Vibe: Retro Jazz Lounge | Sophisticated & Social | Urban Speakeasy
Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club — often referred to by its full name, Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio — is a centerpiece of the Civic Center jazz scene. It channels the feel of a mid‑century recording studio, blending industrial‑chic details with a warm, retro atmosphere. The room walks a careful line between serious listening space and lively social lounge, making it equally welcoming for deep‑in jazz heads and friends just out for a night in the city.
Live Music & Atmosphere
Music runs nightly with a rotation of top Bay Area players, from straight‑ahead bebop trios to modern, more experimental quartets. The room layout supports both listening and conversation: a front bar area for socializing and a dedicated seating section closer to the stage for those who want to focus on the performance. Sightlines are good, the sound is tuned for intimacy, and sets tend to feel tight rather than background.
Nadav Beary Trio at Mr. Tipple’s features drummer Nadav Beary leading a groove-rich jazz set with Michael Potter on piano and Aidan Macarthy on bass. Rooted in blues-soaked, funk-infused jazz and shaped by Beary’s Berkeley and New York training, the trio brings an intimate, modern sound built on deep pocket, interplay, and improvisation. Tickets: $15-20
Nadav Beary Trio at Mr. Tipple’s features drummer Nadav Beary leading a groove-rich jazz set with Michael Potter on piano and Aidan Macarthy on bass. Rooted in blues-soaked, funk-infused jazz and shaped by Beary’s Berkeley and New York training, the trio brings an intimate, modern sound built on deep pocket, interplay, and improvisation. Tickets: $15-20
Sylvia Cuenca Quintet featuring Rico Jones at Mr. Tipple’s features drummer Sylvia Cuenca, a deeply accomplished New York and Bay Area jazz artist whose career spans decades of work with Joe Henderson, Clark Terry, Billy Taylor, Houston Person, Etta Jones, Gregory Porter, Jazzmeia Horn, and many others. Joined by Rico Jones on tenor sax, Joel...
Sylvia Cuenca Quintet featuring Rico Jones at Mr. Tipple’s features drummer Sylvia Cuenca, a deeply accomplished New York and Bay Area jazz artist whose career spans decades of work with Joe Henderson, Clark Terry, Billy Taylor, Houston Person, Etta Jones, Gregory Porter, Jazzmeia Horn, and many others. Joined by Rico Jones on tenor sax, Joel...
Sam Bevan Quartet at Mr. Tipple’s features versatile Bay Area bassist Sam Bevan leading a modern jazz group with James Mahone and Howard Wiley on tenor sax, and Lorca Hart on drums. Since moving to San Francisco in 1999, Bevan has built a reputation for weaving jazz, funk, R&B, folk, and Afro-Cuban influences into music...
Sam Bevan Quartet at Mr. Tipple’s features versatile Bay Area bassist Sam Bevan leading a modern jazz group with James Mahone and Howard Wiley on tenor sax, and Lorca Hart on drums. Since moving to San Francisco in 1999, Bevan has built a reputation for weaving jazz, funk, R&B, folk, and Afro-Cuban influences into music...
David K. Mathews at Mr. Tipple’s features the Berkeley-born pianist and organist leading a seasoned jazz set with Tony Lindsay on vocals, Rob Fisher on bass, and Akira Tana on drums. A veteran of the Bay Area scene since his teens, Mathews has moved from early R&B work and years with Tower of Power into...
David K. Mathews at Mr. Tipple’s features the Berkeley-born pianist and organist leading a seasoned jazz set with Tony Lindsay on vocals, Rob Fisher on bass, and Akira Tana on drums. A veteran of the Bay Area scene since his teens, Mathews has moved from early R&B work and years with Tower of Power into...
Pedro José Pastrana Trio at Mr. Tipple’s features Puerto Rico–born cuatro player Pedro José Pastrana presenting music from his latest album, Lo Que Nos Llevamos, with Ayla Dávila on bass and Colin Douglas on drums. Rooted in the jíbaro tradition and shaped by a wide range of musical experiences across Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the...
Pedro José Pastrana Trio at Mr. Tipple’s features Puerto Rico–born cuatro player Pedro José Pastrana presenting music from his latest album, Lo Que Nos Llevamos, with Ayla Dávila on bass and Colin Douglas on drums. Rooted in the jíbaro tradition and shaped by a wide range of musical experiences across Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the...
Arnie Sainz Quintet at Mr. Tipple’s features New York City–based pianist, composer, and educator Arnie Sainz bringing a deeply rooted Bay Area sensibility to an intimate modern jazz setting. Joined by Alistair Johnston on tenor saxophone, Robert Papacica on guitar, Jared Beckstead on bass, and Michael Mitchell on drums, Sainz draws on experience across new...
Arnie Sainz Quintet at Mr. Tipple’s features New York City–based pianist, composer, and educator Arnie Sainz bringing a deeply rooted Bay Area sensibility to an intimate modern jazz setting. Joined by Alistair Johnston on tenor saxophone, Robert Papacica on guitar, Jared Beckstead on bass, and Michael Mitchell on drums, Sainz draws on experience across new...
Zach Adleman Quartet at Mr. Tipple’s features Montclair, New Jersey–born drummer Zach Adleman leading a hard-swinging modern jazz group with Andrew Stephens on trumpet, Brahm Sasner on piano, and Nico Martinez on bass. A GRAMMY-winning participant on Ted Nash’s Presidential Suite, first-place winner of the J.C. Heard National Drum Competition, and a performer at Carnegie...
Zach Adleman Quartet at Mr. Tipple’s features Montclair, New Jersey–born drummer Zach Adleman leading a hard-swinging modern jazz group with Andrew Stephens on trumpet, Brahm Sasner on piano, and Nico Martinez on bass. A GRAMMY-winning participant on Ted Nash’s Presidential Suite, first-place winner of the J.C. Heard National Drum Competition, and a performer at Carnegie...