Serving the San Francisco Bay Area New Music Community

Wed, May 13 2026 12:30 PM

The Jazzschool
2087 Addison Street Berkeley
Click for Venue page

Join us for casual daytime talks and listening sessions presented by leading lights of the Bay Area jazz community. Bring your own lunch or order ahead from the JazzCaffè. Wednesdays at lunchtime! Free, drop-ins welcome.

Clarinetist Ben Goldberg’s musical hero was Steve Lacy and even received a one-on-one lesson, focusing on the fundamentals of intervals, harmony, and melody. In 2004, after learning that Steve Lacy was ill, Goldberg began working on compositions dedicated to him. Inspired by the nature of Lacy’s influence and how Goldberg might separate his voice from the powerful effect of Lacy. Goldberg convened a quintet (Carla Kihlstedt, violin; Rob Sudduth, saxophone; Devin Hoff, bass; Ches Smith, drums) to perform the pieces. The compositions were recorded shortly after Steve’s death and released in February 2006 on the CD the door, the hat, the chair, the fact (Cryptogrammophone). Commenting on the CD on NPR’s Fresh Air, Kevin Whitehead said “all his music has one quality in common. Call it ‘soul’.”

To order lunch from the JazzCaffè, call 510-654-0148 to place your order before 10:30 am the day of the program.

For the menu visit actcatering.com/jazzcaffe

Cost: FREE
Audio samples in which musicians at this event play: