Live Jazz (& Blues) Meetup Group

This concert brings together an all-star lineup led by seven-time Grammy-nominated percussionist John Santos, whose artistry and deep-rooted knowledge of Afro-Latin traditions have made him a cornerstone of the Bay Area’s vibrant music scene.

Joining Santos on stage will be his powerhouse ensemble—Dr. John Calloway, Marco Díaz, David Flores, Charlie Gurke, and Saul Sierra —along with these special guests: Orestes Vilató, Anthony Blea, Destani Wolf, Rico Pabón, Christelle Durandy, Pedro Pastrana, Javier Navarrette, Juan Luis Pérez, and Marcel Joao Santos.

On the heels of their most recent album release, the John Santos sextet and friends will be exploring Latin jazz, Cuban rumba and son, Puerto Rican bomba and plena and more in this wide-ranging concert.

SHOW COST: About $35 for one ticket (with service fees). Must buy your own ticket.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is assigned seating. I will be in the second row of the Mezzanine Right section, in Row M, Seat 2. Please buy your tickets in seats next to or near mine. Please note that odd-numbered Mezzanine seats are on one side of the center aisle and even-numbered seats are on the other side of the aisle, which means the seat closest to mine is M-4 in the Mezzanine Right section.

It would be helpful if RSVPers would post Comments on the Meetup Event Page to let me know when you've bought your seats and where you'll be sitting.

MORE INFO/TICKET LINK:
https://www.brava.org/all-events/johnsantos

WHEN/WHERE TO MEET: Meet in our seats prior to showtime unless joining me for dinner beforehand. The show starts at 8:00 p.m.

HOW TO FIND ME: See my photo with my Meetup profile (WF, 5 feet tall, with salt-and-pepper hair and glasses). I'll send my mobile number to RSVPers prior to the event.

OPTIONAL PRE-SHOW DINNER (probably at 6:30 p.m.) at the Sake Bomb (sushi, teriyaki, etc.) about a block away. I can accommodate up to SIX people for the dinner (plus more people for the show only). Preference given to folks who have a good Meetup attendance record and an ability to play well with others :)

TRANSIT: Walkable from 24th Street BART and convenient to multiple Muni bus lines. If driving, allow extra time for parking.

MORE INFO:
https://johnsantosofficial.com/bio

https://www.sakebombsf.com/

Dive into the world of Egyptian instrumental music with Music in-Takht, the Bay Area’s premier Egyptian heritage ensemble, as the musicians explore melodies ranging from Egyptian classical music to contemporary Egyptian grooves.

The musicians are:
Violinist and Music Director: Basma Edrees
Oud: Matthew Wright
Nay: Seif Ibrahim
Egyptian percussion and Drumset: Mohamed Abdelradi
Egyptian percussion: Loay Dahbour
Bass: Ernesto Mazar Kindelan
Keyboards: Daniel Filip

CONCERT COST: Ticket prices are $20 to $28 (plus an online service fee of about $2.00), depending on when you buy them. The Early Bird price of $20 is available through March 31. I also request a one dollar donation from Meetup RSVPers who can afford it, to defray the hefty fees that Meetup charges me as lead organizer.

TICKETS/SEATING: Buy your own tickets. General admission seating.

TICKET LINK, video, and more info about the musicians: https://www.sfiaf.org/2025_music_in-takht

WHEN/WHERE TO MEET: Meet inside the Community Music Center at 544 Capp Street by 6:00 p.m. so we can increase our chances of getting seats together. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. and I expect it to consist of two sets, ending at about 8:15 p.m.

HOW TO FIND ME: I'm WF, 5 feet tall, in my 60s, with short salt-and-pepper hair and glasses. I'll send my mobile number to RSVPers prior to the show.

TRANSIT/LOCATION: Located south of Mission Street, between 20th and 21st Street, a convenient walk from 24th Street BART and Mission Street bus lines. If you're driving, allow extra time for street parking.

STILL TBD: Whether to do dinner AFTER the concert. Stay tuned!

This highly anticipated concert film immerses viewers in celebrated artist Björk’s spectacular stage production, featuring a setlist ranging from her iconic early works to the visionary Utopia (2017) and Fossora (2023). The production showcases bespoke instruments, including a magnetic harp, a circular flute, an aluphone, and a reverb chamber. Other musicians in the film include multi-instrumentalist Bergur Þórisson, percussionist Manu Delago, flute septet Viibra, harpist Katie Buckley and the Hamrahlid choir.

COST: The cost of your movie ticket (about $13 to $17, online or in person). I also ask that attendees consider donating $1.00 to offset the hefty fees that Meetup charges me each year.

**NOTE: I am posting this event earlier than usual because the prior night's screening has already sold out, and I expect the same could happen with this May 8, Thursday night, screening, given that the film is showing in a limited engagement.**

TICKET link and more info:
https://roxie.com/film/bjork-cornucopia/

TRAILER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvSoLELzCDk

WHEN/WHERE TO MEET: Meet out front of the Big Roxie no later than 5:40 p.m., so we can aim to get seats together. (The movie starts at 6:00 p.m. and ends at about 8:00 p.m.)

HOW TO FIND ME: I'm WF, 5 feet tall, with short, salt-&-pepper hair, and glasses. I'll send my phone number to RSVPers beforehand. PLEASE TEXT ME IF YOU DON'T SPOT ME.

TRANSIT: The Roxie is located about one block from the 16th Street BART station and Mission Street Muni bus lines (and is on the route of the #22 Muni bus line). If driving, allow extra time to find parking on side streets.

OPTIONAL POST-SHOW DINNER at a nearby walk-in place still TBD.