Trumpetist

Composer/singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane returns as guest curator once again for the tenth season of PIVOT. Kahane’s work exists at the intersection of art and social practice, and he is one of the most thoughtful—and thought-provoking—artists of his generation. He will perform opening night and host all three evenings of deliciously ingenious music brimming with thought, humor—both dark and light—and substance.

EPSG:4326

PIVOT Festival 2

War Memorial and Performing Arts Center

The opening work on this program immerses us in Ives’ haunting mini-philosophy-lesson about the universe and man’s eternal search for meaning in it. Three groups of players (a string orchestra, a solo trumpet, and a group of flutes) make their arguments with the inevitable conclusion. The Westerlies, an “arty quartet … mixing ideas from jazz, new classical, and Appalachian folk” (~ The New York Times) with a ferociously unique vision of brass—and yes, named for the prevailing west to east winds—blow in to play Conrad Tao’s Westerlies Concerto. And in a classy-brassy pivot, an ear-stretching take on Dvořák’s exuberant string quartet, especially arranged for the OPO and The Westerlies, is bound to please!

Seeking Answers

The Plaza Live

Songs We Love is a journey through the first 50 years of jazz song. Under the musical direction of Riley Mulherkar, 3 guest vocalists will join an all-star band made up of New York’s rising stars. Combining their distinct talents, the group will sing their way through four decades of music, beginning with the early blues and jazz of the 1920s and ending in the early 1950s. Iconic singers to be explored include Ma Rainey, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland.

Jazz at Lincoln Center: The Songs We Love

McCallum Theatre

It’s not every day that a group establishes a new ensemble concept in jazz, but The Westerlies have pulled off this rare feat with style, polish and abundant curiosity. Featuring trumpeters Riley Mulherkar and Chloe Rowlands and trombonists Andy Clausen and Addison Maye-Saxon, the New York-based brass quartet has sailed from Carnegie Hall to Coachella, gracefully navigating a wide array of venues and projects with the intense calibration of a string quartet, the audacity of an indie rock band, and the welcoming spirit of a family sing-along. They make their SFJAZZ bow with this intimate show.

Trumpetist

Riley Mulherkar

Events

Upcoming events

Mar 14, 2026

The Westerlies · San Francisco Jazz

Past events

Jan 30, 2025

PIVOT Festival 2 · San Francisco Performances

Oct 16, 2023

Seeking Answers · Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

About

Riley Mulherkar hasn't added a bio