Articles by Walter Atkins
San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2025
by Walter Atkins
A collection of photos from the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, in San Jose CA August 8 to10 2025, featuring The Headhunters, Mavis Staples Lalah Hathaway, and Common. ...
Continue ReadingTower Of Power Home For Christmas 2024
by Walter Atkins
A collection of photos from the Tower Of Power Home for Christmas concert at Fox Theater Oakland in Oakland CA December 21, 2024 featuring Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, Tom Politzer and the rest of the TOP band. ...
Continue ReadingTony Lindsay At Keys Jazz Bistro 2024
by Walter Atkins
Tony LindsayKeys Jazz Bistro San Francisco, California November 27, 2024 Prolific San Francisco Bay Area vocalist Tony Lindsay (Santana, The Soul Soldiers, MAZE) and his powerhouse group provided a last-minute holiday treat at Keys Jazz Bistro with a relaxed evening of cool sounds the day before the hectic Thanksgiving weekend. Located on Broadway in San Francisco's famous North Beach neighborhood, it is one of the relatively new music clubs in the City. The building ...
Continue ReadingStephanie Chou Quintet at SF Jazz 2024
by Walter Atkins
SF Jazz's intimate Joe Henderson Lab hosted the multi-talented Stephanie Chou Quintet on their first visit to San Francisco and the storied West Coast music venue on November 8, 2024. New York composer, alto saxophonist and vocalist Chou presented an authentic jazz flavored blend of original compositions and traditional Chinese folk tales, performed with modern and Chinese traditional instrumentation. Her competent group consisted of: band leader Chou on saxophone, Lin on erhu and viola, pianist Park, bassist Copeland and drummer ...
Continue ReadingMarcus Miller At The Meritage 2024
by Walter Atkins
The magnificent composer/bassist/producer Marcus Miller performed in front of a jubilant and full house at the luxurious Meritage Hotel & Spa in pleasantly pastoral Napa, California.The August 30, 2024 date was part of a fantastic musical weekend. His torrid set opened with an arrangement of the Dazz Band's 1982 Grammy-winning track “Let It Whip" and closed with the 1988 go-go party pleaser “Da' Butt" written by Miller, and originally performed by Experience Unlimited (E.U.). The song was part of the ...
Continue ReadingChaka Khan And Steel Pulse At Stern Grove 2024
by Walter Atkins
The effervescent vocalist Chaka Khan closed out the 2024 iteration of the well-established Stern Grove Festival Series in grand form at San Francisco's bucolic Stern Grove. This ten-time Grammy winner and 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee showed no signs of slowing down during her soulfully incendiary set. British-based reggae band Steel Pulse, a 1986 Grammy recipient, opened for the former Rufus lead singer with a torridly funky session. Ms. Khan, celebrating her 50-year career in ...
Continue ReadingLucinda Williams At Stern Grove 2024
by Walter Atkins
On Sunday August 18, 2024, the 87th San Francisco Stern Grove Festival continued its summer Series with the popular Lucinda Williams. Williams and her crack band dazzled the Stern Grove crowd on an uncharacteristically warm Sunday afternoon. Her country, bluesy storytelling songs along with accompanying anecdotes made for an entertaining close to the weekend. Singer / guitarist Jobi Riccio opened the energetic show. ...
Continue ReadingSan Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2024
by Walter Atkins
San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2024 San Jose, CAAugust 9 through August 11, 2024 San Jose Jazz's Summer Fest 2024 was a high-octane weekend of top-flight musicians and artists covering the full spectrum of melodic sounds, in a friendly and accessible location in downtown San Jose. SJJSF 2024 featured multiple outdoor and indoor venues within steps of each other. Compared to previous years, even the relatively cool weather contributed to the overall relaxed and engaging ambience ...
Continue ReadingFillmore Jazz Festival 2024
by Walter Atkins
Fillmore Jazz Festival 2024 Harlem Of The West San Francisco CA July 6-7 2024 This year's 35th edition of the San Francisco's massive Fillmore Jazz Festival focused on the rich and extensive heritage of the City's historic Fillmore district and it's importance as the cultural and musical “Harlem of the West." The FJF 2024 theme was borrowed from the well-documented book Harlem of the West-The San Francisco Fillmore Jazz Era by Elizabeth Pepin ...
Continue ReadingLettuce with John Scofield at SFJAZZ
by Walter Atkins
Lettuce with John Scofield SFJAZZ Miner Auditorium San Francisco, CA April 27, 2024 The popular jam band Lettuce and very special friend John Scofield, took the chill off a seriously windy evening with an exciting dance show performance at SFJAZZ Center. Lettuce's enticing brand of funk and fusion was well received by the appreciative SF Bay Area audience. This favorite San Francisco music venue also featured an ongoing digital display that was clearly reminiscent of ...
Continue Reading
