The Alcatraz Islanders perform swing era Hawaiian music that blends traditional island melodies with mainland jazz. The band is led by steel guitarist, Mikiya Matsuda, with Nick Rossi on guitar, Dan Neville on vibes and Vic Wong on bass. You can catch them in San Francisco every Tuesday at Pagan Idol and every first Wednesday…

With a financial assist from Jazz in the Neighborhood’s Guaranteed Fair Wage Fund, the Jazz Philanthropists Union presents… The Five Spot Jazz Quintet Five musicians beyond description, together propelling a sweet little juggernaut of jazz feeling! Hailing from Dursley, England, pianist Mike Greensill might be best known in the Bay Area as resident piano player…

Kahil El’Zabar – traps, percussion, vocals Corey Wilkes – trumpet Alex Harding – reeds

This  may or may not be the Bastet! Either way, it’s Justin Rock, a firecracker of a jazz guitarist with a lot on his mind, most of it private! With collaborators Owen Clapp on bass and Mike Quigg on drums, he’ll rock the joint this Friday and Friday next. Jazz in the bookshop just got…

Howard Alden is a formidable guitarist with an international reputation, visiting California this winter for a number of dates with violinist Kit Eakle, well known as an historian of the violin in jazz. Alden and Eakle are embarking on a run of quartet dates around the Bay Area exploring the music of Thelonious Monk and…

 . Guitarist Howard Alden on Thursday, the 1st;   The Justin Rock Trio (Bastet) on Friday, the 2nd (early show);   Kahil El’Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble 45th Anniversary Show on Friday, the 2nd (late show);   The Five Spot Jazz Quintet on Saturday, the 3rd;   Nasty Women Poets on Sunday, the 4th (2pm);  …

Two favorite collaborators join one of San Francisco’s most astonishingly talented pianists for two sets of standards, bop, little known gems and originals. Grant Levin, piano Charles Thomas, bass Pepe Jacobo, drums

Novalis, arch Romantic poet of the 18th century, precursor to Goethe, perceptive of the ancient wisdom embodied in Heraclitus’ observation, “Wisdom is a dry light.”

The Jazz Philanthropists Union presents…   The Lost Shapes   Darren Johnston, trumpet Kasey Knudsen, alto sax Mark Clifford, vibraphone Safa Shokrai, bass Jason Levis, drum set   All five members contribute compositions to the band’s book.