Articles by Roy Strassman
Brad Mehldau Trio Groovin' High at SFJAZZ
by Roy Strassman
Brad Mehldau Trio SFJAZZ Center San Francisco, CA April 3, 2025 SFJAZZ Center honored the Bay Area's jazz fans with the Brad Mehldau-Christian McBride-Marcus Gilmore trio, in town for a four-night run from April 3-6, 2025. Opening night was a real treat for the ear, eye, and soul. Casually dressed, the players took the stage, exuding a quiet confidence characteristic of master musicians. The set opened with Mehldau's catchy “26," which swung and ...
Continue ReadingHarold Lopez-Nussa at Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society
by Roy Strassman
Harold Lopez-Nussa Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society Live performance Half Moon Bay, CA February 16, 2025 Cuban jazz pianist and composer Harold Lopez-Nussa surfed his quartet into the picturesque seaside venue of Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society in Half Moon Bay, San Francisco. The weather was overcast and chilly, but the heartwarming music generated a genuine warmth among the sold-out audience. López-Nussa, wearing a colorful, trippy guayabera paired with color-coordinated sneakers, ...
Continue ReadingNduduzo Makhathini at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society
by Roy Strassman
Nduduzo Makhathini Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society Half Moon Bay, California November 3, 2024 As the waves gently lapped upon the shore beneath the setting sun on a lovely early November Sunday in Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, pianist, composer, bandleader and healer Nduduzo Makhathini and his trio took the stage at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society seaside venue. Makhathini is a Renaissance man whose ken comprises not only music but ...
Continue ReadingStanley Clarke-Hiromi Duo at SFJAZZ
by Roy Strassman
Stanley Clarke-Hiromi Duo SFJAZZ CenterSan Francisco, CA September 6, 2024 Oh, the expectation for such an incredible bill--two musical giants--consummate bassist Stanley Clarke and pianist extraordinaire Hiromi (Uehara). It is one thing to hear them together on YouTube. It is quite another to catch them live, but there they were: performing live and together at SFJAZZ. Clad in a white shirt, black vest, and matching black pants, Clarke appeared whimsically professorial in bearing, ...
Continue ReadingThe Dave Holland New Quartet at the 2024 SFJAZZ Summer Festival
by Roy Strassman
The Dave Holland New Quartet SFJAZZ Center Summer Festival San Francisco, CA May 27, 2024 Last night, Dave Holland completed a four-day residency at SFJAZZ Center in the heart of San Francisco's Hayes Valley district. His Friday night performance showcased the exceptional talent of the current members of The Dave Holland New Quartet: the brilliant pianist Kris Davis, the blazing alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, the dynamic drummer Nasheet Waits, and of course, Holland himself--a ...
Continue ReadingGerald Clayton-Elena Pinderhughes Duo at Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society
by Roy Strassman
Gerald Clayton-Elena Pinderhughes Duo Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society Live performance Half Moon Bay Sunday, April 28, 2024 It is always a rewarding experience to attend a show at Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society in Half Moon Bay near San Francisco, both for the music and the beachfront location. As usual, president and artistic director Barbara Riching was the hostess and emcee, and the show, featuring Gerald Clayton and Elena Pinderhughes, filled the 200-seat ...
Continue ReadingLinda May Han Oh Quintet at Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society
by Roy Strassman
Linda May Han Oh Quintet Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society Half Moon Bay, CA January 28, 2024 Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society is a fantastic seaside venue for enjoying gemütlich hospitality and late Sunday afternoon jazz. On this Sunday, the tides rolled in Linda May Han Oh and her formidable quintet. Linda May is a remarkable bassist and has an enchanting presence. Attired in a full-length Hawaiian grass--type skirt, she played--or should I ...
Continue ReadingJohn Zorn at 70 at Great American Music Hall
by Roy Strassman
Zorn at 70 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA August 30-September 3, 2023 Day One, August 30, 2023 “Breaking Ground" with John Medeski and Dave Lombardo Last night, the intergalactic Starship John Zorn descended from New York into San Francisco for a five- night residency at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall to celebrate Zorn's 70th birthday. Zorn, a legendary avant-garde composer and saxophonist whose Promethean and prolific output of ...
Continue ReadingWilliam Parker New Heart Trio at The Chapel
by Roy Strassman
William Parker New Heart Trio The Chapel San Francisco, CA May 15, 2023 William Parker is a free jazz phenom, as his current New Heart Trio heartedly demonstrated. Accompanied by the legendary William Hooker on the drum set and firebrand Isaiah Collier on tenor saxophone and hand percussion, Parker, attired in a Tophi (Fez-like Indonesian cap) and knee-length variegated striped smock, began the set with a free-jazz crash and swing motif, Collier's horn ablaze. His ...
Continue ReadingDave Holland Trio Live At Yoshi's
by Roy Strassman
Dave Holland Trio Yoshi's Oakland, CA February 20, 2023 The David Holland trio swung into Yoshi's in Oakland after kicking off the initial week of its present tour at NYC's Village Vanguard. His trio during this stint consisted of the notable musicians Kevin Eubanks on guitar and Eric Harland on Drums (Obed Calvaire handled the drums in NY). Holland began the set by introducing the musicians, stating that he would not talk ...
Continue Reading
