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.
Billy Edwards Quartet at Mr. Tipples features Rico Jones on tenor, Joe Warner on piano, Jamal Ramirez on drums, and Billy Edwards on bass for an evening of straight-ahead jazz with blues and hard bop roots, centered on strong melodies, expressive improvisation, and a deep swing feel. Tickets: $15-20
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
Morgan Harrison Quartet at Mr Tipples featuring Morgan Harrison on the keys and Chili Corder on guitar.
Patrick Wolff Quartet at Mr. Tipples features saxophonist and clarinetist Patrick Wolff leading a hard-bop-rooted modern jazz group of some of San Francisco’s finest players into one of the city’s most focused listening rooms. Joined by Keith Saunders on piano, Eric Markowitz on bass, and special guest Mark Ferber on drums, the quartet leans into...
Patrick Wolff Quartet at Mr. Tipples brings saxophonist and clarinetist Patrick Wolff’s hard‑bop‑rooted modern jazz sound into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, joined by Keith Saunders on piano, Eric Markowitz on bass, and special guest Mark Ferber on drums. An exciting band with a big sound, this group of some of SF’s...
April Varner Quintet at Mr. Tipples brings NYC award‑winning jazz vocalist April Varner to one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms for her debut at the club, fronting William Hill III on piano, Aaron Matson on guitar, Eytan Schillinger‑Hyman on bass, and Max Marsillo on drums. Winner of the 2023 International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz...
April Varner Quintet at Mr. Tipples brings NYC award‑winning jazz vocalist April Varner to one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms for her debut at the club, fronting William Hill III on piano, Aaron Matson on guitar, Eytan Schillinger‑Hyman on bass, and Max Marsillo on drums. Winner of the 2023 International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz...
Confluence at Mr. Tipples brings a chamber‑like modern jazz sound into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, led by saxophonist Matt Zebley alongside Jody Ferber on cello, Bob Sneider on guitar, Mark Ferber on drums, and Alan Ferber on trombone. Blending sax, trombone, guitar, drums, and the uncommon color of cello, the group...
Confluence at Mr. Tipples brings a chamber‑like modern jazz sound into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, led by saxophonist Matt Zebley alongside Jody Ferber on cello, Bob Sneider on guitar, Mark Ferber on drums, and Alan Ferber on trombone. Blending sax, trombone, guitar, drums, and the uncommon color of cello, the group...
Steve Lucky’s Hammond Cheese Combo at Mr. Tipples brings Steve Lucky’s greasy, groovy Hammond B3 soul‑jazz into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, with Miss Carmen Getit on guitar and vocals, Kamrin Ortiz on tenor saxophone, and Tim Bulkley on drums. This isn’t your everyday organ combo sandwich: the band leans into 60s...
Steve Lucky’s Hammond Cheese Combo at Mr. Tipples brings Steve Lucky’s greasy, groovy Hammond B3 soul‑jazz into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, with Miss Carmen Getit on guitar and vocals, Kamrin Ortiz on tenor saxophone, and Tim Bulkley on drums. This isn’t your everyday organ combo sandwich: the band leans into 60s...
Adam Theis’s Jazz Mafia Reimagined at Mr. Tipples brings trombonist/bandleader Adam Theis’s large‑ensemble, groove‑rich jazz vision into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, with a powerhouse horn front line of Mike Olmos on trumpet, Jesse Levit on alto sax, and Tommy Occhiuto on tenor sax. Alongside Dan Zemelman on keys, Sam Bevan on...