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653 Chenery Street in San Francisco's Glen Park neighborhood
Open to walk-in trade and browsing Tuesday to Sunday noon to six
phone: 1-415-586-3733 email: [email protected]
Scott Foster, guitar.Charles Thomas, bass.
Mark Lee, drums.
byob, and a twenty
for the band!
A note from Scott, as we approach this date
–– the last in his long-running 6pm Third-Fridays happy hour shows!
(Though not the end of Scott’s Third-Fridays residency at Bird & Beckett, which will continue in May et seq., with a 7:30pm start time)
Says Scott,
“For close to 25 years, happy hour Fridays at Bird and Beckett has been part of our lives. In fact it has changed my life in so many ways by giving me the opportunity to grow as a musician — from the very earliest days, as the youngster amidst the masters learning repertoire and details about the music, to more recent opportunities to challenge myself by putting together bands that have stretched me into new musical landscapes. In the end, it has always been about the people — whether on stage pushing and supporting me, or in the crowd regularly bringing good vibes, positive energy and passion for the music.
“Come out for one last chance to soak in Friday happy hour at Bird and Beckett and walk down memory lane with many of the incredible people that have made it magical all these years.”
Dorothy Lefkovits (in beret) confabs with tenor player Chuck Peterson & drummer Jimmy Ryan at the old Bird & Beckett location on Diamond Street, in the “early” days of the scene
Tonight, in a fit of nostalgia, Scott Foster brings in a combo that refers back to the magical shows when he was first getting his feet wet at Bird & Beckett, more than two dozen years ago! In 2002, tenor player Chuck Peterson started a Friday tradition, and made Scott — a talented young whippersnapper at the time — a central part of his combo.
About fifteen years ago, Scott took on his own third-Fridays spot in our calendar. Chuck retired a decade ago and passed several years back.
Scott has carried on all these years — leading a combo of his devising every third Friday from 6-8pm — the “Friday Happy Hour.” Tonight is the last outing in that 6pm series (though Scott will continue monthly with a 7:30pm start time).
This particular combo harkens back to about 2010, when the Chuck Peterson Quintet split into four bands, with Chuck forming the 230 Jones Street Literary Jazz Band, and three of the original participants each taking a Friday — bassist Don Prell’s Seabop group took one, a flexible combo led by Scott took on another, and drummer Jimmy Ryan took on his own, calling it the Bird & Beckett Bebop Band. Jimmy’s band most often featured pianist Don Alberts and bassist Charles Thomas. Happily, Charles is available to join Scott for tonight’s outing, and along for the ride is drummer Mark Lee, a fixture on the Bird & Beckett bandstand for fifteen years or more.
Mark your calendar for May and beyond — starting with the first Friday in May, we’re shifting our Friday schedule to presenting a single show, starting at 7:30pm, and eliminating the 8:30pm show. Scott’s residency will continue every third Friday with a 7:30pm start time beginning in May, and he’ll continue his practice of fielding a different band each time out. And every second Friday at 7:30pm six times a year (in the “even numbered” months), you’ll find Eric & the In Crowd holding it down! The rest of the residencies and our jam sessions will be found in the NEW happy hour – Sundays at 5pm!
________________
If you like the late afternoon vibe at Bird & Beckett,
Sundays at 5pm is where you’ll find it!
* A jam session for jazz students of all ages
on the first Sunday of each month.
* An Americana series revolving around
country pedal steel master Joe Goldmark’s
every-other-second-Sunday outings
with Mitch Polzak’s Royal Deuces
and Hank Maninger’s Nashville Honeymoon with Lynne Maes.
* Vince Lateano’s trio and Tony Johnson’s combos alternating
in the third Sunday slot.
* A jam session for jazz players of all stripes
on the last Sunday of each month.
In five-Sunday months, on the fourth Sunday
we’ll book someone we want you to hear.
Trust us & take a chance on jazz!
Mark your calendar if need be, and make it a habit!
BYOB and a twenty for the band if you can afford it,
pay what you can if twenty is a stretch for you!
We’re looking for sponsors and underwriters to make the Sundays
stress free for the audiences and performers as well.
We want the musicians to be paid well and the audiences
to leave their worries at the door step!
So, direct your feet to the sunny side of Chenery Street!
And if you’re a philanthropist, direct your largess
to the swinging door under the Bird & Becket sign!
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The Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy Project
Our events are put on under the umbrella of the nonprofit Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy Project (the "BBCLP"). That's how we fund our ambitious schedule of 300 or so concerts and literary events every year.
The BBCLP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit...
[Read More ]
The Independent Musicians Alliance
Gigging musicians! You have nothing to lose but your lack of a collective voice to achieve fair wages for your work!
The IMA can be a conduit for you, if you join in to make it work.
https://www.independentmusiciansalliance.org/
Read more here - Andy Gilbert's Feb 25 article about the IMA from KQED's site