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.
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...
John Palowitch Group at Mr. Tipples features one of the Bay Area’s leading alto saxophonists and composers bringing his alt‑rock and R&B‑infused modern jazz to the club’s intimate room. With Kevin Person Jr. on piano, Toncau on bass, Jaycie Grady on drums, and Oakland underground rapper KOOL A.D. as emcee, John—fresh from Thomas Pridgen’s BIG...
John Palowitch Group at Mr. Tipples features one of the Bay Area’s leading alto saxophonists and composers bringing his alt‑rock and R&B‑infused modern jazz to the club’s intimate room. With Kevin Person Jr. on piano, Toncau on bass, Jaycie Grady on drums, and Oakland underground rapper KOOL A.D. as emcee, John—fresh from Thomas Pridgen’s BIG...
Joe Warner Trio at Mr. Tipples brings pianist Joe Warner’s energetic, modern jazz voice into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, supported by Ron Belcher on bass and Dante Roberson on drums. Together, the trio leans into a mix of standards, originals, and groove‑oriented tunes with tight interplay, a big rhythmic feel, and...
Joe Warner Trio at Mr. Tipples brings pianist Joe Warner’s energetic, modern jazz voice into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, supported by Ron Belcher on bass and Dante Roberson on drums. Together, the trio leans into a mix of standards, originals, and groove‑oriented tunes with tight interplay, a big rhythmic feel, and...
Steinkoler Trio at Mr. Tipples brings pianist Evan Steinkoler’s melodic, modern jazz voice into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, supported by Sam Bevan on bass and Jeremy Steinkoler on drums. Together, the trio leans into a mix of originals and classic standards with tight interplay, rich harmonic textures, and a deep rhythmic...
Steinkoler Trio at Mr. Tipples brings pianist Evan Steinkoler’s melodic, modern jazz voice into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, supported by Sam Bevan on bass and Jeremy Steinkoler on drums. Together, the trio leans into a mix of originals and classic standards with tight interplay, rich harmonic textures, and a deep rhythmic...
Bob Kenmotsu Quartet at Mr. Tipples brings saxophonist Bob Kenmotsu’s lyrical, straight‑ahead modern jazz sound into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, with Ben Stolorow on piano, Ollie Dudek on bass, and Ron Marabuto on drums forming a seasoned, hard‑swinging rhythm section around him. Together, the quartet leans into classic and contemporary jazz...
Bob Kenmotsu Quartet at Mr. Tipples brings saxophonist Bob Kenmotsu’s lyrical, straight‑ahead modern jazz sound into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, with Ben Stolorow on piano, Ollie Dudek on bass, and Ron Marabuto on drums forming a seasoned, hard‑swinging rhythm section around him. Together, the quartet leans into classic and contemporary jazz...
Nick Rossi’s Jazzopators at Mr. Tipples brings guitarist Nick Rossi’s swing‑era sensibility and big‑ensemble arranging into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, turning the club into a little vintage ballroom for the night. With a full front line of Patrick Wolff on alto and clarinet, Nathan Tokunaga on clarinet, tenor, and soprano, Kamrin...
Nick Rossi’s Jazzopators at Mr. Tipples brings guitarist Nick Rossi’s swing‑era sensibility and big‑ensemble arranging into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, turning the club into a little vintage ballroom for the night. With a full front line of Patrick Wolff on alto and clarinet, Nathan Tokunaga on clarinet, tenor, and soprano, Kamrin...
Joel Behrman Quintet at Mr. Tipples brings trumpeter Joel Behrman’s hard‑swinging, modern straight‑ahead sound into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, fronting an all‑star lineup of Jesse Levit on alto sax, Michael Potter on piano, Isaac Coyle on bass, and Shawn Myers on drums. Together, the quintet leans into classic and contemporary jazz...
Joel Behrman Quintet at Mr. Tipples brings trumpeter Joel Behrman’s hard‑swinging, modern straight‑ahead sound into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, fronting an all‑star lineup of Jesse Levit on alto sax, Michael Potter on piano, Isaac Coyle on bass, and Shawn Myers on drums. Together, the quintet leans into classic and contemporary jazz...
Tammy Hall Trio at Mr. Tipples brings pianist Tammy Hall’s rich, soulful touch and deep jazz vocabulary into one of San Francisco’s most intimate listening rooms, with Kevin Goldberg on bass anchoring the trio’s swing and lyricism. Known for blending gospel, blues, and straight‑ahead jazz in a way that feels both sophisticated and welcoming, Hall leads...
Tammy Hall Trio at Mr. Tipples brings pianist Tammy Hall’s rich, soulful touch and deep jazz vocabulary into one of San Francisco’s most intimate listening rooms, with Kevin Goldberg on bass anchoring the trio’s swing and lyricism. Known for blending gospel, blues, and straight‑ahead jazz in a way that feels both sophisticated and welcoming, Hall leads...
Kazemde George Quartet at Mr. Tipples brings saxophonist Kazemde George’s warm, modern jazz sound into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, fronting a group that balances lyrical improvisation with subtle rhythmic drive. Drawing on contemporary jazz, classic standards, and groove‑oriented originals, the quartet’s close interplay and thoughtful writing make for an evening of...
Kazemde George Quartet at Mr. Tipples brings saxophonist Kazemde George’s warm, modern jazz sound into one of San Francisco’s most focused listening rooms, fronting a group that balances lyrical improvisation with subtle rhythmic drive. Drawing on contemporary jazz, classic standards, and groove‑oriented originals, the quartet’s close interplay and thoughtful writing make for an evening of...
Félix Lemerle brings rare bebop sophistication to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio — a Paris-born, Brooklyn-based jazz guitarist and Juilliard-trained composer whose deep roots in the tradition of Wes Montgomery, Django Reinhardt, and René Thomas inform a style as elegant as it is swinging. Winner of the 2012 Eddie Lang Guitar Contest and a Fulbright Scholar,...
Félix Lemerle brings rare bebop sophistication to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio — a Paris-born, Brooklyn-based jazz guitarist and Juilliard-trained composer whose deep roots in the tradition of Wes Montgomery, Django Reinhardt, and René Thomas inform a style as elegant as it is swinging. Winner of the 2012 Eddie Lang Guitar Contest and a Fulbright Scholar,...
Justin Rock brings extraordinary versatility and prolific creativity to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio — a San Francisco Bay Area-based guitarist with thirteen original albums, a composer for major brands including Kraft, Keurig, and Contigo, and a sought-after educator at SFJAZZ and the Stanford Jazz Workshop. Born into a musical household and shaped by everything from...
Justin Rock brings extraordinary versatility and prolific creativity to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio — a San Francisco Bay Area-based guitarist with thirteen original albums, a composer for major brands including Kraft, Keurig, and Contigo, and a sought-after educator at SFJAZZ and the Stanford Jazz Workshop. Born into a musical household and shaped by everything from...
The Michael Mitchell Trio brings serious jazz pedigree to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio — Brooklyn-born drummer Michael Mitchell, a Manhattan School of Music graduate, has been playing professionally since age 13 and brings a lifetime of deep musical immersion to every performance, from John Coltrane to Jimi Hendrix and everything in between. A veteran educator...
The Michael Mitchell Trio brings serious jazz pedigree to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio — Brooklyn-born drummer Michael Mitchell, a Manhattan School of Music graduate, has been playing professionally since age 13 and brings a lifetime of deep musical immersion to every performance, from John Coltrane to Jimi Hendrix and everything in between. A veteran educator...
Charles Unger takes the stage at Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio with a stellar quartet — featuring Sue Crossman on piano, Joe Nemzer on bass, and the hard-hitting Tony "Steamroller" Coleman on drums, this is an evening of serious jazz anchored by Unger's saxophone and a rhythm section built for the bandstand.
Charles Unger takes the stage at Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio with a stellar quartet — featuring Sue Crossman on piano, Joe Nemzer on bass, and the hard-hitting Tony "Steamroller" Coleman on drums, this is an evening of serious jazz anchored by Unger's saxophone and a rhythm section built for the bandstand.