Songs & Stories

Episode: Sasha Berliner at SFJAZZ — Recontextualizing the Vibraphone

In this episode, we welcome San Francisco native Sasha Berliner, a vibraphonist, composer, and producer whose work serves as a spectral map of contemporary music. Berliner has emerged as a primary voice in the New York scene by deconstructing the traditional boundaries of her instrument, blending a rigorous jazz foundation with the kinetic, "genre-blurring" spirit of the Bay Area.

We discuss her journey from rock drumming in Oakland to studying harmony with Stefon Harris, and her current trajectory toward a new "electric" aesthetic inspired by the fusion giants of the 1970s.

Sasha Berliner returns home this week for a double bill with vocalist Michael Mayo at SFJAZZ.

Keeping Jazz Alive in the 415.

Episode Summary

In this festive episode, Steve Roby chats with acclaimed pianist, composer, and educator Adam Shulman, a key figure in the San Francisco jazz scene since 2002. Known for his work as a sideman with artists like Paula West, Stefon Harris, and Miguel Zenón, as well as for his own original albums, Adam shares insights into his musical journey and the timeless magic of Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Key Topics & Highlights

A Holiday Tradition: Adam shares his yearly tribute to Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” performed with his trio at SF Jazz’s Miner Auditorium. He reflects on why the music connects across generations and how it has become a family tradition for many in the Bay Area.

Musical Roots: Adam explains how his classical piano training at UC Santa Cruz and mentorship under Smith Dobson influenced his approach to jazz improvisation and composition.

Compositional Process: The episode features tracks from Adam’s catalog, including “The Little Ones” and “Mingus Dreams of Billy Strayhorn.” Adam explains his creative process, often starting with harmony and drawing inspiration from jazz greats.

The Art of Adaptation: Adam discusses balancing his roles as a bandleader and a sought-after sideman, and how collaborating with different artists shapes his unique sound.

Behind the Scenes: Listeners get a preview of the upcoming Charlie Brown Christmas show, including the setlist featuring music from both the original album and Guaraldi’s “A Boy Named Charlie Brown,” along with introductions to his longtime bandmates John Tala (bass) and James Gallagher (drums).

Family-Friendly Jazz: Adam and Steve discuss the importance of introducing young audiences to live jazz and how the Charlie Brown Christmas show serves as a gateway for many to discover jazz.

Event Details

Adam Shulman Trio Plays A Charlie Brown Christmas

Date: Sunday, December 21st

Time: 1:00 PM (Matinee)

Location: SF Jazz’s Miner Auditorium

Tickets & Info: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/adam-shulman-trio-charlie-brown-christmas/

Bring the whole family for an afternoon of timeless holiday music and jazz improvisation!

Connect with Adam Shulman

Learn more about Adam’s music and upcoming performances on his website: https://www.adamshulmanjazz.com

Thanks for Listening!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Backstage Bay Area. Stay tuned for more conversations with the jazz artists shaping the Bay Area’s vibrant music scene. We’re keeping Jazz Alive in the 415!

Episode Summary: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with vocalist and composer Michael Mayo to discuss his whirlwind year. Fresh off two Grammy nominations—Best Jazz Vocal Album for Fly and Best Jazz Performance for "Four"—Michael opens up about the surreal moment he got the news in Paris. We dive into his viral NPR Tiny Desk Concert, his philosophy on using looper pedals versus acoustic arrangements,and his deep musical lineage. Michael also previews his upcoming year-end show at SFJAZZ, part of the Terence Blanchard-curated "UpSwing" series.

In This Episode:

• The Grammy Moment: Michael shares his reaction to receiving two nominations while soundchecking in Paris.

• NPR Tiny Desk: How he turned the audience into a choir and the importance of community in his performances.

• Song Breakdown - "Four": Reimagining a Miles Davis classic by adding "mischief" and a new rhythmic feel without changing the harmony.

• Song Breakdown - "Just Friends": Finding the universal heartbreak in a Great American Songbook standard.

• Tech vs. Tradition: How Michael balances his signature looper pedal techniques with a traditional jazz quartet setup.

• Musical Roots: Growing up with parents who worked with Earth, Wind & Fire and Diana Ross, and knowing from age three that music was his path.

Featured Music:

• "Four" - Fly (Deluxe Edition)

• "Just Friends" - Fly (Deluxe Edition)

Show Links & Tickets:

• Live at SFJAZZ: Michael Mayo & Sasha Berliner (UpSwing Double Bill)

  • Date: Saturday, December 27, 2025

  • Venue: Miner Auditorium, San Francisco

  • Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/upswing-sasha-berliner-michael-mayo/

Connect with Michael Mayo:

• Website: michaelmayomusic.com

• Instagram: @themichaelmayo

• Facebook: Michael Mayo Music

• YouTube: Michael Mayo

Episode Description: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steven Roby sits down with vocalist and songwriter Sachal Vasandani. Known for a voice that critics call "transfixing," Sachal has collaborated with everyone from Wynton Marsalis to Bobby McFerrin.

Sachal discusses his latest project, Best Life Now, and the surprising journey of taking that album—originally produced with deep grooves by drummer Nate Smith—and stripping it back to its raw, acoustic essentials. We dive into his philosophy on jazz improvisation, his "brush your teeth" approach to vocal discipline, and how he navigates the confusing headspace of post-pandemic life through song.

In This Episode, We Cover:

·       The Ella Effect: How listening to Ella Fitzgerald taught him to find new "nooks and crannies" in songs he has sung thousands of times.

·       The Acoustic Pivot: Why a logistical travel snag turned into a creative breakthrough for his Acoustic Sessions EP.

·       Lyrical Tension: The story behind the title track "Best Life Now" and why living your "best life" isn't always as simple as it sounds.

·       Teaching Jazz: Sachal’s unique philosophy on balancing technical discipline with the freedom to break the rules.

·       Live at Joe Henderson Lab: Previewing his intimate reunion with Bay Area natives Dayna Stephens and Charles Altura.

Featured Music:

·       "Best Life Now" (Acoustic Version)

·       "Too Easy"

Links & Resources:

·       Tickets: Sachal Vasandani at SFJAZZ (Dec 12)

·       Album: Best Life Now & Acoustic Sessions EP (Available on all streaming platforms)

Connect with Backstage Bay Area:

·       Website: Backstagebayarea.com

·       Host: Steven Roby

Episode Description: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steven Roby sits down with Frank London, trumpeter and founding member of the Grammy Award-winning band The Klezmatics.

For four decades, The Klezmatics have been the world’s leading voice in blending traditional Yiddish roots with the energy of punk, jazz, and gospel. Frank shares stories from the band’s origins in New York’s gritty East Village scene of the 1980s and discusses their landmark collaboration with the Woody Guthrie estate—a project that unearthed lost Hanukkah lyrics by the American folk icon.

We also get an exclusive preview of their upcoming album, We Were Made for These Times, and discuss why bringing "happy, joyous" energy to the stage is a necessary form of activism today.

In This Episode, We Cover:

·       The East Village Spark: How the 1980s avant-garde and punk scenes helped launch a global klezmer revival.

·       Woody Guthrie’s Lost Lyrics: The incredible story of how Nora Guthrie discovered her father's Jewish-themed writings and tapped The Klezmatics to bring them to life.

·       40 Years of Music: How the band has kept its core lineup together and evolved its sound over four decades.

·       New Music Preview: Frank discusses the socially conscious themes behind their upcoming 2026 album, We Were Made for These Times.

·       Live at SFJAZZ: Why the band goes "full throttle" on improvisation when they play the Miner Auditorium.

Featured Music:

·       "Spin Dreydl Spin"

·       "(Do The) Latke Flip-Flip"

Links & Resources:

·       Tickets: The Klezmatics at SFJAZZ (Dec 15)

·       Website: The Klezmatics Official Site

·       Album: Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah (Vinyl Reissue out now)

Connect with Backstage Bay Area:

·       Website: Backstagebayarea.com

·       Instagram: @BackstageBayArea

·       Host: Steven Roby

Episode Summary: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steven Roby sits down with Grammy-nominated clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen. Known for her expressive virtuosity and infectious charisma, Anat is bringing a massive milestone celebration to San Francisco.

We discuss her upcoming "50th Birthday Celebration" at SFJAZZ (December 11-12), a career-spanning residency featuring her intimate "Quartetinho" ensemble and her expansive 10-piece "Tentet." Anat opens up about growing up in a musical household in Tel Aviv, her "student for life" philosophy while pursuing a master’s degree in Rio de Janeiro, and the creative visualization behind her latest album, Bloom.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The Cohen Family House: Growing up in Tel Aviv with brothers Yuval and Avishai and fighting for sonic space.
• Defining "Quartetinho": How her "little quartet" creates a massive sound through multi-instrumentalism (accordion, vibes, guitar, and electronics).
• Visualizing the Music: The fascinating story of how a solo clarinet practice session evolved into the track "The Night Owl."
• The Eternal Student: Why Anat returned to university to study Brazilian music in the middle of a successful touring career.
• Big Band Energy: Recording Interaction Live with the WDR Big Band and her brothers.
• Show Preview: What audiences can expect at the SFJAZZ Birthday Celebration, from intimate duos to "wild party moments".

Featured Music:

• "The Night Owl" – From the album Bloom (2024, Anzic Records).
• "Footsteps and Smiles" – From the album Interaction Live (2025, Anzic Records).

Links & Resources:

• TICKETS: Anat Cohen 50th Birthday Celebration at SFJAZZ (Dec 11-12, Miner Auditorium).
• Official Website: AnatCohen.com
• Record Label: Anzic Records
• Latest Album: Bloom

Connect with Backstage Bay Area:

• Website: BackstageBayArea.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backstagesfbay/
• Host: Steven Roby

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review!

Episode Summary: This week on Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby welcomes two-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Mads Tolling. Known for his work with the Turtle Island Quartet, Stanley Clarke, and Bob Weir, Mads is shifting gears this season to share a piece of his Danish childhood in San Francisco.

Mads takes us inside his project, Cool Yule: A Nordic Holiday Celebration, a "love letter" to his upbringing in Copenhagen. We explore the concept of "hygge," compare the structured traditions of a Danish Christmas with the chaotic energy of American holidays, and delve into the fascinating—and sometimes frightening—folklore of the North. From a rice pudding-eating gnome to a child-eating "Christmas Cat," Mads explains the stories behind the music. Plus, hear how he transforms an 1830s violin into a growling baritone instrument he calls "Uncle Scratchy."

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Life Lately: Meds’ recent touring with Melvin Seals & JGB and his deep dive into the Grateful Dead repertoire.
• Nordic vs. American Christmas: Why the "Christmas spirit" feels different in Denmark, the importance of hygge (coziness), and why the 24th is the real main event in Scandinavia.
• Folklore & Music:
• The Gnome’s Attic: The story of the Nisse who demands his rice pudding (and fights off rats to get it).
• The Christmas Cat: An Icelandic legend about a giant fashion-policing cat that eats children who don't receive new clothes for Christmas.
• "Uncle Scratchy": Mads explains his unique baritone violin, tuned an octave lower to create a cello-like, medieval growl perfect for monster stories.
• The Frozen Connection: How a modern Disney hit connects back to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen.

Featured Music:

• "The Gnome's Attic" (from Cool Yule) 
• "The Christmas Cat" (from Cool Yule) 

Upcoming Live Show: Catch Mads Tolling & The Mads Men live for a special holiday engagement!

• Event: Cool Yule: A Nordic Holiday Celebration 
• Dates: Saturday, Dec 13 & Sunday, Dec 14, 2025 
• Venue: Joe Henderson Lab, SFJAZZ (San Francisco) 
• Showtimes: 7:00 PM & 8:30 PM 
• The Band: Mads Tolling (violin), Colin Hogan (piano/accordion), Gary Brown (bass), Eric Garland (drums).

Resources & Links:

• Get Tickets: SFJAZZ Ticket Link
• Mads Tolling Official Site: madstolling.com
• Host: Steve Roby, Backstage Bay Area

Episode Summary:

Vibraphonist, composer, and educator Stefon Harris joins Backstage Bay Area before his November 29 double bill with trumpeter Theo Croker at SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium. Harris discusses the spiritual roots of his sound, the ideas behind his new album Sonic Creed Volume Two: Life Signs, and why he believes harmony can be felt as vividly as rhythm. He also shares how his Harmony Cloud app is transforming the way musicians hear and respond to chords in real time.

About Stefon Harris:

Stefon Harris is a four-time Grammy-nominated jazz vibraphonist, bandleader, and educator. As a longtime leader of the band Blackout and a former member of the SFJAZZ Collective, he has recorded for Blue Note and Concord, collaborated with artists ranging from Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter to Dianne Reeves and Common, and teaches at Rutgers University–Newark. Harris is also the co-founder of the Melodic Progression Institute and the creator of the Harmony Cloud ear-training app.

In This Episode:

- Stefon’s early experiences with music in the Black church and classical training
- The concept and story behind Sonic Creed Volume Two: Life Signs
- How the title track “Life Signs” grew out of creative limits and four-note cells
- Writing “I Know, Love” as a musical memorial and exploring the emotional weight of chords
- Why Harmony Cloud was designed as a “metronome for harmony” and how musicians are using it
- Reflections on his years with the SFJAZZ Collective and the lessons learned there
- What Bay Area jazz fans can expect from the UpSwing double bill with Theo Croker

Music Featured in This Episode:

- Stefon Harris & Blackout – “Life Signs”
- Stefon Harris & Blackout – “I Know, Love”

Show & Ticket Information:

Stefon Harris & Blackout / Theo Croker – UpSwing at SFJAZZ
Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025
Venue: Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center (San Francisco)
Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/upswing-stefon-harris-theo-croker/

Links & Resources:

Stefon Harris official site: https://www.stefonharris.com
Download and explore Harmony Cloud (iOS app): https://www.stefonharris.com/harmony-cloud
SFJAZZ: https://www.sfjazz.org

Support & Follow Backstage Bay Area:

Website, show archive, and concert reviews: https://www.backstagebayarea.com
Follow and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and share this episode with a fellow jazz fan.

In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby interviews Ben Folds, the pianist, songwriter, and arts advocate who has spent three decades balancing sharp, story-driven pop songs with orchestral ambition. Fresh off the release of Ben Folds Live with the National Symphony Orchestra and deep into his work on the new holiday album Sleigher, Folds discusses what it means to keep art alive in a noisy, distracted culture.

The conversation shifts from his years at the Kennedy Center to the details of writing for orchestra, from the small dramas within songs like “Christine From The Seventh Grade” and “But Wait, There’s More” to the quirky, reflective world of his upcoming Christmas shows at SFJAZZ. Along the way, Folds explores his long-standing Keys For Kids initiative and explains why access to instruments and music education still feels crucial to him.

• How Ben Folds thinks about moving between rock clubs, concert halls, and orchestras without changing the core of his songwriting.

• The story behind “Christine From The Seventh Grade” and why some songs invite a full orchestral treatment while others do not.

• Why “But Wait, There’s More” became a centerpiece about information overload, conspiracy thinking, and the carnival atmosphere of modern media.

• What Folds learned during his tenure as Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra and how that shaped his view of orchestration as storytelling.

• How his Keys For Kids program puts instruments and lessons into the hands of young players, and why he sees creativity as a basic civic skill, not a luxury.

• The ideas and scenes that shaped the Christmas album Sleigher, from collapsing inflatable Santas to the sense of Christmas as a personal time machine.

• What to expect from his informal, story-rich holiday shows at SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium with Lindsey Kraft, Ross Garren, and his touring band.

• Ben Folds Live with the National Symphony Orchestra – new live album documenting two sold-out nights at the Kennedy Center.

• “Christine From The Seventh Grade” – expanded from a studio track into a full orchestral narrative.

• “But Wait, There’s More” – from chamber piece to orchestral meditation on information overload.

• Sleigher – Folds’s offbeat, reflective Christmas album that anchors the SFJAZZ holiday shows.

• Keys For Kids – his long-running initiative supporting access to instruments and music education.

Ben Folds brings his holiday program to SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium on Monday, December 8, and Tuesday, December 9, 2025.

Both shows begin at 7:30 p.m. at Miner Auditorium in San Francisco.

Tickets and full event details: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/ben-folds/

Ben Folds – official website: https://www.benfolds.com

SFJAZZ event page: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/ben-folds/

Backstage Bay Area – more episodes and concert coverage: https://www.backstagebayarea.com

Show Description: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby interviews pianist and composer Edward Simon to discuss the trio Three Visitors, a deeply collaborative project with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade. This trio consists of three composers writing for one another, built on a long history, shared language, and deliberate listening. We talk about how the group developed from their New York connections in the 1990s, how the new album on GroundUP Music was created with guests like Chris Potter and Becca Stevens, and what Bay Area audiences can expect when Three Visitors performs at the Joe Henderson Lab at SFJAZZ.

What we cover in this episode:

·      Edward’s musical roots in Venezuela and his path through New York’s jazz scene

·      How he, Scott Colley, and Brian Blade discovered their “we-already-know-each-other” chemistry

·      Why Three Visitors is a fully collaborative project, not “Edward Simon’s trio”

·      Writing music that invites conversation, space, and high-level improvisation

·      Deep dive on the album track “You Are” — a meditation on human potential, with strings and Chris Potter

·      How vocalist Becca Stevens reshaped “I Wanna Be With You” and why the trio welcomes guests

·      What changes (and what doesn’t) when they bring this music into an intimate room like the Joe Henderson Lab

·      How the group keeps sets fluid so each show feels like a new “visit”

About the album — Three Visitors

Show Description: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby interviews pianist and composer Edward Simon to discuss the trio Three Visitors, a deeply collaborative project with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade. This trio consists of three composers writing for one another, built on a long history, shared language, and deliberate listening. We talk about how the group developed from their New York connections in the 1990s, how the new album on GroundUP Music was created with guests like Chris Potter and Becca Stevens, and what Bay Area audiences can expect when Three Visitors performs at the Joe Henderson Lab at SFJAZZ.

Upcoming show

Three Visitors: Edward Simon, Scott Colley & Brian Blade

Where: Joe Henderson Lab, SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco

When: Friday, November 21, 2025 — 7:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, November 22, 2025 — 7:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/edward-simon-three-visitors/

Listen / Buy the album:

GroundUP Music store: https://store.groundupmusic.net/products/three-visitors-cd

Bandcamp: https://threevisitors.bandcamp.com/album/three-visitors