Twice a month on a Saturday afternoon (2nd & 4th), one of the Bay Area’s hidden treasurers, pianist Grant Levin, works through two sets of jazz standards and originals with a duo partner, and the results always hold the Bird & Beckett audience transfixed. Try it– you won’t often find such a sublime way to pass a summer afternoon.

Charles Thomas joins Grant Levin in two sets of jazz duo work, Saturday, June 25th – 4-6 pm

June 25th, bassist Charles Thomas shares the bandstand.  Born and raised in San Francisco, Charles made the switch from cello to bass in junior high school, adding guitar, piano and drums along the way. Now he’s known to sing with gusto, as well.

Charles grew up in the Fillmore district and became well known in the Bay Area playing pop, reggae, jazz and classical idioms, picking up music degrees from City College and San Francisco State, touring the Pacific Northwest with the great Sierra Leone guitarist and singer, Sooliman Rogie even as he was completing the degrees. He then joined Esther Phillips’ band and toured with her for 4 years. He’s also played with Les McCann, Billy Paul, Julian Priester, Lenny Williams, Karlton Hester, John Handy, Little Anthony, The Fifth Dimension, and many others. Charles performs in a number of groups, composes for film and keeps busy as a producer as well. We particularly like him, ’cause he’s a helluva jazz bassist. Just ask Grant!