SFJAZZ, San Francisco’s world-renowned jazz organization, will open its just-completed, free-standing headquarters at Franklin and Fell streets on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (Jan. 21). It will celebrate the event with a series of grand opening concerts held in the new facility. (See the profile of SFJazz founder and executive artistic director Randall Kline on page 18.) Comedian Bill Cosby, a longtime jazz enthusiast, will serve as master of ceremonies for the sold-out grand opening Jan. 23. The first week of concerts in the new SFJAZZ Center (Jan. 23–27) will feature such artists as piano legend McCoy Tyner, young tenor saxophone star Joshua Redman, influential jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, San Francisco jazz vocalist Mary Stallings, and more. Week two (Jan. 31–Feb. 3) will present the 20-piece Realistic Orchestra and the Montclair Women’s Big Band; vocal stylists Paula West, Kim Nalley, Jamie Davis and singer-songwriter Dan Hicks; Rebeca Mauleón & Afro Kuban Fusion; and Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers and the Hot Club of San Francisco’s Le Jazz Hot.
SFJazz: 205 Franklin Street (at Fell), $25–$150, 866-920-5299, www.sfjazz.org
— E. Beyl
