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.
Jack Radsliff Trio at Mr. Tipples features Portland-based guitarist and composer Jack Radsliff, a regular presence on the Pacific Northwest jazz circuit. His albums—including Barefoot (2024) and Living/Live (2025)—showcase his work as a composer and bandleader. Adam Shulman on piano, Jeff Denson on bass, and Deszon Claiborne on drums, bringing guitar and piano together over...
Michael Echaniz at Mr. Tipples features the pianist and composer on piano and synth, joined by Jeff Denson on electric bass and voice and Dillon Vado on drums. Echaniz’s original music blends intricate rhythms, haunting melodies, and fluid movement between composed passages and improvisation, drawing on classical, world, and pop influences within a contemporary jazz...
Tammy Hall Quartet at Mr. Tipples features pianist Tammy Hall alongside Ashley Jemison on alto saxophone, Kevin Goldberg on bass, and Sheldon Alexander on drums. A longtime Bay Area pianist, composer, and musical director, Hall brings together jazz, gospel, and classical traditions in a sound shaped by her childhood church performances in Dallas and decades...
Victor Little’s Big Hit at Mr. Tipples brings electric bass to the forefront of a groove-driven blend of funk, soul, and jazz fusion. A Chicago native and longtime Bay Area musician, Little has performed or recorded with Patti Austin, Billy Preston, Booker T. Jones, and Charlie Musselwhite, developing a versatile sound grounded in R&B and...
Carla Helmbrecht and the Brad Leali Ensemble at Mr. Tipples pairs Helmbrecht’s sensitive, sophisticated vocals with Leali’s soulful alto saxophone, backed by Adam Shulman on piano, Ron Belcher on bass, and Brian Fishler on drums. The ensemble explores classic jazz standards and original material through arrangements that connect traditional and modern jazz, with blues and...
Richard Howell - John Coltrane Tribute at Mr. Tipples features Howell on tenor saxophone, Frank Martin on piano, Ron Belcher on bass, and Deszon Claiborne on drums. A longtime Bay Area saxophonist, composer, and educator, Howell approaches Coltrane’s legacy through what he calls “Bridge Music”—jazz that connects listeners across generations and backgrounds, rooted in the...
Lara Louise and her band at Mr. Tipples features the Dutch-born vocalist alongside John R. Burr on piano, Erik Jekabson on trumpet, Gawain Mathews on guitar, Dan Feiszli on bass, and Brian Fishler on drums. 3421 Now a regular performer in the San Francisco Bay Area, Louise began in folk music before moving into jazz...
Liberty Ellman Trio at Mr. Tipples features guitarist Liberty Ellman with Jeff Denson on bass and Jaimeo Brown on drums. Ellman is a composer and bandleader best known for his long tenure in Henry Threadgill's group Zooid, and his own albums include Tactiles, Radiate, and Last Desert. His playing is sharp and incisive, with short,...
SLUGish Ensemble at Mr. Tipples is led by San Francisco multi-reedist and composer Steven Lugerner on bass clarinet and baritone saxophone. He is joined by Justin Rock on guitar, Michael Potter on piano and synthesizer, Ian McArdle on synthesizer, Giulio Xavier Cetto on bass, and Michael Mitchell on drums. The group blends jazz, chamber music,...
Dan White at Mr. Tipples features multifaceted saxophonist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator Dan White. He is joined by Kai Lyons on guitar, Adam Klipple on keys, and Scott Amendola on drums. Two Shows: 6pm and 7:30pm Tickets: $15-30
Brian Andres Latin Quartet at Mr. Tipples is led by drummer Brian Andres, a Cincinnati native who has been based in the Bay Area since 1999. The quartet plays contemporary Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz. Andres formed it from his Trio Latino, whose members are pianist Christian Tumalan and bassist Aaron Germain, by adding saxophonist Tony...