During every season, SFJAZZ Education hosts intimate conversations with international performing artists prior to select performances. Free to ticket holders, Pre-Concert Talks provide deep insight into the performer’s music and creative process. They begin one hour before show time. Here are the upcoming Pre-Concert Talk events:
Friday, September 28, 8:00pm • Herbst Theatre
The loss of 57-year-old tenor saxophone titan Michael Brecker from leukemia in 2007 left a gaping hole that can’t be filled. His longest running collaboration was with his older brother, trumpet great Randy Brecker. Randy has now assembled a true supergroup with deep Brecker Band history, including Mike Stern, George Whitty, Neil Jason and Dave Weckl.
Thursday, October 11, 7:30pm • Herbst Theatre
Marcus Miller’s new Concord album Renaissance could easily refer to the bassist himself — a true Renaissance man who has made an indelible mark on the music as a performer, producer and composer. Miller is a studio legend, heard as a sideman on over 500 albums, but he’s also found time to put forth 16 records as a leader.
Sunday, October 14, 7:00pm • San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Panama-born piano virtuoso Danilo Pérez has established himself as one of the preeminient jazz musicians of his generation. He’s won every conceivable award and even serves as Panama’s goodwill ambassador to UNICEF, but Pérez is best known as a member of saxophone legend Wayne Shorter’s quartet with John Patitucci and Brian Blade — perhaps the greatest working band in jazz.
Thursday, November 1, 8:00pm • Palace of Fine Arts Theatre
Pianist and composer Robert Glasper is on a mission to reconcile modern jazz with hip hop and R&B. And his latest Blue Note recording, Black Radio, is a bold manifesto. Poised to become the next instrumental superstar, Robert Glasper is truly the sound of now.
Friday, November 16, 8:00pm • Herbst Theatre
Only a unique confluence of cultural influences could produce an artist as strikingly original as Buika, who has earned a devoted cadre of fans and collaborators ranging from celebrated filmmaker Pedro Almódovar to musicians Seal, Rachelle Ferrell, Anoushka Shankar and Nelly Furtado. This date marks the SFJAZZ debut of an important new figure in world music.
Saturday, December 1, 8:00pm • Herbst Theatre
If Arturo Sandoval was only the most prodigious Cuban trumpeter of his generation, given to gravity defying improvisational flights, his spot in the jazz pantheon would be assured. he played a central role in revolutionizing Cuban music as leader and founding member of Irakere. When he’s not leading his blazing jazz combo, Sandoval can be found performing with the finest symphony orchestras around the world.
Pre-Concert Talk with Ellis Marsalis
This dynamic program offers music appreciation classes for adults, providing entertaining and informative insights into jazz music, history and culture through live performance in addition to multimedia presentation and audience Q&A.
