Bay Area multi-instrumentalist Smith Dobson continues the Horns of SF series at Keys Jazz Bistro on the saxophone, with his long-running quartet, featuring Keith Saunders on piano, Eric Markowitz on bass, and Tony Johnson on drums. The quartet, which held court every Tuesday for nearly a decade at the now defunct Club Deluxe, will be...
Kathy Stephan brings torch songs, swing standards, and a touch of twang to the Comstock Saloon’s polished‑but‑raucous barroom. Her voice leans into the room’s natural reverb, floating over brushed drums, piano, and upright bass while cocktails clink and the lights stay low. Expect classic tunes, a few deep‑cut surprises, and the kind of between‑song banter...
Paris 75’s rotating jazz bands turn this corner of North Beach into a little slice of the Left Bank. Each week a different small ensemble—trios, quartets, and vocal groups—leans into swing, standards, and café‑style jazz that pairs naturally with wine, cocktails, charcuterie, and late‑night conversation. The vibe is intimate and unhurried: close‑up solos, brushed drums,...
Bay Area multi-instrumentalist Smith Dobson continues the Horns of SF series at Keys Jazz Bistro on the saxophone, with his long-running quartet, featuring Keith Saunders on piano, Eric Markowitz on bass, and Tony Johnson on drums. The quartet, which held court every Tuesday for nearly a decade at the now defunct Club Deluxe, will be...
Jon Lawton is one of the best Folk, Blues, Americana singer/songwriters you’ve never heard of. He has been writing, recording and performing for decades. Jon plays an always interesting blend of original and traditional blues, country and folk music. Big Bill Broonzy, Brownie McGhee, John Lee Hooker, Hank Snow, Steve Earle, Pete Seeger, and Merle...
Mike Henderson, dubbed “the Blues Professor” by John Lee Hooker, is a veteran blues guitarist, singer, and bandleader who holds a monthly afternoon slot at The Saloon, San Francisco’s oldest bar. His sets lean into electric Chicago and West Coast blues, with lived‑in vocals and sharp guitar work. It’s barroom blues at close range.
Katy Stephan’s residency at Comstock Saloon turns the room into a small, candlelit listening space. At the piano she blends jazz‑inflected originals with reimagined standards and art‑pop tunes, her clear, expressive voice sitting right on top of the clink of glassware and low conversation. It’s an intimate, song‑forward set that feels equally at home as...
The Magic School Busk holds weekly residency directly in front of The Red Window at the corner of Stockton and Columbus. This high‑energy busking collective has become one of North Beach’s unofficial “resident joy‑makers,” blurring the line between band and audience as people pause, sing along, or dance on the sidewalk. Whether you are enjoying a...
“In sassy, solidly assured, crowd-pleasing form, a whole lot of interpretive brilliance.” —JazzTimes Acclaimed for her inventive artistry and magnetic stage presence, Clairdee’s lustrous voice and soulful delivery hearkens back to a time when jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues often blended seamlessly together. Combining scene-stealing charisma with heartfelt humility and a sincere belief in...
Two-time Latin Grammy nominee Eddy Navia and Quentin Navia are joined by master violinist Georges Lammam, dancers and dancing. Their performances blend the charango (a traditional ten-string instrument), haunting sounds of panpipes (zampoñas) and notched flutes (kena) with high-energy rhythms. You don’t need a plane ticket to experience a "little piece of South American carnaval,"...
Gaucho is a masterful Bay Area band that combines the influence of gypsy jazz of 1930’s Europe with the rhythmic drive and collective improvisation of New Orleans swing music, gutbucket blues and elements of ragtime. Their sound, a uniquely American concoction, blends instrumental acuity and lighthearted humor that keep their audience coming back for more....
Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of “Ritmo y Voz”, where the deep-rooted traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz meet the power of dynamic vocals at Keys Jazz Bistro. This high-energy performance features an all-star lineup, including guitarist Kai Lyons, percussion master Ernesto, bassist Mazar, and the incomparable Einar Leliebre Nuñez, whose fiery rhythms and soaring voice...
Prepare for a sonic assault of the best kind as Marshall Law takes the stage at Tupelo. A long-time staple of the San Francisco music scene, this powerhouse trio is known for delivering a "powerful punch" of high-energy rock and roll. Specializing in the golden era of guitar-driven music, Marshall Law transforms the intimate Grant...
Grammy Award Nominee and Winner of two Blues Music Awards, Mark Hummel started playing harmonica in 1970 and is considered one of the premier blues harmonica players of his generation. Thanks to over thirty recordings since 1985, including the Grammy nominated 2013 release Blind Pig recording Remembering Little Walter (part of the Blues Harmonica Blowout...
Mark Hummel plays at The Saloon. Grammy Award Nominee and Winner of two Blues Music Awards, Mark Hummel started playing harmonica in 1970 and is considered one of the premier blues harmonica players of his generation. Thanks to over thirty recordings since 1985, including the Grammy nominated 2013 release Blind Pig recording Remembering Little Walter...
North Beach New Orleans
Mari Mack & Livin’ Like Kings bring a blues-focused set to The Saloon in North Beach. Today’s lineup features Mari Mack on vocals with Arne Frager on bass, Richard Wood on keys, Dave Powell on guitar, and Martin Cunningham on drums.
The Hector Lugo Jazz Latin Trio featuring John Callaway brings a truly one-of-a-kind musical experience to Keys Jazz Bistro — a powerhouse ensemble with a wide-ranging repertoire unlike any other Latin jazz trio on the scene today. From rare swinging standards and jazz classics by Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, and Sonny...
This Saturday, join two-time Latin Grammy nominee Eddy Nadia, Pachamama band, Andean costumed dancers and special guest master violinist Georges Lammam for a magical, musical night in a historic speakeasy.
Black Magic appears at the Comstock Saloon from 8–11pm with a seven-piece jazz ensemble. The group focuses on a “cool jazz” and West Coast–influenced sound with hard bop energy and mid‑20th‑century jazz references, presented in a setting that matches the historic North Beach cocktail bar atmosphere.
Keys Jazz Bistro welcomes AgapeSoul. The band fuses soul, funk, jazz, and R&B into a sound that’s undeniably soulful and deeply uplifting. Led by bassist and visionary Darryl Anders, the band delivers tight rhythms, rich harmonies, and infectious feel-good energy. Love-Centric. Soul-Crafted. Groove-Infused.
Prepare for a sonic assault of the best kind as Marshall Law takes the stage at Tupelo. A long-time staple of the San Francisco music scene, this powerhouse trio is known for delivering a "powerful punch" of high-energy rock and roll. Specializing in the golden era of guitar-driven music, Marshall Law transforms the intimate Grant...
Delta Wires bring their powerhouse blues to the stage at the Saloon. Inducted into the California Blues Hall of Fame and voted “Best Live Band” by the East Bay Express, they draw on their long Bay Area history and festival appearances, including the San Francisco Blues Festival, to present a set rooted in their established...
Keeping folks up past 10 pm in SF is no easy feat, but Key’s owner Simon Rowe has been showcasing the best of the Bay Area’s organ trios in his late night Saturday sets. His ‘Transcendent Trio’, formed for a “Jazz on the Patio” residency during the pandemic will feature the dynamic Kai Lyons- guitar,...
Otilia Donaire is a San Francisco–born blues‑rock singer and bandleader who appears at The Saloon, known for her strong vocals and energetic stage presence. Her music draws on blues roots with a soulful, funk‑driven sound, reflected on her album “Bluesin’ It Up,” which highlights her focus on original material and performance‑centered storytelling.