Drummer

For his recent wryly titled Blue Note release, three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not, the irrepressible saxophonist Walter Smith III pays homage to his hometown. In the jazz series kickoff, this supergroup of brothers in arms celebrates the Bayou City with evocative songs like 610 Loop, Lone Star, Cezanne and Montrose Nocture.

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Walter Smith III Quartet

Wortham Theater Center

Among the most dynamic and virtuosic drummers in jazz, the SFJAZZ Collective’s Kendrick Scott presents the West Coast premiere his multimedia project Unearthed, combining poetry, visuals, string quartet, and a jazz ensemble in a moving work memorializing the Sugar Land 95 — the 95 unidentified Black prisoners and forced laborers found buried in the Texas town of Sugar Land in 2018. This performance is part of Terence Blanchard’s UpSwing series.  

Kendrick Scott

SFJAZZ Center

Founded in 2004, the SFJAZZ Collective is our all-star resident ensemble and composer’s workshop that represents what’s happening now in jazz. The group includes music director and tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, tenor saxophonist David Sánchez, trumpeter Mike Rodriguez, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, pianist Edward Simon, bassist Matt Brewer, and drummer Kendrick Scott.

SFJAZZ Collective

Founded by SFJAZZ in 2004, the SFJAZZ Collective is an all-star ensemble and composer’s workshop that represents what’s happening now in jazz, celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2024.

Since the beginning, the Collective’s mission has been to perform newly commissioned pieces by each member and fresh arrangements of works by modern masters. Through this pioneering approach, simultaneously honoring music’s greatest figures while championing jazz’s up-to-the-minute directions, the SFJAZZ Collective embodies SFJAZZ’s commitment to jazz as a living, ever-relevant art form.

SFJAZZ Collective: 20th Anniversary Celebration

Jimmy Lyons Stage

Travel through the world of Leonard Cohen with an extraordinary ensemble of legends and luminaries including Madison Cunningham, Ben Folds, Bill Frisell, Don Henley, Gregory Porter, JD Souther, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and Trisha Yearwood*. Backed by the raw power of the NSO, this unforgettable concert event features Leonard Cohen’s timeless music—including “Suzanne,” “Hallelujah,” “Famous Blue Raincoat,” and more conducted by seven-time Grammy–winning sensation Vince Mendoza.

Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen

Kennedy Center

Founded by SFJAZZ in 2004, the SFJAZZ Collective is an all-star ensemble and composer’s workshop that represents what’s happening now in jazz, celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2024.

Dakota

Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label established in 1939.  The anniversary tour stars The Blue Note Quintet – a group brought together to honor the label’s rich history.  Featured artists include Gerald Clayton, Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, Matt Brewer and drummer Kendrick Scott.

Blue Note Records 85th Anniversary Tour

Charline McCombs Empire Theatre

Founded in 1939, Blue Note Records is universally revered as one of the most important record labels in the history of music, with a catalog of albums considered by many to be the holy grail of jazz. This 85th anniversary concert features The Blue Note Quintet, led by six-time GRAMMY Award-nominee Gerald Clayton (piano), with Joel Ross (vibraphone), Immanuel Wilkins (saxophone), Kendrick Scott (drums), and Matt Brewer (bass), performing the work of iconic Blue Note Records artists such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Thelonious Monk, along with songs from their current roster of phenomenal musicians.

Blue Note Records 85th Anniversary Celebration

Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space

The Blue Note Quintet, led by six-time Grammy-nominated pianist Gerald Clayton, honors Blue Note Records’ rich history and paves the way for the eclectic artists on the legendary label today. One of those legends, Ron Carter — the prolific, three-time Grammy Award winner and most recorded jazz bassist of all time — brings his Golden Striker Trio to Symphony Center for the first time.

The Blue Note Quintet / Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio

Symphony Center

Blue Note Records is celebrating their 85th Anniversary with a US Tour starring “The Blue Note Quintet” – A group brought together to honor the label’s rich history and pave the way for the eclectic artists of today’s roster. The Alluvion is incredibly honored and excited to present this shooting star of a show in our intimate venue. This will absolutely be a one-of-a kind Valentines evening in Traverse City with an all star lineup of living legends on the stage.

Alluvion Jazz Series: Blue Note Records 85th Anniversary Celebration Starring The Blue Note Quintet

Commongrounds

Blue Note Records is celebrating its 85th Anniversary with a US tour starring The Blue Note Quintet, a group brought together to honor the label’s rich history and pave the way for the eclectic artists of today’s roster. Six-time GRAMMY Award nominee Gerald Clayton leads the band as musical director and pianist. “Gerald Clayton is one of the most accomplished, distinctive and innovative pianists performing today” says Don Was, the label’s President since 2012. Rounding out the group is vibraphonist Joel Ross, saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, drummer Kendrick Scott, and bassist Matt Brewer.

The Blue Note 85th Anniversary Celebration Tour

Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center

Blue Note Records is celebrating their 85th Anniversary with a U.S. tour starring The Blue Note Quintet – a group brought together to honor the label’s rich history and showcase the label’s current roster of eclectic musicians.

Irvine Barclay Theatre

BLUE NOTE RECORDS 85TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Blue Note Records is celebrating their 85th Anniversary with a US Tour starring “The Blue Note Quintet” – A group brought together to honor the label’s rich history and pave the way for the eclectic artists of today’s roster. 6 Time Grammy Award nominee Gerald Clayton leads the band as Musical Director and Pianist; “Gerald Clayton is one of the most accomplished, distinctive and innovative pianists performing today” says Don Was, the label’s President since 2012. Rounding out the group are vibraphonist Joel Ross, Saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, Drummer Kendrick Scott, and Bassist Matt Brewer.

Majestic Theatre

Blue Note Records is celebrating their 85th Anniversary with a US Tour starring “The Blue Note Quintet” – A group brought together to honor the label’s rich history and pave the way for the eclectic artists of today’s roster. 6 Time Grammy Award nominee Gerald Clayton leads the band as Musical Director and Pianist; “Gerald Clayton is one of the most accomplished, distinctive and innovative pianists performing today” says Don Was, the label’s President since 2012. Rounding out the group are vibraphonist Joel Ross, Saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, Drummer Kendrick Scott, and Bassist Matt Brewer.

Fisher Theatre

Founded by SFJAZZ in 2004, the SFJAZZ Collective is an all-star ensemble and composer’s workshop that represents what’s happening now in jazz. Since the beginning, the Collective’s mission has been to perform newly commissioned pieces by each member and fresh arrangements of works by modern masters. This year’s Collective performances in Miner Auditorium will take place in November, but this special week in the Joe Henderson Lab to help kick off the 2023-24 Season brings the group together with a decidedly different approach.

SFJAZZ Collective: Past Present Members

The National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada, hosts the 2023 Northern Cadence International Jazz Series featuring three 30-minute livestreams from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, the Manhattan School of Music in New York, USA, and the Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Distance Learning Virtual Events: Northern Cadence International Jazz Series

Manhattan School of Music

A special evening with Dean of MSM Jazz Arts Ingrid Jensen, considered to be one of the most gifted trumpeters of her generation. The concert also showcases several exceptionally talented members of the MSM Jazz Arts faculty:

WATCH! MSM Jazz Faculty Recital: Ingrid Jensen, Trumpet

Drum set master class: Kendrick Scott

Band leader, composer, educator, and one of America’s foremost jazz drummers

Kendrick Scott, Drum Set Master Class

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer, and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. DownBeat called him, “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet,” while JazzTimes identified him as, “a figure of international renown.” DownBeat also voted him second only to tenor sax great Sonny Rollins in the magazine’s 2008 Readers Poll. The Grammy–nominated Potter is considered one of the finest saxophonists in the world and a potent improvisor. He has performed or recorded with Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Joanne Brackeen, John Scofield, Jim Hall, Paul Motian and many others.

Chris Potter Trio

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer, and formidable bandleader, Chris Potter has been hailed as “easily the most compelling saxophonist of his generation” (Detroit Free Press). He received a Grammy nomination for his solo work on the Joanne Brackeen track “In Vogue” and was prominently featured on Steely Dan’s Grammy-winning album Two Against Nature. Potter has performed or recorded with leading jazz artists including Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, John Scofield, the Mingus Big Band, Jim Hall, Paul Motian, Dave Douglas, and Ray Brown. His trio currently includes his SFJAZZ Collective bandmates Matt Brewer and Kendrick Scott. Potter’s latest album, Alive With Ghosts Today, was released in May on the Edition Records label.

Drummer

Kendrick Scott

Events

Upcoming events

Apr 10, 2027

Chris Potter Trio · Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Past events

Oct 17, 2025

Walter Smith III Quartet · Dacamera

Feb 1, 2025

Kendrick Scott · San Francisco Jazz

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