Drummer/Vibraphonist/Saxophonist Smith Dobson V has been performing in the Bay Area for nearly twenty years. Originally from Santa Cruz, Ca., Dobson is a member of an important Jazz family. His father, the late Smith Dobson IV, was a world renown Pianist and director of the Jazz series at the Garden City in San Jose for over twenty years, where he accompanied artists’ like Art Pepper, Stan Getz, Bobby Hutcherson, Harold Land, Chet Baker, Red Norvo, Tal Farlow, and Lee Konitz, to name a few.

Also in the family, Grandfather Smith III is a Jazz Accordionist, Grandmother Norma, Mother Gail, and Sister Sasha are all Jazz Vocalists. The family often performed as a group at the Garden City, and other venues, as well as many local schools and workshops. As a child, Smith V had the opportunity to study with legendary Jazz Drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath, who said of his pupil, “He has the talent, determination and persistence as a musician, combined with the dedication necessary to succeed… improvisational skills totally advanced, excellent sensitivity, both solo and as an accompanist… my most talented student!”

Smith has had the honor of working with some of the great Jazz artists, locally and internationally, such as Bobby Hutcherson, Red Rodney, John Handy, Sheila Jordan, Red Holloway, Pete and Conte Condoli, Phillip Harper, Hal Stein, Noel Jewekes, Ben Goldberg, Graham Connahs’ Sour Note Seven, Darren Johnstone, Will Bernard, and Kenny Brooks.

Max Ehrhardt is a Oakland based trumpet player and educator dedicated to spreading music and creativity into the Bay-Area community. Growing up in programs like Oaktown Jazz Workshops and earning his undergraduate degree at the University of the Pacific under the instruction of Joe Mazzaferro, Max has accumulated a wealth of musical experience spanning multiple genres and styles.

Drawing influence from Hard Bop players such as Lee Morgan, Blue Mitchell, and Freddie Hubbard as well as Funk and Soul artists like Billy Withers and Earth, Wind, and Fire, Max shares his love of many different styles and genres of music.

The Lakeshore Collective represents the growing and inclusive community of Bay Area musicians. As an ever changing ensemble of artists and band members, they showcase the unique talents and collaborative personalities of all Bay-Area musicians.

Mike Olmos has become one the most in demand jazz musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area while maintaining a frequent national and international performance/touring schedule. In the Bay, Mike has been performing with various bands such as the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Pete Escovedo, Wil Blades, Eddie Roberts, Jubu and Legally Blynd. ​

When in town he can be found hosting and joining jam sessions at local clubs.

​He has had the privilege of performing with Rosemary Clooney, Etta James, Michael Buble and many other great talents.

He can be heard on late legendary Blues/R&B singer Etta James' Grammy nominated final album "The Dreamer" as well as many others.

Introducing The Verve Quintet, The Bay Area’s hottest new jazz ensemble! Celebrating the effervescent sound of the 1960’s hard bop era. In addition to performing their own original compositions they honor the great jazz artists like Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Lee Morgan to name a few.  The Verve Quintet is led by Trumpeter Daniel Herrera and saxophonist Andrew Dixon, who’s dynamic pairing and complementary musical stylings create a unique and exciting sound that you will not want to miss!

Collectivity is a jazz/funk, psychedelic soul band originally formed in Shanghai, China and now based in the SF Bay Area. We're talking about blistering energy and genre blending from an ensemble of world class musicians with a focus on exploration through collective improvisation. Upbeat grooves, soulful guitar work and tight arrangements are things to expect from a collectivity show. They draw on influences from jazz/funk, gospel and psychedelic soul. 

With their high energy stage performances, this band has recently opened for Larry Graham at Shanghai Arena, performed in Mongolia at Ulanchabo Stadium, toured in Europe, and headlining festivals across the States, and has been turning heads touring throughout Asia and the US.

In addition to the guitar wizardry of bandleader Ben Misterka, the level of musicianship in this band is off the charts. The two horn players have played with Etta James, Boz Scaggs and The New Mastersounds! Bassist Uriah Duffy is one of the most loved on the scene, working with everyone from Christina Aguilera, Whitesnake, Too Short, The Family Stone to name a few. Keys wizard Kevin Wong is one of the most in demand in the Bay and Tokyo. You may have seen James Small on the drums touring the world with Fantastic Negrito. We can't wait to witness firsthand why Collectivity is renowned across several continents.

The Midnight Blue Organ Trio is a hard swinging group inspired by Jazz organ greats Jimmy Smith, Larry Young and Dr. Lonnie Smith. The trio's repertoire includes compositions by contemporary artists Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein and John Scofield. All members of the group are veterans of the Bay Area Jazz scene and take joy in keeping the sound of the classic Jazz Organ Trio alive and well. 

Patrick Wolff is a saxophone and clarinet player with a long history in the jazz scenes of New York City and San Francisco. He has performed or recorded with Albert "Tootie" Heath, Matt Wilson, Grant Stewart, Louis Moholo-Moholo, Dena Derose, and many other jazz greats. Since moving to San Francisco in 2009, Wolff has played and recorded regularly in the bands of Marcus Shelby, Richard Sears, Graham Connah, Adam Shulman, and Diana Gameros. Outside of the jazz world, he has had an eclectic mix of work including long stints in West African pop/funk group Asiko, prog metal band Kayo Dot, and with fuji music legend Adewale Ayuba. With six albums released under his name, Wolff has made his mark as a bandleader with various groups playing his original compositions, and with classic jazz quartets and quintets focused on repertoire of the bebop and hard bop eras. His playing is characterized by a focus on lyricism and an embrace of the whole lineage of jazz styles.

Wolff is also a passionate jazz educator and advocate. For four years, he hosted and produced a weekly fearure show on KCSM 91.1FM ("Have You Heard"), exploring the work of emerging and underrated jazz artists, and continues to dj for the station on occasion. He was the Faculty Director at the Stanford Jazz Workshop from 2008-2013, and currently teaches jazz history, composition, and ensemble classes at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the College of San Mateo throughout the year, and at the Stanford Jazz Workshop in the summer.

Early exposure to jazz through educational programs (b.1979 SF, CA) allowed Luke to participate in the Monterey Jazz Festival, and the Grammy in the Schools programs as part of the San Francisco Jazz Festival.

In the years following those early days Luke has secured his reputation as a first call Jazz guitar player in the thriving San Francisco Bay Area music scene (performing at The SF Jazz Center, Bach Dancing and Dynamite, La Peña Cultural Center, Black Cat Supper Club, Mr. Tipples, Cafe Du Nord, Jupiter, and many other venues).

Alongside performing in Bay Area bars and clubs Luke has also provided music for well known clients at prestigious event venues— here are a few notable past clients: Carnegie Mellon University, Waymo, The SF Olympic Club, Bohemian Club, SFCDMA, DeLoitte, UCSF/Marc Benioff, General Electric, Netflix.

Alongside pursuing his ambitions of live performance he’s also explored other professional duties in the field of music working as a professional sheet music transcriptionist and also as a commercial music composer (Wall Street Journal, AmFar Foundation, and the NFL).

Adam Klipple, who has been described as "a standout pianist who has gone to school on McCoy Tyner and Cecil Taylor and earned his degree," plays piano, Hammond organ, sampler, and a variety of vintage keyboards. He currently is a member of the legendary jazz rock band Blood, Sweat & Tears. He also currently performs and records with jazz phenom Veronica Swift.

Adam has recorded and performed onstage with the likes of Ghostface Killah, Lauryn Hill, Graham Haynes, the Sun Ra Arkestra, Craig Harris, Joe Bowie's Defunkt, Sekou Sundiata, Marc Ribot, John Medeski, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Carla Cook, Dave Fiuczynski, David Gilmore, Josh Roseman, Peter Apfelbaum, Jay Rodriguez, Groove Collective, and Smokey Robinson. He has appeared at renowned venues including the Blue Note, Iridium, the Jazz Standard, Blues Alley, and the Knitting Factory, and at jazz festivals around the world.

Also a composer and arranger, Adam has earned grants from Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Arts International, Meet the Composer, and the U.S. Department of State, enabling him to tour and teach master classes in southeast Asia, the Pacific Rim, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.  

Ladies and Gentemen, introducing Fog City Swing! The bay area's newest and hottest swing band featuring an electrifying three horn front line, stellar crooning vocals, and a swing till you drop rhythm section. This seven piece ensemble will transport you to the 1940’s, it is truly the world’s smallest big band!

Fog City Swing is co-led by saxophonist Greg Johnson and trumpeter Daniel Herrera.

“Foot-tapping hip-shaking songs of love & loss. Based in San Fransisco, roots in Havana, Los Angeles, Mexico City & London.

Joe Warner is setting the Bay Area jazz scene on fire. A rising star known for his captivating style and electrifying performances, he's the pianist and musical director for the legendary vocalist The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol, leading the charge with his own Joe Warner Trio while sharing stages and studios with icons like Houston Person, Billy Hart, Buster Williams, John Handy, Mary Stallings, and Gary Bartz. Warner’s deep groove and versatility have also led him to work with not just jazz royalty but cultural heavyweights like Mistah F.A.B., Bernard Purdie, and Robert Randolph. Whether it’s classic jazz or genre-bending collaborations, Warner’s got the keys to the future. His trio will thrill and delight audiences with fresh takes on jazz standards, blues, ballads, and adventurous swingin'.

Jinx Jones Biography (Jazz Trio)

"Jinx is a guitar virtuoso who seamlessly moves from rockabilly to jazz to twang and back again, sometimes in the same song. Those with a liner note obsession will remember Jinx’s playing on En Vogue’s “Free Your Mind.”

(San Francisco Chronicle)

Jinx Jones boasts a prolific career spanning from the 1990s, during which he has been a prominent figure in the San Francisco Bay Area jazz scene. His musical journey, deeply rooted in R&B and Soul collaborations with luminaries such as Solomon Burke and En Vogue, has laid a solid groundwork for his ventures into the realms of soul jazz and hard bop. Jones' distinctive approach to jazz is deeply influenced by the venerable traditions set forth by iconic guitarists such as Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessel, and George Benson.

“You've heard fretboard prestidigitator Jinx before: he lent studio guitar and bass to En Vogue's hit, "Free Your Mind." Professionally impressive as it is, though, that credit does not represent his own chosen styling. Jinx's headlong endeavors draw freely and unto satiation from classic rocka-billy, vintage jazz, and spartan honky tonk….” D. C. Larson, Crackerjack Magazine, UK

In recent times, Jinx Jones has achieved international acclaim with the release of his latest solo jazz album, "Blue Gardenia." This album showcases his guitar artistry, striking a perfect balance between delicacy and energy, reminiscent of the soulful and profound styles of the genre's legendary masters.

“Jinx Jones is out there. Four or five nights a week, the great guitar player with the immaculate pompadour can be found at various Bay Area venues, working the stage, doing his thing. The Colorado native came up serving as a sideman to rock ’n’ roll royalty, playing with the likes of Chuck Berry and Solomon Burke.”

Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle

Tomoko Funaki was born in Japan into a musical family. Following in the footsteps of her parents, both musicians, she studied classical violin and flute. A move to New York exposed her to a broad range of musical genres but she found herself increasingly drawn towards jazz. After moving to San Francisco in 2002, she began studying upright bass and quickly immersed herself into the San Francisco jazz scene, studying and performing with luminaries including Ray Drummond, Rodney Whitaker, Rufus Reid, the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, Andrew Speight, Vince Lateano, Mark Levine, Donald "Duck" Bailey, Allan Harris and Denise Perrier. She has also been involved in jazz education programs such as ‘Stanford Jazz Workshop’ and SFSU ICA ‘The Generations Jazz Project’ in recent years.

tomoko-funaki.com

At just 21 years of age, Graham is a young gun making a name for himself in the world of Jazz today. A dyed-in-the-wool bebop pianist, he seeks to uphold the tradition of Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Kenny Clarke, Hank Jones, and Barry Harris, among others, and treats their music equally as soul food and as ground as fertile for intellectual exploration as any of the great European masters of the last 400 years. 

Armed with a rigorous classical training, he has to quote one local great, "made a substantive contribution towards raising the 'mean tempo' of the tunes played within this sector of the S.F. jazz scene", though he feels just as at home on a contemplative ballad or a slow blues.

You may find him performing under either one of his apt pseudonyms, Dud Powell or Barely Harris. (inside jazz joke!)

Lose yourself in Bay Area’s Tracy Cruz’s spirit filled, rich candied vocals; she is a full-time musical artist, songwriter and vocal coach, taking home over 40 prestigious music awards such as the 

 2022 Intercontinental Music Awards for “Best of North America in the R&B genre”, 2022 Josie Music Award for “Vocalist of the Year” (R&B/Soul), 2022 One Earth Award GOLD for “Best Jazz Single”, 2021 InterContinental Music Awards “Best of North America” in the R&B category, 2020 Gold International Singer Songwriters Association Award for “Female Emerging Artist of the Year”, World Songwriter Award for “Best R&B Song”, 2020 National Black Music Award for “Best Recorded Song” and 2020 Bay Area Black Music Award for “Best Female Neo Soul Performer”. She has also received over 80 nominations including seven Hollywood Music in Media nominations and five Soultracks.com Readers Choice Awards.

Her illustrative sophisticated sound of sultry hurdling breaths of piercingly clear verberating mezzo soprano melodies, will cleanse your soul in a dream-like wonder. Her soothing velvet tales of hope, love, beauty and reflection are enlightened anthems of personal discoveries and affirmations. She has an earnest sound that comes deep within her soul, enthralled by the playful melodic upbeat rhythmic Neo Soul, Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop and Filipino fusions. It’s a soulful orchestra of percussion, guitar, pitched chimes, grooving bass lines, horns and angelic harp-like chords of originality and comfort with her band Instrumentali-T. 

Rooted in the industry for 17+ years Tracy Cruz has journeyed through sold out concerts, tours and openings for renowned artists such as Kenny Lattimore, Pete Escovedo, Miki Howard, Keke Wyatt, Sy Smith, Moonchild, Raheem Devaughn, Wes Felton, Sy Smith, Dee Dee Simon, Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas and more! 

As an active voting member and Chapter Governor (San Francisco Chapter) of the Recording Academy®, Tracy has also graced the stage, performing at prestigious venues and events such as Yoshi’s, Harlow’s, Tempe Center for the Arts, Roger Smith of Tower of Power - Bump City Winery, the San Jose Jazz Festival, the San Jose Center for the Performing Artists, San Francisco Giants Filipino Heritage Night, California Maritime Academy, Rockwood Music Hall, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and Juneteenth Festivals across San Jose, Vallejo, Berkeley and San Francisco. She has worked with GRAMMY® Award Winner Kanetic Source and GRAMMY® Award nominated producer Brandon Williams. 

To be inspired by, and to collaborate with some of the greats, Tracy stays grounded by diligently working within her community for over 17 years, teaching and inspiring the youth at her celebrated Tracy Cruz Vocal Studio through singing, performing, writing, arranging, and mentorship. She encourages her students to stay steadfast about their dreams and to be enchanted with their musical world with full embodiment and freedom. Tracy is currently working on her new album "Sun After the Reign" which will be released in 2024.