4/13/2006: Get thee to the Yankee, tonight!

Howdy funk fans.

Hope this week is treating you well. I actually saw
the sun today, how sweet is that? Wait, uh oh, here
come the clouds. Damn.

Since SF seems to be doing its best Seattle
impression, at least there are a million musical ways
to wash the blues away. Tonight you should meet me at
the bottom of Potrero Hill to catch out pal
Bernadette's birthday bash at the Connecticut Yankee.
She lined up a slew of fantastic musicians and it's a
benefit show for a young boy's medical bills. Tonight
through Sunday stellar groove-jazz guitarist John
Scofield will be ripping it up every night at Yoshi's;
this weekend brings the searing energy of jammers
Umphrey's McGee both nights at the Fillmore which
should be freakin' excellent; saturday funky-as-hell
sax master Sam Kininger will be tearing the roof off
the Boom Boom Room, bring an umbrella; David Gilmour,
the man, the myth, the legend will be over at the
incredible Paramount Theater in Oakland Sunday and
Monday for big big money; the Black Crowes' Chris and
Rich Robinson will be tearing through town at three
different venues for acoustic sets next Thursday
through Saturday; Luminous Family Trust, a
world-ska-punk band I've been wanting to check out
will rock the Elbo Room the following Tuesday; and
John Butler Trio drops in to bring some soul to the
Fillmore on Wednesday and Thursday. Of course that's
only the short version...

Quick note: If you're heading to JAZZ FEST in New
Orleans first weekend (4/28), give me a shout! It will
be my first time there and I can hardly sleep just
thinkin' about it. Awwww yeah...

|||||| THURSDAY 4/13 ||||||

Bernadette's Birthday Bash @ Connecticut Yankee $10–20
(sliding donation)
Our pal Bern is throwing a hell of party tonight at
the Yankee. To celebrate bein' alive at 35 she's
gotten together a rockin' backing band comprised of
badasses from the Ritual, Zigaboo Modeliste, and
featuring Garrin Benfield on guitar. As if that
weren't enough jazz-rockers the Shim Sham Rebellion
are on tap too. It's a benefit for a physically
challenged boy named Carlos, so you can even feel even
better about that cover charge. See ya there!
http://www.evite.com/pages/util/viewFullPict.jsp?pictID=RAQEXSLSUKPNHQBUARDI

John Scofield Quartet @ Yoshi's $12-24
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday shows! John is
one of the greatest avant-groove-jazz guitarists
playing today. He brings his innovative style to
everything from livetronica to traditional jazz
arrangements. Incredibly versatile, always amazing, go
dig him.
http://www.johnscofield.com/

Jazz Mafia Lounge @ 222 Club (222 Hyde St.) $FREE
Weekly gig! This sweet little lounge bar defies the
neighborhood with its brick-laden coolness. Go dig
some experimental grooves from the Jazz Mafia Trio and
slog back some vino.
http://www.222club.net/222club.html

BLVD @ Nickie's $5
Get down to the Lower Haight and get yer livetronica
groove on with one of the best local acts in this
new-school genre. It's a benefit for famed Burning Man
Fringe Camp.
http://www.blvdtrio.com/

|||||| FRIDAY 4/14 ||||||

Umphrey's McGee @ Fillmore $20
Friday & Saturday shows! These guys freakin' rock!
Sure they jam too, but at their heart they are rock
and roll through and through. Searing guitar licks
from Jake Cinninger, crazy-creative prog-rock
arrangements, and dance happy energy make Umphrey's a
hell of a good time. Lemme know if you wanna go...
http://www.umphreys.com/index_main.htm

Porter Batiste Stoltz @ Independent $22
This nasty funk trio (bass, drums, guitar) is
comprised of three of New Orleans' most legendary
groove musicians. These cats all have roots in the
pioneering Meters and Funky Meters bands, and extend
to touch just about everyone in the funky jazz world.
This show will be jam packed full of old-school
deep-groove funkiness.
http://www.porterbatistestoltz.com/

John Scofield Quartet @ Yoshi's $12-24
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday shows! See
Thursday description.
http://www.johnscofield.com/

|||||| SATURDAY 4/15 ||||||

Umphrey's McGee @ Tower Records (Columbus & Jones)
3:00pm
Damn, this is cool. I'm sure it'll be short, but what
a treat to have one of the nation's best jam bands do
a free performance at Tower. If I'm in town, I'll be
there.
http://www.umphreys.com/index_main.htm

Umphrey's McGee @ Fillmore $20
Friday & Saturday shows! See Friday.
http://www.umphreys.com/index_main.htm

Sam Kininger Band @ Boom Boom Room $10
Hell yeah! Sam brings the funky jazz and brings it
hard! You know this sax player as part of Soulive and
as a founding member of Lettuce. He is absolutely a
top-notch groove musician and his band is just
freakin' stellar. Last time they were in town they
just tore up the joint, I doubt if Saturday's show
will be anything less.
http://www.samkiningerband.com/

John Scofield Quartet @ Yoshi's $12-24
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday shows! See
Thursday description.
http://www.johnscofield.com/

|||||| SUNDAY 4/16 ||||||

David Gilmour @ Paramount Theater (Oakland) $65–125
Sunday & Monday shows (if you have the cash-ola). I've
always wanted to see this man, as co-founder of Pink
Floyd and as half of the force behind that band he has
written and performed some of the greatest rock music
ever. His new and third solo album is getting great
reviews, the venue he is nothing short of absolutely
one of the most spectacular anywhere, this should be
cool as hell.
http://www.davidgilmour.com/index.htm

John Scofield Quartet @ Yoshi's $12-24
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday shows! See
Thursday description.
http://www.johnscofield.com/

Transmission Trio @ Hotel Utah $6
A band that is known throughout the city as one of the
most original and inventive local avant-jazz acts,
they're in the middle of a 3-band bill on Easter
night.
http://www.transmissiontrio.com/

|||||| MONDAY 4/17 ||||||

David Gilmour @ Paramount Theater (Oakland) $65–125
Sunday & Monday shows, see above.
http://www.davidgilmour.com/index.htm

|||||| TUESDAY 4/18 ||||||

Low End Theory | Crossfire Crew @ 12 Galaxies $6
Jazz Mafia Tuesday brings you big bassy trombone brass
and funky Afro-beat grooves from SF's finest players.
There is no better deal in the world to see absurdly
good music. School night? What school night?
http://www.jazzmafia.com/index.html

|||||| WEDNESDAY 4/19 ||||||

Dublin & Jazz Mafia Trio @ Royale $5
Funky hip hop and lyrical shenanigans are on tap in
North Beach from the hard workin' kids at Jazz Mafia
Industries.
http://www.jazzmafia.com/index.html

Gaucho | Mitch Marcus @ Amnesia $FREE
Sweet free jazz continues on Wednesday nights at
Amnesia. Gaucho gets a nice dose of funk and Latin in
their sound, Mitch is a fantastic sax player, you just
can't beat the price! Oh yeah, they've got lots of
yummy beer too.
http://www.gauchogypsyjazz.com/

|||||| THURSDAY 4/20 ||||||

Chris & Rich Robinson Acoustic @ Cafe du Nord
(upstairs) $35 (SOLD OUT)
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday shows! The fronting
brothers of the Black Crowes are rollin' through town
at three of the city's best venues to play an acoustic
mix of Crowes tunes and covers. This should be totally
sick.
http://www.blackcrowes.com/

the Motet @ Independent $14
I haven't seen these guys in years, but I always hear
excellent things. Celebrate the high and holy 4/20
holiday with some Afrobeat inspired, Samba flavored,
funk-rockin' jazzy craziness. Local up-and-coming jam
rockers Plum Crazy open up.
http://www.themotet.net/

Jazz Mafia Lounge @ 222 Club (222 Hyde St.) $FREE
Weekly gig! See above.
http://www.222club.net/222club.html

|||||| FRIDAY 4/21 ||||||

Pharoah Sanders solo @ Grace Cathedral $25-44
A true jazz legend in a rare solo gig, one man and his
saxaphone. It's bound to be nasty, this man is one of
the innovators of the instrument hailing from John
Coltrane's later ensembles. He will put the sax at its
sonic limit, you can be sure.
http://www.sfjazz.org/concerts/spring06/artists/PharoahSanders.asp

Chris & Rich Robinson Acoustic @ Fillmore $35
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday shows. See Thursday
description.
http://www.blackcrowes.com/

Adam Willis @ Grant & Green $5?
Our favorite funky drummer will be hittin' the skins
with a bunch of funky jazz cats all up in North Beach.
Dig it.
http://www.grantandgreen.com/cgi-bin/calendar.pl

|||||| SATURDAY 4/22 ||||||

Chris & Rich Robinson Acoustic @ Bimbo's 365 $35
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday shows. See Thursday
description.
http://www.blackcrowes.com/

|||||| TUESDAY 4/25 ||||||

Luminous Family Trust @ Elbo Room $7
I wanna go check out these cats. They're a local band
that has a funky and original blend of horn-driven ska
infused with punk rock roots and touch of
world/Afrobeat groove. Check out the tunes on their
site, good shit. Who's down?
http://www.luminousfamilytrust.com/

|||||| WEDNESDAY 4/26 ||||||

John Butler Trio @ Fillmore $20
Wednesday & Thusday shows. It's hard to categorize
this Australian band, and the amazing singer/guitarist
who fronts it. Their music is based in a very
authentic roots style that borders on blues, reggae,
folk, funk, rock, and even a little hip-hop. What
pulls it all together is the soul behind it.
Singer/songwriter Jeff Lang opens.
http://www.johnbutlertrio.com/

Scott Amendola/Wil Blades @ Bacar $FREE
Git yer damn self down to this SoMa wine bar to see
one of the city's best jazz drummers playing with one
of the city's best funky organ players. They're
champs, and as far as I know there's no cover, how you
gonna beat that?
http://www.scottamendola.com/

Brass Mafia @ Boom Boom Room $6
Big bad brass is on the hump day attack. They take it
to the bridge, take it to New Orleans, and take it to
outer space. Where the hell else you gonna see some
funky tuba on a Wednesday night?
http://www.jazzmafia.com/index.html

the Waybacks w/ Bob Weir @ Great American Music Hall
$22
A new-school bluegrass roots band that mixes swing,
jug, jazz, and folk influences into their rootsy stew.
They're known for amazing musicianship and on this
evening Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir will be
adding his talents to the groove.
http://www.waybacks.com/

Gaucho | Mitch Marcus @ Amnesia $FREE
Once again free jazz continues on Wednesday nights at
Amnesia. Gaucho gets a nice dose of funk and Latin in
their sound, Mitch is a fantastic sax player, you just
can't beat the price! Oh yeah, they've got lots of
yummy beer too.
http://www.gauchogypsyjazz.com/

|||||| THURSDAY 4/27 ||||||

John Butler Trio @ Fillmore $20
Wednesday & Thusday shows, see above.
http://www.johnbutlertrio.com/

Brass Mafia @ 222 Club (222 Hyde St.) $FREE
Catch some bad ass brass from SF's funkiest for free
at this sweet little lounge in the heart of the 'Loin.
http://jazzmafia.com/