Guitarist Mason Razavi celebrates his soon-to-be-released album Even Keel at the SJZ Break Room, alongside Brian Ho on organ, Jason Lewis on drums, and special guest Charles McNeal on saxophone. He will be playing originals written specifically for this configuration—modern straight ahead and hard bop with a sprinkling of standards.

A recipient of the 2021 Leigh Weimers Emerging Artist Award, he has been praised for his “top-tier guitarmanship” (Vintage Guitar Magazine), while his compositions offer “an introspective experience of deeper meaning” (JazzTimes). He’s been recognized in his hometown as a “melodically inventive composer” (Mercury News) and a “terrific and consistent presence in the Bay Area jazz scene” (Metro) who has “carefully crafted his own voice” (SanJose.com).

Widely regarded as a masterful saxophonist, special guest Charles McNeal has performed nationally and internationally with the likes of McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, Roberta Flack, Lyle Lovett, James Carter, Steve Turre, Bruce Forman, Boz Scaggs and countless others.

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Guitarist Mason Razavi celebrates his new album, Even Keel, alongside Brian Ho on organ, Jason Lewis on drums, and special guest Charles McNeal on saxophone. The group will be performing originals written specifically for this configuration—modern straight ahead and hard bop with a sprinkling of standards.

A recipient of the 2021 Leigh Weimers Emerging Artist Award, Mason has been praised for his “top-tier guitarmanship” (Vintage Guitar Magazine), while his compositions offer “an introspective experience of deeper meaning” (JazzTimes). He’s been recognized in his hometown as a “melodically inventive composer” (Mercury News) and a “terrific and consistent presence in the Bay Area jazz scene” (Metro) who has “carefully crafted his own voice” (SanJose.com).

Widely regarded as a masterful saxophonist, special guest Charles McNeal has performed nationally and internationally with the likes of McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, Roberta Flack, Lyle Lovett, James Carter, Steve Turre, Bruce Forman, Boz Scaggs and countless others.

Tickets are $20 general admission. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show.

Doors open one half hour before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door.

The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.

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Personell TBA

Sets at 6pm and 8pm

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Stephanie Austin Letson is celebrating the release of her first solo album, Telling Stories. The album features a sextet with Stephanie Austin Letson on vocals, Fred Randolph on bass, Mason Rasavi on guitar, as well as horns, drums, and percussion.

Influenced by artists from Miles Davis and Bill Evans to Tierney Sutton and Sting, the album marries eclectic influences with complex and soulful jazz arranging.

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“Stephanie Austin Letson is releasing her first solo album, Telling Stories. The album features a sextet with Stephanie Austin Letson on vocals, Fred Randolph on bass, and Mason Rasavi on guitar. Joining them for this concert are Jason Lewis on drums, Sheldon Brown on saxophone and clarinet, and Joel Behrman on trombone.

Influenced by artists from Miles Davis and Bill Evans to Maria Schneider and Sting, the album marries eclectic influences with complex and soulful jazz arranging.”

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Join us for an in person concert with Jazz Guitarist, Composer and Educator Mason Razavi. A mainstay on the SF Bay Area jazz scene, Guitarist Mason Razavi, has been recognized for his solo guitar work with the Leigh Weimers Emerging Artist award. His solo album Six-String Standards was released in February 2023 on the Origin/OA2 label. Razavi is an adjunct professor at West Valley College, and holds degrees from San Jose State University and the Berklee College of Music.

Performing together with Rick Vandivier “...a steady force as a player and a teacher, and he’s never sounded better than on his new album “Under One Roof” [Avatar Production] - Andrew Gilbert, San Jose Mercury News  Visit www.rickvandivier.com

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The Mason Razavi Quartet (with piano) makes a first appearance in a very long time! They’ll be playing a couple selections from Razavi’s “Quartet Plus” albums and standards.

The concert is in Livermore, CA and seating is limited. Please email info@livermorejazzsociety.org for ticket info.

Mason Razavi, guitar

Bennett Roth-Newell, piano

Aaron Germain, bass

Jason Lewis, drums

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Stream on YouTube

Joining the SJZ Collective for their festival performance! Program TBA.

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest Info

Jazz guitarist Mason Razavi has been praised for his ". . . sensitivity, soulfulness, and swing" (All About Jazz), while his compositions offer “an introspective experience of deeper meaning” (Jazz Times).  He’s been recognized in his hometown as a “melodically inventive composer” (San Jose Mercury News) and a “terrific and consistent presence in the Bay Area jazz scene” (Metro Online) who has “carefully crafted his own voice” (SanJose.com).

His trio features the top Bay Area rhythm section of Dan Robbins on bass and Jason Lewis on drums.  They'll be joined by special guest artist Mimi Fox. 

Internationally renowned guitarist/composer/recording artist Mimi Fox has been named a winner in 6 consecutive Downbeat Magazine international critic's polls and has been recognized by writers and colleagues alike as one of the most eloquent guitarists on today's scene. In one of many feature stories, Guitar Player Magazine hailed Mimi as "a prodigious talent who has not only mastered the traditional forms but has managed to reinvigorate them." Mimi has performed/recorded with some of the music world's most commanding players, including fellow guitarists Charlie Byrd, Stanley Jordan, and Charlie Hunter, Grammy-nominated saxophonists Branford Marsalis, David Sanchez, Houston Person, and the late Don Lanphere, vocalists Abbey Lincoln, Diana Krall, Kevin Mahogany, and Janis Siegel (Manhattan Transfer), B3 organ masters Joey DeFrancesco, Barbara Denerlein and Dr. Lonnie Smith, and powerhouse drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. She has also performed with legends Stevie Wonder and John Sebastian and with Patty Larkin's Vanguard Records-produced La Guitara project. Her YouTube videos have received hundreds of thousands of views.

In-Person & Livestreamed on Jul 13 and

On Demand Jul 14 - Aug 14, 2023

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Solo guitar

San Jose Jazz presents “Solo Jazz on Sundays” at Lamella Tavern in Willow Glen.

Brian Ho, organ

Mason Razavi, guitar

Mike Quigg, drums

San Jose guitarist Mason Razavi kicks off the release of his solo guitar album Six-String Standards with a two-set celebration of jazz guitar in the South Bay. 

The first set will feature music from the new album. In the second set, Mason will be joined by several special guest guitarists: the internationally acclaimed Hristo Vitchev, Bay Area stalwart and revered educator Rick Vandivier and award-winning 17-year old guitarist Ryota Sato, who has been studying with Razavi and is a member of the San Jose Jazz High School All Stars. 

Mason Razavi has been praised for his "sensitivity, soulfulness, and swing" (All About Jazz), while his compositions offer “an introspective experience of deeper meaning” (Jazz Times).  He’s been recognized in his hometown as a “melodically inventive composer” (Mercury News) and a “terrific and consistent presence in the Bay Area jazz scene” (Metro) who has “carefully crafted his own voice” (SanJose.com). He was a recipient of the 2021 Leigh Weimers Emerging Artist Award, named after the longtime Silicon Valley arts journalist.

On Six String Standards, Mason was inspired by the great solo guitar tradition epitomized by Joe Pass and Lenny Breau to offer his own look at the Great American Songbook. With several compositions from famed Sinatra collaborator Jimmy Van Heusen alongside familiar favorites from Henry Mancini and Johnny Green, he interprets these songs with his archtop and acoustic guitars, alternating between pick playing and intricate fingerstyle arrangements to deliver a varied set bound to delight lovers of solo guitar.

Through November 2023, $5 from every Six-String Standards CD sold through Bandcamp or in person will be donated to San Jose Jazz’s Progressions program. Progressions provides instruments, music education, and more to low-income youth in Title 1 schools in San Jose. 

masonrazavi.com
hristovitchev.com
rickvandivier.com
Ryota Sato website

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Also livestreaming on San Jose Jazz’s YouTube Channel

A noontime concert with some of the Bay Area’s finest players.

Mason Razavi, guitar

John Worley, trumpet/flugelhorn

Dan Robbins, bass

Jason Lewis, drums

Jazz guitarist Mason Razavi, praised for his "sensitivity, soulfulness and swing" (All About Jazz), is joined by bassist Ryan Trujillo and Issac Schwartz on drums to make up a contemporary guitar trio that is steeped in the tradition. The trio plays standards, blues, and bebop alongside Razavi’s originals.

Tickets are $20 for Cloverdale Arts Alliance members and $25 for non-members. Doors open at 7:00 pm; music begins at 7:30 pm. To receive reserved seating privileges, purchase advance tickets online at www.cloverdaleartsalliance.org. Tickets are also at the door, if available.

THE Jazz Club is a program of the Cloverdale Arts Alliance, a non-profit arts organization bringing cultural arts to northern Sonoma County.

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Details TBA

“Jazz musicians call them "songbook tunes", while the wider public knows them as timeless and oft-recorded classics. Enjoy these seminal jazz standards - carefully arranged but with room for improvisation - while learning about a handful of the composers who shaped American song.”

FREE

Presented by Noon Arts and Lectures

Mason Razavi is a jazz guitarist with a growing profile in the SF Bay Area and beyond. Based in San Jose, CA, Razavi’s groups have performed at SF Jazz, San Jose Jazz, and Bach Dancing and Dynamite as well as many Bay Area jazz clubs and concert series. His albums have often featured ambitious original music that has been warmly received by jazz radio worldwide.

Los Angeles pianist, composer and recording artist Josh Nelson maintains an active and creative schedule. He has performed with some of the most respected names in jazz, including Natalie Cole, Anthony Wilson, George Mraz, Jeff Hamilton, Walter Smith III, Dayna Stephens, Eddie Daniels, Richard Galliano, Michael Buble, Benny Golson, Sheila Jordan, Greg Hutchinson, John Clayton, John Pizzarelli, and Lewis Nash.

They'll be joined by bassist Dan Robbins and drummer Lorca Hart. Each an estimable artist in their own right, they are first-call rhythm section players in the Bay Area and have performed and recorded with countless jazz luminaries. 

Mason Razavi, guitar

Josh Nelson, piano

Dan Robbins, bass

Lorca Hart, drums

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Mason Razavi, guitar

Josh Nelson, piano

Dan Robbins, bass

Lorca Hart, drums

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The Jazz and Beyond Music Series is an 8-week, Saturday night Summer Concert Series. Live Jazz and other alternative music are performed while diners at each table receive a master menu that features a diverse range of approximately 20 downtown restaurant choices. Customers place orders on their phones and the restaurants deliver food to their table. Total attendance per night is around 800 to 1000 visitors!

“No other city does this, or even something like this. It’s a totally unique dining experience. Actually, there are no other cities that could even pull something like this off.” 

Please note that this is a free event with no reservations!

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Mason Razavi, guitar

Brian Ho, organ

Jason Lewis, drums