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.
The Joe Mazzaferro Quartet is a contemporary jazz ensemble led by trumpeter, composer, and educator Joe Mazzaferro. Based in Northern California, the group is known for a style that blends straight-ahead jazz, hard bop, and modern swing Andrew Mell | Bass Malachi Whitson | Drums Joe Mazzaferro | Trumpet
The Joe Mazzaferro Quartet is a contemporary jazz ensemble led by trumpeter, composer, and educator Joe Mazzaferro. Based in Northern California, the group is known for a style that blends straight-ahead jazz, hard bop, and modern swing Andrew Mell | Bass Malachi Whitson | Drums Joe Mazzaferro | Trumpet
“The music of pianist and composer Motoko Honda is to mainstream jazz what Brahms’s music was to the neatly packaged forms of the Classical period.” — Phillip Greenlief, Art Forum, Live at California Jazz Conservatory “The audience of young lovers and experienced culture seekers hardly moved a muscle for an hour and a half. Apparently we can...
“The music of pianist and composer Motoko Honda is to mainstream jazz what Brahms’s music was to the neatly packaged forms of the Classical period.” — Phillip Greenlief, Art Forum, Live at California Jazz Conservatory “The audience of young lovers and experienced culture seekers hardly moved a muscle for an hour and a half. Apparently we can...
Amina Scott, born and raised in Oakland, CA, is an upright and electric bassist, educator, composer, and arranger. Her interest in music began at an early age when her grandmother began giving her piano lessons. From then, her love and passion for music has yet to cease, playing electric bass when she was 12 years...
Amina Scott, born and raised in Oakland, CA, is an upright and electric bassist, educator, composer, and arranger. Her interest in music began at an early age when her grandmother began giving her piano lessons. From then, her love and passion for music has yet to cease, playing electric bass when she was 12 years...
Continue your Valentine’s celebration with the smooth stylings of Nicolas Bearde, who has thrilled audiences around the globe from Monterey to Montreaux and from London and Tokyo to Mumbai with his soulful interpretations of timeless jazz standards and originals. “Bearde teases the listener with his aural foreplay and romantic verse,” says Soukie West of the...
Continue your Valentine’s celebration with the smooth stylings of Nicolas Bearde, who has thrilled audiences around the globe from Monterey to Montreaux and from London and Tokyo to Mumbai with his soulful interpretations of timeless jazz standards and originals. “Bearde teases the listener with his aural foreplay and romantic verse,” says Soukie West of the...
After 25 years as the lead vocalist for Santana, Tony Lindsay has garnered 11 Grammy awards, traveled on several world tours and recorded on seven CDs: Milagro (1992), Supernatural (1999), Shaman (2002), Ceremony (2003) and Food for Thought (2004), Ultimate Santana (2007) and Multi-Dimensional Warrior (2008). Their current tour involves Santana’s First Rock Residency: an...
After 25 years as the lead vocalist for Santana, Tony Lindsay has garnered 11 Grammy awards, traveled on several world tours and recorded on seven CDs: Milagro (1992), Supernatural (1999), Shaman (2002), Ceremony (2003) and Food for Thought (2004), Ultimate Santana (2007) and Multi-Dimensional Warrior (2008). Their current tour involves Santana’s First Rock Residency: an...
Judy Elhauge-Roniger | Piano Kevin Goldberg | Bass Deszon Claiborne | Drums Tiffany Austin | Vocals Tiffany Austin is a San Francisco–based jazz vocalist celebrated for her deep swing, emotional clarity, and scholar-musician approach. A DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star, she draws from classic jazz, blues, and African American musical traditions while bringing a modern,...
Judy Elhauge-Roniger | Piano Kevin Goldberg | Bass Deszon Claiborne | Drums Tiffany Austin | Vocals Tiffany Austin is a San Francisco–based jazz vocalist celebrated for her deep swing, emotional clarity, and scholar-musician approach. A DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star, she draws from classic jazz, blues, and African American musical traditions while bringing a modern,...
Experience an evening of "soulful sophistication" with the Brad Leali Ensemble featuring Carla Helmbrecht. This world-class quintet blends Leali’s soulful, swing-influenced saxophone with Helmbrecht’s sensitive and poetic vocal stylings for a night of unique jazz arrangements. The ensemble explores a mix of classic jazz standards and original material, infusing historical and modern components into their performance....
Experience an evening of "soulful sophistication" with the Brad Leali Ensemble featuring Carla Helmbrecht. This world-class quintet blends Leali’s soulful, swing-influenced saxophone with Helmbrecht’s sensitive and poetic vocal stylings for a night of unique jazz arrangements. The ensemble explores a mix of classic jazz standards and original material, infusing historical and modern components into their performance....
Experience an evening of "soulful sophistication" with the Brad Leali Ensemble featuring Carla Helmbrecht. This world-class quintet blends Leali’s soulful, swing-influenced saxophone with Helmbrecht’s sensitive and poetic vocal stylings for a night of unique jazz arrangements. The ensemble explores a mix of classic jazz standards and original material, infusing historical and modern components into their performance....
Niel Fontano | Piano Daniel Fabricant | Bass Robby Elfman | Reeds Spike Klein | Drums Stella Heath | Vocals Singing since the age of eight, Stella feels wholly blessed to be able to express herself through music and song, and to carry forth the torch of Jazz Music that she loves so dearly. She...
Niel Fontano | Piano Daniel Fabricant | Bass Robby Elfman | Reeds Spike Klein | Drums Stella Heath | Vocals Singing since the age of eight, Stella feels wholly blessed to be able to express herself through music and song, and to carry forth the torch of Jazz Music that she loves so dearly. She...
Mikiya Matsuda | Bass Marceline Keene | Guitar Adam Shulman | Piano Kamrin Ortiz | Sax Jessica King | Vocals
Mikiya Matsuda | Bass Marceline Keene | Guitar Adam Shulman | Piano Kamrin Ortiz | Sax Jessica King | Vocals
Adam has recorded and performed onstage with the likes of Ghostface Killah, Lauryn Hill, Graham Haynes, the Sun Ra Arkestra, Craig Harris, Joe Bowie's Defunkt, Sekou Sundiata, Marc Ribot, John Medeski, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Carla Cook, Dave Fiuczynski, David Gilmore, Josh Roseman, Peter Apfelbaum, Jay Rodriguez, Groove Collective, and Smokey Robinson. He has appeared at renowned...
Adam has recorded and performed onstage with the likes of Ghostface Killah, Lauryn Hill, Graham Haynes, the Sun Ra Arkestra, Craig Harris, Joe Bowie's Defunkt, Sekou Sundiata, Marc Ribot, John Medeski, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Carla Cook, Dave Fiuczynski, David Gilmore, Josh Roseman, Peter Apfelbaum, Jay Rodriguez, Groove Collective, and Smokey Robinson. He has appeared at renowned...
The Alon Nechushtan Quartet is a contemporary jazz ensemble led by the acclaimed New York-based pianist and composer Alon Nechushtan. Known for a style that blends avant-garde jazz, Jewish music, and classical influences, the quartet has featured various high-profile collaborators across several projects Jesse Levit | Sax Matt Renzi | Sax Sam Bevan | Bass...
The Alon Nechushtan Quartet is a contemporary jazz ensemble led by the acclaimed New York-based pianist and composer Alon Nechushtan. Known for a style that blends avant-garde jazz, Jewish music, and classical influences, the quartet has featured various high-profile collaborators across several projects Jesse Levit | Sax Matt Renzi | Sax Sam Bevan | Bass...
Charles Unger | Sax Sue Crossman | Piano Joe Nemzer| Bass Tony “Steamroller” Coleman | Drums
Charles Unger | Sax Sue Crossman | Piano Joe Nemzer| Bass Tony “Steamroller” Coleman | Drums