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May 2026 concerts and events at SFJAZZ are live! Makaya McCraven makes his SFJAZZ Center debut as a leader, Meshell Ndegeocello closes out their SFJAZZ residency, John Coltrane & Miles Davis centennials continue, Hiromi’s Sonicwonder is back in SF, SFJAZZ Digital Labs classes return, and so much more. Full Schedule:

5|1–5|2 • Meshell Ndegeocello • MINER Resident Artistic Director The People’s Playlist: Poetry + Music
5|1 • Connie Han • JHL
5|2 • Daniel Ho Trio • JHL
5|7 • SFJAZZ Gala 2026 • MINER + SF City Hall Milestones: Celebrating Miles & Trane at 100 Honoring George Benson with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award
5|8 • Hiromi’s Sonicwonder • Golden Gate Theatre
5|9 • Stacey Kent • MINER
5|9–10 • Benny Benack III 'The Magic of Manhattan ' • JHL
5|10 • Marcus Shelby New Orchestra • MINER Miles Davis’ Birth of the Cool Revisited
5|11 • George Benson • Davies
5|15–16 • Lizz Wright • MINER
5|15–16 • Jacqui Naylor • JHL
5|16 • Marcus Shelby New Orchestra • MINER • 11am Family Matinee
5|16 • Creating Music with Handheld Devices • JHL • 11am
5|17 • SFJAZZ High School All-Stars • JHL Spring Concert w/ special guest Lizz Wright
5|17 • David Weiss Sextet • JHL
5|18 • SFJAM: Free Community Jam Session • JHL Miles Electric w/ Henry Hung
5|21–22 • Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio • JHL
5|21–24 • Makaya McCraven • MINER Resident Artistic Director In These Times Revisited & Reworked w/ strings & special guests
5|23–24 • Gunhild Carling • JHL
5|28–31 • Terence Blanchard & Ravi Coltrane • MINER Miles Davis & John Coltrane Centennial Open Soundcheck: 5|28 @ 4pm

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Tickets + More Information > SFJAZZ.org

SFJAZZ Summer Sessions 2026 Announced! As the late great Roy Ayers stated, “everybody loves the sunshine,” and this June through August SFJAZZ presents a number of exciting concerts to bring some warm joyful vibes to your summer, including live performances by jazz legend Wynton Marsalis, rising London collective KOKOROKO, Colombian superstars Monsieur Periné, psychedelic funk band Lettuce, the remarkable gospel vocal group Take 6 and more!

ON SALE DATES
Leaders Circle Members: Thu, Feb 17 · 12PM
Members: Fr, Feb 27 · 12PM
At Home Members: Fri, Mar 6 · 12PM
Public: Fri, Mar 6 · 12PM

Tickets at SFJAZZ.org

International Anthem artist, drummer and member of the eclectic Latin fusion group Dos Santos, Daniel Villarreal brings his dynamic trio to SFJAZZ for two nights this July of boundary-pushing sound.

A standout artist shaped by the Chicago jazz scene, Villarreal fuses traditional Latin rhythms with elements of jazz, psychedelic rock, and contemporary groove. His acclaimed recordings, including ‘Panamá 77’ and ‘Lados B’, have established him as a bold, forward-looking bandleader.

Date(s): July 23–24
Venue: Joe Henderson Lab

Tickets > SFJAZZ.org

Don’t miss his SFJAZZ debut with an outstanding new trio.

A powerful debut at the SFJAZZ Center with drummer, composer, and beat architect Makaya McCraven presenting his expansive 'In These Times' project—blending jazz improvisation, hip-hop production, and orchestral texture into a living, breathing suite for his SFJAZZ residency running through Sunday in our Miner Auditorium.

Personnel:
Makaya McCraven drums
Junius Paul bass
Matt Gold guitar
Greg Ward alto saxophone
Marquis Hill trumpet
Ben LaMar Gay cornet
Jeremiah Chiu modular synth
Lia Kohl cello
Marta Sofia Honer viola
Macie Stewart violin
Zara Zaharieva violin

Photo Credit: Rick Swig

A powerful debut at the SFJAZZ Center with drummer, composer, and beat architect Makaya McCraven presenting his expansive 'In These Times' project—blending jazz improvisation, hip-hop production, and orchestral texture into a living, breathing suite for his SFJAZZ residency running through Sunday in our Miner Auditorium.

Personnel:
Makaya McCraven drums
Junius Paul bass
Matt Gold guitar
Greg Ward alto saxophone
Marquis Hill trumpet
Ben LaMar Gay cornet
Jeremiah Chiu modular synth
Lia Kohl cello
Marta Sofia Honer viola
Macie Stewart violin
Zara Zaharieva violin

Photo Credit: Rick Swig

A powerful debut at the SFJAZZ Center with drummer, composer, and beat architect Makaya McCraven presenting his expansive 'In These Times' project—blending jazz improvisation, hip-hop production, and orchestral texture into a living, breathing suite for his SFJAZZ residency running through Sunday in our Miner Auditorium.

Personnel:
Makaya McCraven drums
Junius Paul bass
Matt Gold guitar
Greg Ward alto saxophone
Marquis Hill trumpet
Ben LaMar Gay cornet
Jeremiah Chiu modular synth
Lia Kohl cello
Marta Sofia Honer viola
Macie Stewart violin
Zara Zaharieva violin

Photo Credit: Rick Swig

An all-star band including Terence Blanchard, Keyon Harrold, Tia Fuller, and Marcus Miller along with members of the SFJAZZ Collective perform Miller’s composition “Hannibal” from Miles Davis’s 1989 album “Amandla” during SFJAZZ Gala 2026 honoring the centennials of Miles Davis and John Coltrane — part of the SFJAZZ 2025-26 Season and broadcast on SFJAZZ At Home.

Full video available now on the SFJAZZ YouTube channel!

AO VIVO is finally here 🇧🇷❤️

Muito obrigado to all the wonderful people who made this happen...my incredible band, guitarist Leandro Pellegrino, drummer Rafael Barata, and bassist Marc Johnson, as well as producers Steve Rodby and Ross Eustis. Captured in its entirety during a singular night at the SFJAZZ Center’s Miner Auditorium, this intimate recording explores the rich rhythmic spectrum of Brazil: everything from high-octane samba and smooth bossa nova to baião and Afro-Brazilian grooves.

You can listen now @ the link in my bio.

#NewMusicFriday #Brazil #LiveMusic #WomenInMusic

Lettuce returns to SFJAZZ for a four-night Summer Sessions run in Miner Auditorium — bringing a power-packed celebration of groove in support of their new album ‘Cook’.

Over more than two decades, the band has evolved into a modern funk powerhouse, blending psychedelic soul, deep-pocket rhythm, and explosive musicianship into a live experience unlike anything else.

Date(s): July 16–19
Venue: Miner Auditorium

Tickets > SFJAZZ.org

Don’t miss four nights of relentless funk and pure energy.

“[Miles] was thinking of tomorrow—we’re still thinking about yesterday…”

In his acceptance speech for the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award, George Benson reflects on Miles Davis, musical legacy, and the artists who shaped his journey.

Watch Benson’s full speech from the SFJAZZ Gala 2026 on our YouTube channel.

No one plays the guitar like @oldmansco ... Watch the master perform with his Combo 73 on @sfjazz At Home, now available with Free Trials! The band includes @geraldclayton @vicentearcher and drummer Bill Stewart . Start your free trial now (link in bio)

#sfjazz #johnscofield #jazzcorner #guitar

Jazz Minute: International Anthem

International Anthem has emerged as one of the defining jazz labels of the 21st century, reshaping the sound and scope of the music since its founding in 2014. Born out of Chicago’s vibrant creative scene, the label has grown into a global platform for boundary-pushing artists like Makaya McCraven, Jeff Parker, SML, and the late jaimie branch, blending jazz with experimental and improvised traditions. With a commitment to artistic freedom and sonic exploration, International Anthem continues to expand what jazz can be — capturing the energy of the present moment while helping shape the music’s future. This spirit is on display as Makaya McCraven returns to SFJAZZ for a residency this May 21-25 celebrating the 10th anniversary of his landmark International Anthem album In the Moment.

Steven Bernstein’s Sexmob returns to SFJAZZ for a four-night run in the Joe Henderson Lab — where avant-garde jazz meets groove, humor, and total reinvention. Sexmob presents two distinct programs across the week:

• July 16–17 — Psychedelic SF: a tribute to Bay Area rock of the 1960s, with guitarist Liberty Ellman

• July 18–19 — Latin Soul: deep cuts from the ’60s–’70s, with percussion master John Santos

For over two decades, Sexmob has built a cult following with explosive improvisation and wild reinterpretations of everything from Prince to Nino Rota.

Date(s): July 16th-19th
Venue: Joe Henderson Lab

Tickets > SFJAZZ.org

“Miles Davis taught us how to listen…”

At the SFJAZZ Gala 2026, NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz shared the story of receiving the call to join Miles Davis’s band — a moment that placed him inside one of the most innovative eras in jazz history. The story is paired with footage from the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, where organizers famously asked Miles what kind of music he was performing, and he replied, “Call it anything.”

SFJAZZ is celebrating Miles Davis’s centennial all year long, including four performances this week with Terence Blanchard and Ravi Coltrane, with more to be announced next season.