Three New York-based jazz masters take the stage at Bird & Beckett Tuesday, January 11 at 7:30pm for two sets of jazz! $20 cash cover charge. BYOB. Vax. Masks. Audience capacity is just 20 seats. For a reservation, call 415-586-3733! Also streamed on the Bird & Beckett Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Oakland-born tenor saxophonist Craig Handy will share the bandstand with Omaha-born bassist Essiet Okon Essiet and San Jose-born drummer Sylvia Cuenca.

Handy and Essiet are both alumni of the last iteration of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in years leading up to Blakey’s passing in 1990. Sylvia’s credits include four years with Joe Henderson and seventeen with trumpeter Clark Terry. Handy and Essiet both put in time with Joe Henderson as well, along with a raft of other major talents.

Handy’s memorable performance as tenor sax giant Coleman Hawkins in the 1996 Robert Altman film “Kansas City” made that film a cinematic landmark.

Handy is currently a member of the Charles Mingus Big Band, the Charles Mingus Dynasty, and the Charles Mingus Orchestra.

All three members of the trio are in the midst of major careers in New York and internationally, and have plenty of shared bandstand experience.

This is a show not to be missed!