As some of you know by now, the funky music institution Jazz Mafia Tuesdays at Bruno's is now a thing of the past. This news is weeks old at this point, but I've been slackin' on writing about it in the Showy McShow. Maybe I was refusing to believe it, I wouldn't put that past me really.
Jazz Mafia ringleader Adam Theis gives the whole story here, so give it a read to learn what happened.
I first met the fine Jazz Mafia folks after Swoop Unit drummer Adam Willis took me to a Cannonball show about seven years ago. That one show got me completely hooked on their Tuesday gigs, which were at the tiny Blue Bar in North Beach. When I told them how badass I thought they were one night after a gig, they gave me a laminated card that got me into the club for free—the beginning of a beautiful and funky friendship. Much like what we've seen at Bruno's this year, the various Jazz Mafia bands eventually outgrew the place, becoming so popular that it was sometimes tough just to get through the door. The Blue Bar was eventually sold and closed, and the band established their long running residency at Bruno's.
The new Bruno's gigs had some stellar nights, along with ups and downs due to the club closing, changing hands, and undergoing two remodels. The unfortunate thing about the current owners is that they seem to be uninterested in what built the roots of the club—live music. Years ago you could walk into Bruno's any night of the week and see fantastic jazz at a reasonable price. The room got some amazing acts over the years, and the setting was always intimate and filled with character. While it had been a relief to me that the Jazz Mafia had carried on a tradition of spectacular Tuesday night shows under the new owners, much of the character of the old club was gone with the repeated remodels, and it was painfully obvious that they weren't interested in booking live music. Still the Jazz Mafia rocked on and took Tuesdays by storm. Several gigs sold out this year, which is quite something on a Tuesday night when music starts at 10:30. It's a testament to how good the bands were, as the club sure wasn't helping.
All of that is recent history now, I'm sad to say. But the good news is that whatever the next venue for Jazz Mafia Tuesday is, and I'm told there is no doubt there WILL BE a next venue, it'll be the start of a whole new chapter of spectacular music ready to make you hate getting up for work on Wednesday all over again. I can't freakin' wait.
End/Rant!
Now to the more immediate good news. HOLY CRAP is there some great music landing on us this week! Since I seem to have spent an absurd amount of time ranting about the whole Bruno's thing, I've gotta be quick with this stuff (yeah, right). Here goes:
|||||| THURSDAY 12/11 ||||||
Ozomatli w/ Chali 2na @ the Fillmore - $26.50
Thursday through Sunday shows. Two (non-gramatically-correct) words for you: CHALI 2NA! That's right kids, the deep-voice emcee with the big smile you know and love from Jurassic 5 and from Ozomatli's early recordings will be joining them for all four of these Fillmore gigs. And I am freakin' stoked. Adding Chali to the high-energy percussion-happy Latin funk powerhouse that is Ozomatli will make for one hell of a good time. Don't bother working out that day, I think you might need your energy... Oh, and there is rumor of an appearance by Lyrics Born and an after-gig at the Boom Boom Room as well. Life is hard in San Francisco.
http://ozomatli.com/
|||||| FRIDAY 12/12 ||||||
Dead Kenny Gs | Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle @ Boom Boom Room - $18
WOOOOOT! Saxophone madman Skerik and vibraphone/percussion wizard Mike Dillon are both virtuoso players... and they're both certifiably insane. That's what makes all of their bands (Garage a Trois, Critters Buggin', and the ones listed here among others) such an incredible experience. They take their instruments to new sonic heights while creating their own definitions of what jazz and funk music actually are to begin with. It's really amazing stuff, and for this night Critters Buggin' bassist Brad Houser will join them in the attack. Dillon's Go-Go Jungle (opening) was actually one of the best surprises in music that I had last year. They're powerfully funky, like really really powerfully funky. I'm not missin' this, and if you're anywhere else this Friday night, you're in the wrong place, trust me...
http://www.thedeadkennygs.com/
http://www.myspace.com/
Ozomatli w/ Chali 2na @ the Fillmore - $26.50
Thursday through Sunday shows. See above.
http://ozomatli.com/
|||||| SATURDAY 12/13 ||||||
Rex Foundation Benefit @ the Regency Center Grand Ballroom - $40
With Americana roots legends the Rowan Brothers and Ramblin' Jack Elliot, reggae stars Fully Fullwood and Tony Chin, electro-new-grass rockers Panjea (with Michael Kang of String Cheese Incident), and SF horn funk superstars the Brass Mafia all on the bill, this annual benefit for the Grateful Dead's philanthropy organization should be pretty darn spectacular. And hey, it's for a good cause, so you've got that goin' for ya too.
http://www.rexfoundation.org/
Ozomatli w/ Chali 2na @ the Fillmore - $26.50
Thursday through Sunday shows. See above.
http://ozomatli.com/
|||||| SUNDAY 12/14
Ozomatli w/ Chali 2na @ the Fillmore - $26.50
Thursday through Sunday shows. See above.
http://ozomatli.com/
Fishbone @ the Independent - $15
It's no secret that Showy loves him the ska music. First wave, second wave (mostly), or third wave, the more uptempo and danceable the more I dig it. I never got the chance to see Fishbone in their '90s heyday, but the live stuff I've heard sounds like a pretty damn good party. So yeah, they may be so, like, last decade, but I'll bet this show will be a skankin' good time.
http://www.fishbone.net/
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