Photos and audio from the TrumpetSuperGroup playing live at Calvary Church in San Francisco, California on September 16, 2011.

Audio Tracks
1. Joyspring (Brown)
2. Zuni Dance (Jekabson)

Download audio file (TrumpetSuperGroup1.mp3)
Download audio file (TrumpetSuperGroup2.mp3)

MUSICIANS
Dave Scott, Trumpet
Erik Jekabson, Trumpet
Mario Guarneri, Trumpet
Doug Morton, Trumpet
Mike Olmos, Trumpet
Scott Foster, Guitar
Daniel Fabricant, Upright Bass
Surya Patri, Drums

Adam Shulman, Jack Riordan, and John Wiitala spent a night celebrating the artistry of Nat King Cole and the Nat King Cole Trio at the Red Poppy Art House on June 16, 2011. Classic music, talented musicians, and an intimate venue in the Mission. What’s not to like? This is why we live in San Francisco!

Here’s a few photos and one audio track from the first song of the night — Somebody Loves Me — with a little bit of background on early Nat King Cole (the pianist) by Adam after they finish. Enjoy!

Download audio file (ShulmanTrio01.mp3)

MUSICIANS
Adam Shulman, Piano
Jack Riordan, Guitar
John Wiitala, Bass

Photographs and audio samples from the debut of the Jazz Mafia Symphony No. 2 “Emperor Norton Suite” (along with other selections) live at the Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco on June 26, 2011.

What an incredible free outdoor show this was! What’s not to like about so many talented local musicians coming together on such a beautiful day at such a fantastic venue? This is why I live in San Francisco, good times all around!

Download audio file (2011.06.24.JazzMafiaSymphony2.SternGrove.WorldPremiere.01.mp3)
Download audio file (2011.06.24.JazzMafiaSymphony2.SternGrove.WorldPremiere.15.mp3)

I snapped these photographs yesterday afternoon during the Jazz Mafia‘s Symphony No. 2 dress rehearsal at Stern Grove out in the Avenues of the Sunset District. It was a nice day in the Grove, and it was great to get a personal preview of what will be the world premiere this Sunday of The Emperor Norton Suite, celebrating the spirit of San Francisco’s favorite eccentric. Trust me when I say this show is not to be missed — it’s also outdoors and free too! But remember, Stern Grove gets crazy packed early in the day, and it can be cold and foggy, so get there early and bring something warm if you’re planning on coming!

While recently digging through my archives, I realized I never posted any photographs from the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra playing live at the Fillmore Street Jazz Festival in San Francisco on July 3, 2010.

The Switchboard Music Festival was founded by local (or formerly local) composers and performers Jeff Anderle, Ryan Brown, and Jonathan Russell with the goal of presenting an epic eight-hour, non-stop music marathon featuring composers and musicians who push the boundaries of their respective genres. No other Bay Area music festival or concert series offers such an eclectic, genre-crossing, convention-breaking, bastardizing group of experimentalists, innovators, and musical omnivores in a single event.

Although I wasn’t able to personally stay for the entire eight hours, I did manage to hang out and document about four hours of live music and behind the scenes action at Brava Theater in the Mission, which was the stretch of the day’s program that included Telepathy, The Genie, Wiener Kids, Erik Jekabson and the Bay Area Composers Big Band, and sound artist Loren Chasse who created a work specifically for the unique environment of the Brava Theater.

Photographs and live audio tracks from Jarrett Cherner on piano and Kasey Knudsen on saxophone playing a fabulous house concert in San Anselmo on January 9, 2011.

Download audio file (2011.01.09.JarrettChernerKaseyKnudsen.HouseConcert.3.mp3)
Download audio file (2011.01.09.JarrettChernerKaseyKnudsen.HouseConcert.1.mp3)

Tracks
Whispering (Schonberger, arr. Cherner)
Noodie Bird (Knudsen)