This concert features Laila Smith, an exceptional young singer and composer who’s been gaining great attention as she emerges on the jazz scene. She will be performing jazz standards, as well as compositions of her own.

Just seventeen years old, Laila has not wasted any time pursuing her passion for music, nor has the world failed to take note of her phenomenal ability. She began playing piano at age four. She made her first appearance at the San Jose Jazz Festival at age six and has performed there every year since. She is the winner of six DownBeat awards, two ASCAP Young Composer Awards, sang first soprano in the GRAMMY Jazz Choir and was the vocalist for the Monterey Jazz Next Generation Orchestra (2012) and the SFJAZZ High School All-Star Orchestra (2010-2012).

Joining Laila will be three seasoned jazz talents on the Bay Area scene, plus one additional newcomer: Paul Bloom who, only eighteen years old, has just become the pianist in the prestigious Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet.

Often the performance opportunities that are given to exceptional young artists showcase their ability to impress rather than to really communicate. This concert will be the opposite—a relaxed, intimate setting where creativity can flow and we’ll have the chance to see extraordinary talent in the process of development.

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WAITING LIST AVAILABLE.

When Ed Reed was in high school in Los Angeles in the 1940’s, Nat King Cole came to perform at his school. The experience of hearing and meeting Mr. Cole had a huge impact on the young Ed Reed, who strove to “become” Nat Cole and learned virtually all of his recordings by memory.

Two thirds of a century later, at age 83, Vocalist Ed Reed is at the height of his game. He amazed the jazz world when he came out with his highly acclaimed debut CD at age 78. Now, five years later, he has recorded three CD’s and he just placed in DownBeat magazine’s “Rising Star: Male Vocalist” for the fourth time in five years.

For this concert he will present a new project which pays tribute to Nat Cole and the King Cole Trio. With original arrangements by Randy Porter, he puts his own soulful stamp on these classics that shaped him so much. Ed Reed is joined by his “A-Team,” the quintet which recorded his acclaimed CD “Born to Be Blue”… with the extraordinary bassist John Wiitala standing in for Robb Fisher.

Learn more about Ed Reed.

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This concert features the world renowned, New York based clarinetist, Ken Peplowski. The late Mel Tormé said, “Since the advent of Benny Goodman, there have been too few clarinetists to fill the void that Goodman left. Ken Peplowski is most certainly one of those few. The man is magic.” The litany of musicians Ken has collaborated with includes: Charlie Byrd, Peggy Lee, George Shearing, Madonna, Hank Jones, Rosemary Clooney, Tom Harrell, James Moody, Cedar Walton, Houston Person, Steve Allen, & Woody Allen. “Although not necessarily in that order,” says Ken.

Ken will be joining Anton and his gifted bandmates Adam Shulman and John Wiitala for an evening of spontaneous, swinging music.

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WAITING LIST AVAILABLE.

New York based guitarist Ed Cherry’s jazz lineage is truly first-rate. He was a member of Dizzy Gillespie’s band from 1978 until 1992, and has worked extensively with the likes of Roy Hargrove, Henry Threadgill, Paquito D’Rivera and Jon Faddis. Even more importantly, he’s got a gorgeous tone and a natural melodicism that transcends the finger-driven music one so often hears from guitarists.

Joining Ed and Anton are two other greats: Bay Area organ icon Wil Blades, who will be bringing his Hammond B-3 and a Leslie… and New York drummer Darrell Green, who currently tours with Pharoah Sanders, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sherman Irby, Steve Turre, Faye Carol, Lavay Smith, and Jeremy Pelt.

THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT.

We’re celebrating Art’s birthday with a concert at the loft!

If you’re not familiar with Art Lande, he is a pianist based in Denver and one of the singularly most gifted improvisers I have ever known. He has performed with a dizzying list of jazz greats inluding Bobby Hutcherson, Chet Baker, Woody Shaw, Nat Adderley, Charlie Haden, Eddie Harris, Joe Henderson, Gary Burton as well as vocalists such as Ernestine Anderson, Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy and Nancy Wilson.

This will be an evening of very spontaneous music. Get ready to groove and prepare for the unexpected.