SFJAZZ

We want to thank SFJAZZ CEO Gregory Stern for his incredible leadership and guidance over these past 4 1/2 years. He will be stepping down to begin his retirement at the end of the calendar year. As CEO, he led the organization through an immediate and effective response to the closure brought on by the pandemic; a new strategic plan which provides the framework for the future of SFJAZZ; founder transition and succession with Terence Blanchard as the new Executive Artistic Director; the launch and expansion of many Community Engagement initiatives; the continued success of and commitment to SFJAZZ Education programs; the expansion of SFJAZZ at Home; and the continued commitment to innovative artistic presentation, supported by a return of strong ticket sales. SFJAZZ is forever grateful for all of his accomplishments and wish him all the best in retirement.

Yesterday, the Heising-Simons Foundation hosted International Human Rights Day at SFJAZZ. Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie and former President Barack Obama opened and closed the event with powerful reflections on rights and progress. Throughout the day, inspiring activists shared their impactful work and successes.

Last week, the SFJAZZ Center hosted the Wisdom 2.0 Summit, which brings together technology leaders—such as Sam Altman—to explore how we can live mindfully and wisely in modern life, engaging with the great technologies of our age in ways that benefit us. We also hosted the Future of Well-Being, featuring speakers like Dr. Mark Hyman and Sara Gottfried, among others. Wisdom 2.0 is definitely setting the stage for a new type of conference! "It’s not just about adding years to your life, but adding life to your years."

We lost a titan of American music on Sunday with the passing of composer, arranger, producer, and artist Quincy Jones at age 91. Over his seven-decade career, the man known simply as “Q” was an omnipresent part of American popular culture, from his teenage association with Ray Charles and his masterful albums for the Mercury label in the 1960s to his timeless arrangements for Frank Sinatra, innumerable production credits, and countless film and television scores. His production work encompassed jazz, bossa nova, R&B, and pop, from Louis Armstrong and Cannonball Adderly to Aretha Franklin and Terrace Martin, and he elevated the role of superstar producer through his work with Michael Jackson. Their 1982 collaboration “Thriller” remains the best-selling album of all time. Jones won the GRAMMY Legend Award in 1992 and is third on the list of all-time GRAMMY winners with 28 awards. He received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2001, the Ahmet Ertegun Award from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, and the National Medal of Arts in 2011 from then-president Obama.  

We are thrilled to announce that Burkhard Hopper has joined SFJAZZ as our new Director, Artistic Programming! Burkhard brings a wealth of experience in the performing arts with a distinguished career spanning over two decades. As a producer, presenter, and artist representative, he has been at the forefront of the global jazz scene, curating and producing over 6,000 concerts across major festivals and concert halls worldwide. His deep expertise includes collaborations with legendary artists such as Lalo Schifrin, Ray Brown, Dee Dee Bridgewater, James Morrison, Esbjorn Svensson, alongside successful production of landmark events like the Rising Stars Jazz Circuit starting the European careers of artists such as Diana Krall, Kurt Elling, Brad Mehldau, Nicholas Payton and more, and organizing concerts and tours for jazz luminaries from Oscar Peterson to Wynton Marsalis.     Burkhard's ability to nurture new talent, negotiate recording and sponsorship deals, and execute artistic visions on the global stage makes him a valuable addition to our team. We are excited to leverage his unique vision and leadership as we continue to elevate SFJAZZ’s artistic programming and deliver unforgettable experiences to our audiences.     Please join us in welcoming Burkhard Hopper to the SFJAZZ team. We look forward to his contributions in further strengthening our position as a world-class institution.

We are excited to announce a new job opportunity! SFJAZZ is hiring for Director of Development. https://lnkd.in/gTssdADC

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting A16Z GAMES SPEEDRUN for #SFTechWeek at the SFJAZZ Center! Host your next conference at the SFJAZZ Center today. More Information at SFJAZZ.org/Rentals TECH WEEK by a16z

The Venue is the World–CENIC Helps SFJAZZ Share Music with Everyone. Learn how SFJAZZ and Mount V. Allen III, Ed.D, Director of Network Engagement are advancing jazz education and research statewide: https://lnkd.in/gT8eCH_B

The Wolf Bros, founded by Bob Weir and Don Was, along with the Wolfpack are performing a series of concerts with the nation’s top symphony orchestras this November, playing Grateful Dead hits arranged by Stanford composer Giancarlo Aquilanti Don't miss Wolf Bros' bassist and Blue Note Records President Don Was at SFJAZZ this Thursday and Friday (Sep 26-27), performing with his new group The Pan-Detroit Ensemble, celebrating jazz, rock, and soul from the Motor City. Read Article: https://lnkd.in/gwuD9SP6

Are you looking for a premier venue to host your next talk, symposium, forum, or debate? SFJAZZ offers a state-of-the-art auditorium that is perfect for your event needs. Over the years, we've partnered with incredible organizations to create memorable events. SFJAZZ is not just about music; it's a space for dialogue and your new ideas! Our Miner Auditorium features: A state-of-the-art Meyer sound system Capacity for 500-600 guests Additional space for receptions  Video and sound recording Dedicated WiFi Live streaming Projection Mapping Connect with our events team today!   [email protected]