Articles by Roy Strassman

Live Review

Orquesta Akokán at The Freight

by Roy Strassman
August 28, 2026

Orquesta Akokán The Freight & Salvage Live performance Berkeley, CAAugust 7, 2026 Orquesta Akokán had just flown in from its European tour and was playing the first of its Bay Area weekend performances at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage, currently called “The Freight." They hit the ground running with “Con Altura," (With Altitude), a seeming oxymoron, were it not that the band simply took off again, filling the dance floor until the final “adios" some ...

Live Review

Coltrane 100 at Freight and Salvage

by Roy Strassman
April 30, 2026

Coltrane 100 Freight and Salvage Berkeley, CA April 15, 2026 Chatting with Joe Lovano after the evening's proceedings, I remarked, “How amazing it must be to have a group of all top notch New York bandleaders," to which he replied, “Combining bandleader personnel does not always produce what you might expect!" On this night in the heart of Berkeley, however, the performance of this group of stellar cats far exceeded one's wildest expectations; it was ...

Live Review

Michael League Ellipsis at SFJAZZ Center

by Roy Strassman
March 2, 2026

Michael League Ellipsis SFJAZZ Center San Francisco, CA January 29, 2026 On an uncharacteristically balmy January evening, Michael League brought Ellipsis to the SFJAZZ Center, featuring Cuban conguero/batalero, singer (akpwón), dancer, and composer Pedrito Martinez. The ensemble also included famed Mexican drummer Antonio Sanchez and Cuban keyboardist and synthesizer player Glenda Del E. League, known for his work with Snarky Puppy, organized the group's sound while anchoring its groove. Collectively, these musicians have ...

Live Review

Brad Mehldau Trio Groovin' High at SFJAZZ

by Roy Strassman
April 26, 2025

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 ...

Live Review

Harold Lopez-Nussa at Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society

by Roy Strassman
March 9, 2025

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, ...

Live Review

Nduduzo Makhathini at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society

by Roy Strassman
December 21, 2024

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 ...

Live Review

Stanley Clarke-Hiromi Duo at SFJAZZ

by Roy Strassman
October 6, 2024

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, ...

Live Review

The Dave Holland New Quartet at the 2024 SFJAZZ Summer Festival

by Roy Strassman
June 26, 2024

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 ...

Live Review

Gerald Clayton-Elena Pinderhughes Duo at Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society

by Roy Strassman
May 31, 2024

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 ...

Live Review

Linda May Han Oh Quintet at Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society

by Roy Strassman
February 10, 2024

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 ...