Al Molina, trumpet Jerry Logas, baritone sax, clarinet and flute Don Prell, leader and bass Chris Gustafason, drums Bassist Don Prell got his start in L.A. in the 1950s, traveling for several years as a member of the Bud Shank Quartet. He’s been a cornerstone of the Bird & Beckett Friday night jazz series since its inception in 2002. Don leads a group here on the first Friday of each month — The Seabop Ensemble.

16 tickets ($20 cash, please) available at the door starting at 5 pm day of show. ~~2 tix per person only, please.~~ Claim a seat, get some dinner and get back here before 7:15! Some standing room will be available starting at 7:15. Limited seating, so please be advised! Born in Oakland in 1955, David Murray came of age as a saxophonist under the profound influence of free jazz masters Albert Ayler and Archie Shepp and proceeded to become a major figure of avant garde jazz beginning in the mid-1970s. He is highly regarded for his rich and diverse compositions, technique and sound, influenced by such greats as Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster and Paul Gonsalves as well as the modern masters. Murray is widely known for his work as a founding member of the World Saxophone Quartet, alongside Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill and Hamiet Bluiett, which recorded 21 albums between…

Lyle Link – tenor saxophone. Gaea Schell – piano. David Ewell – bass. Sylvia Cuenca – drums. “Thinking about playing some of my favorite Bobby Hutcherson tunes plus music from a variety of my other favorite composers,” says Sylvia. Born and raised in San Jose, and gigging professionally in San Francisco and environs at the start of her career, Sylvia Cuenca is now a first call drummer on the New York jazz scene, where she’s been based for well over a decade.  She toured with saxophone legend Joe Henderson for 4 years and with trumpet legend Clark Terry for 17 years. The Joe Henderson quartet toured frequently in European countries Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, England, Switzerland, France, Italy and Germany and venues across the U.S. In a trio setting she performed with Joe Henderson and Charlie Haden in 1989 and with George Mraz in 1994. She performed with the…

Mean to Me resurrects classic jazz of the 1920s through ’40s filtered through the unique sensibilities of the band, which boasts a proclivity for bop, soul and latin jazz as well. Think Monk sauntering up Tin Pan Alley and turning onto Bourbon Street… Sweet and low down, and always swingin’. Mingus is there… Ahmad Jamal, too… Mean to Me’s core comprises Judy Butterfield, trained as a cabaret singer but with an abiding love for soul music; Ben Slater, a pianist whose interest in exploring the roots of jazz grew from time spent living in New Orleans; and Dave Shaff, a trumpeter drawn to some more modern and funky sounds. All three grew up in San Francisco and have played together on and off for ten years now. They know how to have a good time, and so do their confederates. You’ll have one, too!