The SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco will hold its grand opening Jan. 21, and will present its maiden concert two nights later with an all-star show featuring McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, Bobby Hutcherson, Mary Stallings, Rebeca Mauleón, SFJAZZ Collective and others to be announced. Bill Cosby will serve as host. The Center is located at 205 Franklin Street at Fell Street in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley
According to a press release, “The SFJAZZ Center can now efficiently integrate its mission under one roof to present world class artists in concert throughout the year, nurture young musicians’ development and promote music education. The purpose-built and site-sensitive design accommodates both the requirements of SFJAZZ and the surrounding neighborhood.”
The SFJAZZ Center, the press release states, “was designed by architect Mark Cavagnero, acoustician Sam Berkow, theater designer Len Auerbach, and constructed by lead contractor Hathaway/Dinwiddie. The three-story Center comprises 35,000 square feet in a transparent, LEED Certified structure featuring the state-of-the-art Robert N. Miner auditorium adjustable from 350 to 700 seats, the 80-seat multi-purpose ensemble room, rehearsal spaces, digital learning lab, café at sidewalk level, ground floor lobby, retail shop, box office, and SFJAZZ administrative offices.”
Grand Opening Celebration & Week One Events
As noted above, the first concert, on Wednesday, January 23, will be a one-time-only musical extravaganza with McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, SFJAZZ Beacon Award winners Bobby Hutcherson, Mary Stallings, Rebeca Mauleón, SFJAZZ Collective, SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Directors, Master of Ceremonies Bill Cosby, and many more special guests to be announced.
January 24-26: McCoy Tyner, Joshua Redman, Mary Stallings, SFJAZZ Collective, and SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Directors, and many more special guests to be announced.
January 27: Celebration of the birthday of \ vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson featuring Savion Glover, McCoy Tyner, Joshua Redman, Mary Stallings, SFJAZZ Collective, SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Directors, and many more special guests to be announced.
The weeklong grand opening celebration will kick off on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 21 with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and a daylong open house of free events open to the public with tours highlighting the center’s special features and architecture.
For the rest of the season one lineup, ticket details and more information, visit SFJAZZ.
