653 Chenery Street
in San Francisco's Glen Park neighborhood

1-415-586-3733
[email protected]

Open to walk-in trade and browsing
Tuesday to Sunday
noon to six

 

Live Streams every weekend!
Refresh your browser
to catch a show in progress!
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But nothing beats being in the room
with the music & the musicians!

Saturday, January 16th – 7:30-10 pm
The Gaea Schell Trio

Bassist John Wiitala and drummer Greg Wyser-Pratt join Canadian pianist/vocalist Gaea Schell, who’s been making her mark on the San Francisco jazz scene since arriving a couple years ago.

john wiitalaGreg Wyser-Pratt

gaea schell 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the judgment of Albert ‘Tootie’ Heath, Gaea “plays the heck out of the piano with them small hands.”

Known among her peers for swinging every note, subtle phrasing, and honest lyrical writing, Gaea is a native of western Canada where she grew up playing music from an early age. Recorder lessons at age 6 with family friend, the late San Francisco based drummer Eddie Marshall, was one of her first musical ventures.

Pursuit of a classical harp degree led her to check Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans records out of the school library, inspiring a move East and subsequent graduation from the jazz program at acclaimed McGill University in Montreal.

Gaea’s real learning, however, came from playing on the bandstand with respected elders who spent considerable time themselves playing with greats such as Joe Henderson, Wynton Kelly, Ella Fitzgerald. Gaea feels “it’s so important to listen, experience, and understand the tradition of this music”.

A 1999 Canada Council for the Arts grant took Gaea to New York City where she studied with internationally known pianist/composer Richie Beirach. Gaea (maiden name ‘Brant’) is a cousin of late classical composer Henry Brant, whose protege Benny Golson may be Gaea’s favorite composer.

Gaea recently made her California debut as a twice featured performer at the San Jose Jazz Festival and has played with such important jazz players as Nancy King, Albert ‘Tootie’ Heath, Clare Fischer Big Band, Marcus Shelby, Bobby Watson and Dan Faehnle (guitarist with Diana Krall) as well as local heroes Vince Lateano, John Wiitala and Noel Jewkes.

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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...
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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

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