Name: Richard Howell’s John Coltrane Tribute
Start: 2026-10-15T12:30:00
Location: Yerba Buena Gardens

Richard Howell

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

The 100th anniversary of John Coltrane’s birthday has inspired dozens of performances across the Bay Area this year, but no artist is better equipped to evoke the legacy of the saxophone titan and spiritual seeker than Richard Howell. An acclaimed musician, composer and educator, he defines his performances as “Bridge Music,” a jazz pathway that creates sonic connection across obstacles and differences. It’s music that celebrates diversity as it bridges, unites and merges the experience of all listeners, an approach rooted in the spirit of John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme.” Howell, who spent years on the road with Etta James, also embraces the contradiction of James Brown’s simple yet intricate African-inspired rhythmic concepts and the deep soulfulness of the Isley Brothers. As a saxophonist and vocalist, he has a gift for connecting to multi-generational audiences with an abiding spirituality that invites all listeners to partake. He’s particularly eager to present an afternoon honoring the spirit and music of John Coltrane, he explains. “I’ve had the blessing of a close relationship with his son, Ravi Coltrane, as my son Elé has been part of Ravi’s rhythm section as a drummer for the past seven years. What I’m envisioning is an acoustic jazz quartet – tenor saxophone, acoustic piano, bass and drums – rooted in the Coltrane tradition, but also reflecting the living continuum of that music.”