With B’kongofonic blood at the saxophonic root, well below surface engraving, resonating within its alloy, sounds are gathering to invoke a heroic people: kongo as “gathering”, a Central African people’s homeland; fon as “sound”, a West African people’s language; B’ referring to all “peoples” along the resistance continuum.  Hear ye, the animating force of a strange horn sanctified! Genny Lim – poetry,…

On the second Monday of each month, Kim Shuck, San Francisco Poet Laureate 2019-2021, hosts a poetry reading via Zoom (invitation below), featuring major Bay Area poets followed by a vibrant open mic. Find the invitation below. Bring a poem for the open mic, or join just to hear the work. On the fourth Monday…

Pedal steel master Joe Goldmark’s supergroup returns to Bird & Beckett! Joe’s built a solid band that features Mitch Polzak on lead guitar and vocal; Hank Maninger on bass guitar and vocal; and Kenny Owen, the Haiku Cowboy, on drums. Bring a twenty for the band! Also, something to sip if you’re so inclined–we have…

Michael Gold, saxophone Gerald Beckett, flute Ari Caprow, guitar Ken Lenga, bass Evan Williams, drums $25 cash cover charge. Doors open at 7:20pm for the 7:30 show. BYOB and a mask. Live in the shop!You can also take it in live streamed on our YouTube channel or Facebook page. Donate if you can! Terrific players pulling together…

D L Forbes has, for decades, except for a few poetry readings in London and Vancouver in the late 1970’s, remained contentedly enough in the poetry closet of life; until cajoled once more into reading at Bird & Beckett. When asked why, he whined, “Sarah Menefee made me do it!” Apart from that, he has…

Beau Beausoleil reads poems in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine. In Ukraine: Poems Audience welcome. Also live streamed on our YouTube channel or Facebook page.

live streamed on our YouTube channel or Facebook page. Donate if you value Walker’s work! The Pacific Rim is a meeting-place of many forms of life. Oral literatures speak to the mind’s inner structures in ways more basic than time can tell. In his May talk, Walker Brents III will approach further dimensions of this mystery, contemplating…

Bird & Beckett, in association with Jazz in the Neighborhood and the Independent Musicians’ Alliance, presents a jazz jam session for young players on the first Sunday of each month, starting always at 5pm with a student ensemble from one of the Bay Area’s many fine jazz education programs, from post-secondary down to the high…

Tony Peebles, saxophone Christian Tumalan, piano Aaron Germain, bass Brian Andres, drums $20 cash cover charge; doors open at 7:20 for the 7:30 show. BYOB and a mask. Live in the shop! You can also take it in live streamed on our YouTube channel or Facebook page. Donate if you can! With Tony Peebles and Christian Tumalan,…

Ben Davis, cello Erik Jekabson, trumpet Jordan Glenn, drums Compositional structures, lines and wild loose grooves are gauged open and explored in impassioned play between instruments—gut-wrenching dissonance to sonorous deep tones. This new Bay Area group was brought together by cellist Ben Davis to probe the thin line between composition and improvisation. The improvs are…