San Jose Jazz

12/02/2025

Public art is essential to a healthy community. It can provide joy, whimsy, mutual understanding, a sense of history and an expression of our unique culture. We believe the community deserves public art that brings color and joy to our shared public spaces. We have established a fund to commission an artwork from Fernando Escartiz, the artist who created the alebrijes stolen from the SJZ Break Room recently. On Giving Tuesday, please join our effort to keep our public spaces vital with art and make a donation now. Thank you! bit.ly/488u0BK

12/01/2025

This Saturday, December 6 at 8pm, catch the final show of the SJZ Break Room Fall Series with Ben Jones & Grammy Award winning jazz pianist Laurence Hobgood Music. Their new project has been called “unblinkingly intense and intimate" by Talkin' Broadway." "Their thoughtful, thorough, slower song explorations are more like song excavations, discovering extra layers of emotion.” Tickets are going fast for this incredible duo performance. Winter shows go on sale December 11. sanjosejazz.org/tickets

11/29/2025

This Holiday season, we’re thankful for the many small donors who are contributing to our GoFundMe effort to replace the sculptures by Fernando Escartiz that were stolen from the SJZ Break Room with a newly-commissioned one that will be displayed permanently in our space. But we’re still less than 20% to our goal. If you believe that art belongs in public spaces in downtown San Jose, please visit the link in our bio and make a donation now. Thank you!

We're currently hosting a temporary exhibition of larger alebrijes by Fernando. The pieces are viewable, free during normal business hours starting Monday, December 1 at the SJZ Break Room, 310 S. First Street, San Jose.

On Halloween night, four handcrafted alebrijes decorating the… Monique Valenzuela needs your support for Support the Commissioning of Replacement Art @ SJZ BreakRoom

11/29/2025

This Holiday season, we’re thankful for the many small donors who are contributing to our GoFundMe effort to replace the sculptures stolen from the SJZ Break Room with a newly-commissioned one that will be displayed permanently in our space. But we’re still less than 20% to our goal. If you believe that art belongs in public spaces in downtown San Jose, please visit our page and make a donation now. Thank you! bit.ly/488u0BK

On Halloween night, four handcrafted alebrijes decorating the… Monique Valenzuela needs your support for Support the Commissioning of Replacement Art @ SJZ BreakRoom

11/28/2025

Alto saxophonist Barbara joined High School All Stars to connect with more musicians and have more opportunities to build her ensemble skills. She's inspired by musicians like Serge Chaloff, Pepper Adams, Tia Fuller and Dexter Gordon, who all bring something different to her understanding of the instrument. Learn more about Barbara and our stellar class of 2025-26 All Stars at sanjosejazz.org/hsas.

11/27/2025

It’s nearly Thanksgiving and, at San Jose Jazz, we’re thankful for the way music can bring us together. So we’re created a Spotify playlist to warm your homes, no matter what you do this Holiday. It’s an eclectic mix including everything from Charlie Parker’s “Chasin’ the Bird" (featuring the 21 year-old Miles Davis before he formed his seminal nonet) to James Brown’s Funky People’s “Pass the Peas.” Wishing you a wonderful Holiday season from SJZ! Listen link: bit.ly/4ipV4RU

11/26/2025

High School All Stars guitarist Shreesh grew up in a family of singers and musicians, and was inspired by everyone around him to follow that passion. He’s inspired by musicians like Tim Henson, John Mayer, JID and Tyler the Creator, among many others, who bring different things to his understanding of music. Learn more about Shreesh and our stellar class of 2025-26 All Stars at sanjosejazz.org/hsas.

11/26/2025

2026 Jazz Aid Fund (JAF) awardee Manav (guitar) along with Pritish (clarinet) comprise The Budhrani Brothers, a Bay Area duo specializing in swing and hot jazz. Drawing inspiration from Django Reinhardt and Benny Goodman while incorporating modern sensibilities, they blend rhythmic swing drive with acoustic hot jazz expressiveness. Have a listen to their JAF-commissioned work "If You Could Know Me" and learn more about the 2026 JAF class at sanjosejazz.org/jaf.

11/25/2025

Saxophonist and composer Ashley Jemison (AshleyJsax) creates contemporary smooth jazz by blending R&B, soul, and modern pop into deeply personal, universally resonant work. Her breast cancer battle profoundly shaped her artistic mission toward emotional connection, healing and empowerment through sound. Listen to a clip from her Jazz Aid Fund-commissioned piece "Movin' Up." Learn about all the 2026 JAF awardees at sanjosejazz.org/jaf.

11/24/2025

Tonight's Five Points Sessions features 2026 Jazz Aid Fund awardee Dave Dolengewicz and B.A.J.I.C. playing music from their recently-released album and leading the jam. Free admission, 8:30–11:30pm, 21+.

11/22/2025

With a brother who is a former High School All Stars member, Rio grew up knowing many jazz songs–her childhood favorites were "Giant Steps" and "Salt Peanuts." But the drummer really got hooked on jazz at age eight, when she saw Richard Howell play tenor saxophone at the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest. She’s inspired by drummers like Kavka Shishido and Yoyoka for their beautiful and energetic playing. Find out more about Rio and the other members of our stellar 2025/26 ensemble at sanjosejazz.org/hsas.

11/22/2025

2026 Jazz Aid Fund artist Saxophonist Dave Dolengewicz performed in Seattle for twelve years with a variety of ensembles before founding B.A.J.I.C. (Bay Area Jazz Inventors Collective), a group of jazz musicians, composers, and artists who promote the joy of writing and reading original jazz tunes through regular live reading sessions and album projects. Have a listen to a clip of his Jazz Aid Fund-commissioned work, “Deco Dance Suite” and learn more about our 2026 JAF artists at sanjosejazz.org/jaf.