on tambur by Raman Osman, followed by an open mic. Doors at 6:30, poets at 7:00. “Life took me through many different experiences, but art and poetry never left my side. “ Mahnaz Badihian is a poet, translator and artist…

Supercalifornigraphic songslinger Maurice Tani plays a variety of venues up to large rooms like Freight & Salvage in Berkeley and outdoor festivals, but once a year he stops in at the diminutive jewel in his hometown that is Bird & Beckett with his pal American bassist Mike Anderson. The room is tiny, the vibe is…

Eric Walker was a comet on the North Beach poetry scene in the late 1980s, embraced by the legends of the time. Selected poems have been freshly published in a new volume from Raymond Foye Editions. Raymond Foye Sarah Menefee George Scrivani Tate Swindell Richard Rawles Rosemary Manno Neeli Cherkovski Rudy John Tanner

A classic piano trio, led by the most remarkable pianist we know. And that’s saying a lot in a region boasting dozens of fantastic jazz pianists.  The volcanic creativity and technique of Grant Levin has been thrilling San Francisco jazz fans for the past decade and shows no signs of abating!  Grant Levin, piano Aaron…

Lee Vilensky, guitar Carroll Ashby, trombone Ed Ivey, bass & brass Randy Lee Odell, drums An evening of spy/soul instrumentals with your host Randy Odell on drums and his special guests: Lee Vilensky-guitar; Ed Ivey-bass and brass; and Carroll Ashby-trombone. Culling songs and influences from ’60s spy soundtrack and Stax-era soul mixed with surf, jazz…

Natalie John – voice Emily Kuhn – trumpet Lewis Patzner – cello Giulio Cetto – bass Beau Cadigan – drums Trumpet player, composer and arranger Emily Kuhn is based in Chicago, where she is active as a bandleader, sidewoman, and educator. Her chamber jazz ensemble, Helios, which comprises nine players in its full configuration, plays…

Come celebrate the release of the eighth issue of AMERARCANA: A Bird & Beckett Review, with two readings by contributors. Robert Glück, Camille Roy, Jocelyn Saidenberg, Aaron Shurin, Kirstin Wagner, and Jamie Townsend (reading for Steve Abbott), hosted by guest editor Eric Sneathen and founding editor Nicholas James Whittington, read Wednesday, July 31, 7pm, at Bird &…

The New York-based quartet Elder Ones — Amirtha Kidambi (compositions, voice, harmonium and synth); Matt Nelson (saxophone), Nick Dunston (bass), and Max Jaffe (drums) — drops in to Bird & Beckett on Sunday July 28, 4:30-6:30 pm, between stops at Santa Cruz’s Kuumbwa Jazz and Oakland’s Studio Grand. $20 cover charge; sliding scale available. Bassist…

Kenneth E. Hartman’s sentence to life without parole was recently commuted by Governor Jerry Brown after he had spent 35 years in prison. He continues as an activist for prison and sentencing reform, as well as a writer.  This afternoon, Mr.  Hartman will read from his book, Mother California: A Story of Redemption Behind Bars, the…

Harvey Wainapel, reeds Matt Clark, piano Peter Barshay, bass Bryan Bowman, drums Originals, standards, “ought to be standards” and a bit of Brazilian spice from Harvey Wainapel and friends. Two sets of top flight jazz from top drawer musicians. Saxophonist/clarinetist Harvey Wainapel has been a Bay Area mainstay since 1982. His jazz experience has led…