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.
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...
Acclaimed Bay Area vocalist and composer Tiffany Austin brings her rich, resonant voice and deep sense of swing to Mr. Tipples. A standout talent who has collaborated with luminaries such as Pharoah Sanders, Roy Ayers, and Doug Carn, Austin seamlessly connects the lineage of classic jazz with the emotional resonance of gospel, blues, and contemporary...
Bay Area instrumental powerhouse Huney Knuckles brings their high-energy sound to Mr. Tipples for an evening of relentless groove and virtuoso improvisation. Led by keyboardist Kevin Wong—famed for holding down basslines with his left hand while delivering lightning-fast right-hand keyboard solos—the ensemble features Grammy-winning saxophonist Tony Peebles, guitarist Brian Sheu, and drummer Kowan Turner. Fusing...
San Francisco vintage jazz outfit The Cosmo Alleycats celebrate their latest album release with a live performance at Mr. Tipples. Fronted by vocalist Emily Day, the ensemble delivers a vibrant mix of swing dance classics, early jazz standards, New Orleans rhythm and blues, and 1980s pop hits reimagined with a retro flair. A longtime favorite...
Multi-reedist and composer Matt Renzi brings his quartet to Mr. Tipples for an evening of modern jazz and intricate group improvisation. With a career spanning more than twenty-five years performing across international jazz festivals and clubs in the United States and Europe, the San Francisco native leads an ensemble featuring pianist Dahveed Behroozi, bassist Josh...
Japanese-born, Bay Area–based pianist, composer, and sound artist Motoko Honda brings her Simple Excesses Quartet to Mr Tipples. Performing an inventive blend of contemporary classical chamber music, modern jazz, and...
San Francisco guitarist, bandleader, and jazz historian Nick Rossi brings his Soul Jazz Quartet to Mr. Tipples for an evening dedicated to classic 1950s and 1960s soul jazz. Joined by...
San Francisco saxophone veteran Charles Unger brings the Charles Unger Experience back to Mr. Tipples for an evening of exuberant jazz, funk, and soulful grooves. A vital force in the...
Acclaimed Mexico City–born bassist, composer, and arranger Saúl Sierra brings his quintet to Mr. Tipples for an evening of Pan-American Latin jazz. Educated at Berklee College of Music and a central figure on the San Francisco jazz and Afro-Caribbean circuits for more than two decades, Sierra has performed with legends such as Arturo Sandoval, Poncho...
Something with Soul comes to Mr. Tipples to celebrate the release of its new single "Numb" featuring Genevieve Artadi. Led by drummer and composer Malachi Whitson—who steps to the front...
Oakland-born saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee brings his quartet to Mr. Tipples for an evening of modern post-bop and modal jazz. A graduate of The New School’s Jazz and Contemporary Music program who splits his time performing between New York City and the Bay Area, Nakadegawa-Lee draws from classic jazz roots, blues traditions, and...