San Jose Jazz

10/29/2025

NIVF's VOX program has enabled us to scale and expand our workforce through programs like the SJZ Break Room and the SJZ Boombox Truck. Without their support, we would not be able to share music with the community in and outside our venue. Special thanks to Charlie Carpenter and CJ Anderson for working with us on our mission, and credits to Leilani Lei Amolo (IG: leilanileilanileilani) for this great picture from the Katalyst show. Donate now to NIVF to support your local live venues!

nivf.org/donate

10/27/2025

The SJZ Break Room continues its 2025 Fall Series this Sat, Nov 1 with Veotis & The Feelings To Run From. Veotis Latchison is an innovative soul/hip-hop songwriter, producer, and vocalist from Oakland. He's bringing with him a killer band including Amanda Magaña on some guest vocals and Chili Corder and JC Grady, who appeared in the great Zheniia project at Summer Fest 2025. TIckets: sanjosejazz.org/tickets

10/27/2025

We were proud to screen "KCSM: 60 Years of Broadcasting and Jazz" at Summer Fest this year. In case you missed it you can see it on Sat, Nov 1 at 2pm at the Alameda Theater. The film chronicles KCSM’s history and its commitment to jazz as told by the DJs themselves and the fans that make the station swing, and will be followed by an exclusive Q&A with the producers and stars of the film. Tickets:

Book now for the celebratory screening of the documentary “KCSM: 60 Years of Broadcasting and Jazz’,’ Saturday, November 1 at Alameda Theatre. The film

10/23/2025

SJZ High School All Stars saxophonist Avianna picked up the saxophone in sixth grade when her friends inspired her to start playing again. She's inspired by the first jazz saxophonist she ever listened to, Sonny Rollins, and Lady Gaga's albums with Tony Bennett. Learn more about our amazing High School All Stars at our website!

https://sanjosejazz.org/educations/high-school-all-stars/

10/20/2025

Katalyst is a nine-piece LA collective that blends jazz, hip-hop, experimental and world music — they have worked with artists like Beyonce, Jay-Z, Anderson .Paak, Nas, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge, and more! Hear their distinctive sound live at the SJZ Break Room this Friday night.

sanjosejazz.org/tickets

10/15/2025

As the Break Room has been developed, we have valued all of your comments about the space. We recently got a special shout out from a member of one of our most important audiences--the artists who play the space. Check out these remarks by Blue Note artist Paul Cornish during his recent set. Back atcha Paul! Photo: Paul Cornish supporting Mark Giuliana at the Break Room in 2023; photo by Robert Birnbach. Video: youtu.be/dYG6sjlBEpg

10/14/2025

November 8, check out The Hang. SJZ's newest program is part sophisticated listening session, part vinyl night, part live jazz performance, part discussion and Q&A... and all hang. Info:

Don’t miss SJZ’s newest program exploring the music of exciting artists and the music that inspires them. This inaugural edition, suitably titled “The Hang,” features one of the Bay’s first-call saxophonists, Jazz Aid Fund artist Howard Wiley and is part of a weekend residency including a ...

10/13/2025

Bilal's full Summer Fest set at the SJZ Break Room premieres on YouTube today at 1pm PST!

Bilal: Lead VocalsRandy Runyon: GuitarTone Whitfield: BassJoe Blaxx: Drumshttps://officialbilal.com/Chapters:00:00 Get Out Of My Hair (Love For Sale)03:51 Ev...

10/12/2025

A protégé of Art Farmer, Dmitri Matheny vaulted onto the jazz scene in the '90s and is lauded by the SF Chronicle as “one of the jazz world’s most talented horn players." On Sat, Oct 18 at 8pm, he presents his Jazz from the Silver Screen project, playing jazz themes from classic noir films and crime thrillers like Chinatown, The Long Goodbye, Casablanca, Taxi Driver, The Godfather, and more. A must-see for film buffs, cinema nerds, and jazz fans alike!

sanjosejazz.org/tickets

10/12/2025

This Summer, SJZ welcomed CJ Anderson and Charlie Carpenter, interns from the National Independent Venue Foundation's VOX program, who learned and helped produce shows on the SJZ Boombox Truck. We're grateful for NIVF's support and are helping them celebrate their "Rocktober," fundraising campaign this month. Click through and donate now, to help an organization working to keep the music playing in small venues like ours nationwide.

https://www.nivf.org/donate

10/12/2025

Steven Lugerner's SLUGish Ensemble appears at the SJZ Break Room to present their latest album, Urban Crawl, a tribute to the streets of San Francisco and a striking testament to the strength of the Bay Area jazz scene. Urban Crawl, an arrestingly alluring set of original tunes, offers a bracing antidote to despair, angst and ennui. Featuring new additions Colin Hogan and Ian McArdle, SLUGish changes shape, but never loses its deeply rooted San Francisco charm. Tickets are still available – downbeat at 8pm tonight!

sanjosejazz.org/tickets