Over the next 8 days, I will see 9 music performers. I am very excited. Tonight, I am seeing the Ronnie Laws Quartet at Yoshi’s San Francisco in celebration of his new release, Voices in the Water. Below is a complete list of concerts:

02/20 Performance and Lecture: Jazz in the Gallery @ MoAD (Museum of African Diaspora) with Drummer Jaz Sawyer and his group, 3RIO – Join Jaz Sawyer in tracing the musical influence of the international port of New Orleans, the melting pot for creative music innovation and cultural exchange that is the wellspring of the American art form, jazz. Explore the African American experience of cultural resilience through dance, singing and drumming traditions that fused elements from various cultures with gospel, blues and the Latin tinge.

02/21 Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quartet at Yoshi’s Oakland – CD Release Celebration for To Hear From There

02/22 Vocalist Gregory Porter @ Yoshi’s Oakland – Celebrating Grammy Nomination for his new album Water

02/23 Vocalist Paula West @ The Rrazz Room in the Hotel Nikko San Francisco – The last few weeks of her phenomenal 8 week engagement at The Rrazz Room. This will be my second time seeing her during this engagement. If you have not seen her yet, what are you waiting for?

02/23 Joe Warner Trio @ Kaleidoscope SF – From Joe: “I lead the session at Kaleidoscope every 2nd and 4th Wednesdays. I have a great group put together for this Wednesday featuring Lorca Hart on drums and Zach Ostroff on bass. Kaleidoscope is a cool arts venue in the Mission District and needs your support to stay alive. Come buy a couple drinks, listen to the music, and sit in on the second set. No cover!” Check them out!!!

02/24 Vocalist Rhonda Benin @ Freight and Salvage in Berkeley – In celebration of Black History Month (and her own birthday!) song stylist Rhonda Benin presents “Love Letters Make Me Misty Blue,” bringing to our stage music of the great unsung soul divas of the 1960s, like Martha Reeves, Ketty Lester, Gladys Knight, and Betty Everett.

02/25 Violinist Regina Carter with Oakland East Bay Symphony – Internationally renowned jazz violinist Regina Carter is soloist for a new violin concerto written for her by composer and jazz pianist Billy Childs. Carter, known for her passionate playing, brings audiences to their feet, whether on tour in Europe or in her hometown of Detroit, where this work received its world premiere in January. San Francisco Performances is proud to be a co-commissioner and to partner with the Oakland East Bay Symphony to bring this Concerto to our audiences.

02/26 Junius Courtney Big Band with Denise Perrier@ Freight and Salvage in Berkeley – With a brand new CD to release—Us—and a big dance floor to fill, there’s plenty to celebrate, and the Junius Courtney Big Band wants you in the house for a Saturday night party!

02/26 Terrence Brewer Trio @ 57th Street Art Gallery in Oakland – Terrence Brewer Trio concert celebrating Black History month with a concert at one of Oakland’s most amazing fine art/music galleries!

We’ve got a double-header coming up on SAT Feb 27 (Berkeley) and SUN Feb 28 (SF). We hope you can make it!

Here are the details:

Calling All Dancers!

SATURDAY NIGHT FEBRUARY 27 8:00 pm
The NEW Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse
2020 Addison Street between Milvia and Shattuck, downtown Berkeley

A CONCERT AND DANCE!
The dance floor will be open for business when the Junius Courtney Big Band with Denise Perrier hits the bandstand for their first appearance at the New Freight! Plenty of comfy concert seating will be available, too. The band is in powerhouse mode, propelled by sold-out shows at Yoshi’s.

The Freight’s brand-new location has a great dance floor, ample seating and terrific acoustics, while retaining a hint of the funky allure from its beloved former location. The snacks are top-notch and the staff is friendly. This will be a swingin’ night to top off February and prolong those Valentine’s tendencies.

Tix: $18.50 advance; $19.50 at the door; $1.00 senior discount. All ages welcome. Call: 510-644-2020. www.freightandsalvage.org

Easy parking at the Allston Garage (Allston between Milvia and Shattuck), the Center Street Garage, (Center between Milvia and Shattuck) and other locations, including the street.
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Sunday Afternoon Jazz High Tea!
SUNDAY AFTERNOON FEBRUARY 28 3:00 pm
DENISE PERRIER and the JUNIUS COURTNEY BIG BAND at
The RRAZZ ROOM of the Hotel Nikko, San Francisco
222 Mason Street at O’Farrell, SF

Denise Perrier fronts the bill and the band at the up-scale and glamorous RRAZZ ROOM in The City. There will be plenty of swinging surprises at this afternoon of Jazz High Tea. Denise Perrier’s burnished contralto, thirty-year international singing career, and unstoppable charm infuse this hot jazz session with authentic soul.

Don’t miss this opportunity to check out Denise Perrier with the Junius Courtney Big Band: the experience of an exciting full jazz sound in a comfortably intimate setting — Jazz @ the Rrazz. For tickets ($30) and information:: (866) 468-3399; (415) 394-1189; www.therrazzroom.com Info: www.juniuscourtneybigband.com www.deniseperrier.com Validated parking at the adjacent Mason-O’Farrell Garage.

P.S. Please become a FAN of the Junius Courtney Big Band on FACEBOOK.

Photo Credit: James Knox