Live Jazz in SF Bay

Wayne Shorter (August 25, 1933 – March 2, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of, and eventually primary composer for Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In the 1960s, he joined Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet, and then co-founded the jazz fusion band Weather Report. He recorded more than 20 albums as a bandleader. Many Shorter compositions have become jazz standards, and his music has earned worldwide recognition, critical praise, and commendation. Shorter won 12 Grammy Awards.He was acclaimed for his mastery of the soprano saxophone since switching his focus from the tenor in the late 1960s and beginning an extended reign in 1970 as DownBeat's annual poll-winner on that instrument, winning the critics' poll for 10 consecutive years and the readers' for 18. The New York Times music critic Ben Ratliff described Shorter in 2008 as "probably jazz's greatest living small-group composer and a contender for greatest living improviser". In 2017, he was awarded the Polar Music Prize. Oakland native Isaac Schwartz brings his band of musical collaborators and lifelong Wayne fans to pay tribute to their collective hero. The night will feature Wayne's early work with the Jazz Messengers and solo recordings all the way through to the music he made with the Wayne Shorter Quartet, which pushed boundaries for the last 20 years. Isaac first heard Wayne on his seminal album, "Speak No Evil" and fell in love with its impressionistic yet propulsive sound. The music was sensitive yet bombastic; intuitive yet clever; cryptic yet soulful. Finally when Isaac was 16, his father took him to see Wayne live. Isaac wasn't sure if the modern music Wayne was making was really his vibe and boy was he wrong. It was the greatest show he'd ever seen and got him screaming in his seat. The intensity created by Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade with Wayne at the helm was undeniable. That concert changed the direction of Isaac's life and caused him to fully invest and dedicate his life to music. Isaac is honored to get to pay tribute to his musical father and guiding light in life, Wayne Shorter. ALL HAIL WAYNE! Tickets at The Isaac Schwartztet plays the Music of Wayne Shorter

“The one thing in the world that people cannot discriminate, argue, or bicker about is music,” declares chart-topping and multi-platinum-selling saxophonist Kim Waters. “Music brings people together, fosters camaraderie, and is needed to bring peace, joy, and happiness in this world.” Waters, one of the premier architects and reigning kings of Contemporary Jazz, has written the soundtrack for the lives of generations of fans during his illustrious three-and-a-half-decade career. His instantly recognizable and gorgeous tone, captivating melodies, insatiable grooves, and irresistible fusion of Jazz, R&B, Blues, and Pop have catapulted him to the top of the charts time and time again. The Maryland born and Georgia based saxman has performed with everyone from Al Green, Isaac Hayes, and Patti LaBelle to Phyllis Hyman, Teddy Riley, Guy, and Gerald Albright, to name a few. At the heart of Waters’ music and the real secret to his success is his undying love affair with music. “My roots go back to the prettiest tones I've ever heard, like Sonny Stitt, Cannonball Adderley, Charlie Parker, Stanley Turrentine, and my friend Grover Washington Jr.,” says the Maryland-born and Georgia resident. “For me, the saxophone is supposed to be romantic and beautiful. I'll take a pretty tone and melody any day.” Kim Waters’ new and 26th solo recording, Time 2 Groove (April 11, 2025), is brimming with gorgeous melodies and his superb alto and soprano saxophone playing on mostly original compositions. “I'm very happy with the outcome of this album,” he confides. “My last two were recorded during COVID, so this is my first project where I could record and tour freely. It’s great to be back to normalcy.” Time 2 Groove opens with the alluring “The Pacemaker,” the album’s first single, inspired by Kim Waters’ early roots and love for Go-Go music. The funky drum call’s energetic and relentless percussive undertow provides the perfect bed for the saxophonist to funk it up. “That Go-Go vibe will never die,” declares Waters. “There’s something about that groove that makes people move.” Waters is joined by dear friend and longtime collaborator, pianist, and producer Chris “Big Dog” Davis (whose credits include George Clinton, Maysa, and Kim Burrell) for the song “Sax You Up,” a spirited swinger that shines a light on Waters’ technical prowess and soul-drenched approach. The dynamic duo also co-wrote the pleasing composition “Palm City.” Waters’ serene soprano stylings and the cool rhythms of “Palm City” transport you to a sun-drenched beach with pink sand and swaying palm trees. “When I need something different for one of my records, I think of 'Big Dog,” shares Waters. “When we get together, it’s always great because he understands that I like to have some changes going on in the music, something to play around with and not just the standard chords you hear a lot in this genre.” Two standout tracks on Time 2 Groove are songs close to Kim Waters’ heart, dedicated to three special ladies in his life. The first, “A Pure Heart (For My Mother),” is a tribute to his best friend, his mother, Brenda. The timeless, tender, and emotive ballad will bring you to tears as Waters sings through his horn, unearthing the most beautiful runs and impassioned phrasing, leaving nothing left unsaid.