Live Jazz (& Blues) Meetup Group

This event at a favorite Meetup venue features Grammy-winning violinist Mads Tolling, Grammy-nominated accordionist-pianist Sam Reider, and acclaimed bassist Sam Bevan in a performance of classic and original pieces that draw on rhythms ranging from Argentine tango to Django Reinhardt’s jazz manouche (aka "gypsy" jazz) and beyond.

EVENT COST: The show costs about $42 (with Eventbrite service fee) for concert tickets when bought online.

I am posting this event earlier than usual, because it is assigned seating, and because I think it will sell out. Some central tables have already filled up.

SEATING: This show is ASSIGNED seating, mainly at four-person tables. NOTE that I will be sitting at Table Twelve Seat B. If possible, please buy your tickets for seats at the same table or adjoining tables.

TICKET LINK and MORE SHOW INFO:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mads-tolling-sam-reider-django-to-tango-tickets-1985736138244?aff=oddtdtcreator

Click on the Buy on Map button on the above Eventbrite page to select your table and seat number. Note that this event is on a FRIDAY night.

WHEN/WHERE TO MEET: I recommend arriving at the Sound Room by about 7:00 p.m. so you have more time to socialize with your fellow Meetup members, and possibly order any food or drinks you want for yourself. (The show starts shortly after 7:30 p.m. and will go to at least 10:00 p.m. There are typically two sets with one intermission at this venue.)

HOW TO FIND ME: I'll email my cellphone number and final details to RSVPers prior to the event date. Also, you can see my photo with my Meetup profile. (I'm WF, about 5 feet tall, now with glasses and short, salt-&-pepper hair.)

LOCATION/TRANSIT: The Sound Room is at 3022 Broadway (directly across from Sprouts). At least one AC Transit bus line goes to the Sound Room from Oakland BART stations, and possibly ones in El Cerrito and Richmond. (The closest Oakland BART stations are at 19th Street and in Rockridge.)

PARKING: Free parking is available on Broadway and on side streets. There are also supervised parking lots at Summit Medical Center and Kaiser Medical Center – both of which are 2 blocks away – that are available for a fee.

FOOD OPTION: The Sound Room has a limited but good menu of small plates (entrees, appetizers, and desserts) and drinks that you can enjoy before or during the show. The venue emails RSVPers the current menu on the day of the show. (There is no minimum requirement for ordering food or drink, but these purchases help cover this nonprofit's operating costs.)

MORE INFO:
https://madstolling.com/
https://www.samreidermusic.com/

The acclaimed Jazz School in downtown Berkeley showcases a series of student bands in a weeklong series of FREE indoor performances. Over the years, Meetup members have gone to a variety of these performances and been impressed with both the adult and youth performers.

For this series, I'm eyeing a couple of performances being held on May 31 (Sunday evening). First up, at 6:30 p.m., are students from the excellent percussionist Josh Jones' Latin big band class. Following their hourlong set and a half-hour break, the evening concludes with a funk ensemble, doing a 40-minute set.

COST: The music itself is FREE - but I welcome $1.00 donations from Meetup RSVPers if they haven't contributed recently to offsetting the hefty fees that Meetup charges me as lead organizer.

TICKETS: NO tickets needed for this event. Seating is general admission, first-come, first-served.

MORE INFO:
https://concerts.jazzschool.org/jazzschool-student-performance-series/

WHEN/WHERE TO MEET: Unless joining me for dinner beforehand, meet inside the performance area of the jazz school's DOWNSTAIRS location at 2087 Addison by 6:15 p.m., so we can aim to get decent seats together.

OPTIONAL DINNER BEFORE THE SHOW: At 5:00 p.m. at Tender Greens on University near Shattuck.

HOW TO FIND ME: I'm WF, about 5 feet tall, with short salt-and-pepper hair and glasses. (See my photo with my Meetup profile.) I'll send my cellphone number to RSVPers prior to the event. If I'm missing anyone when I get seated, I'll post a Comment on the Meetup Event Page with my location.

TRANSPORTATION/PARKING: The venue is less than a half-block from the downtown Berkeley BART station, as well as several AC Transit bus lines on Shattuck and University. There's a paid garage in the same block as the jazz school, or you can typically find free street parking as you get away from Shattuck or go north of University.

San Francisco-based quartet Grupo Falso Baiano is known for performing traditional Brazilian music with a twist, blending choro with elements of jazz, samba, and even bluegrass. For this performance, they will be joined by internationally renowned clarinetist Anat Cohen, as well as guitarist Carlos Oliveira.

I expect this concert to sell out in advance.

EVENT COST: $32.50 in advance online (iincluding small service fee)

Also, if you haven't done so recently, consider donating $1.00 to defray the hefty fees that Meetup charges me for being head organizer of the Live Jazz (& Blues) Group.

SEATING: Seating is general admission on folding chairs. Buy your own tickets.

NOTE that this is a Sunday evening show. BE SURE TO BUY YOUR TICKET FOR THE 5:00 P.M. SHOW. (The piano store has added a second show after that, due to anticipated demand.)

EVENT DETAILS:
https://piedmontpiano.com/calendar/2026/6/14/grupo-falso-baiano-anat-cohen

TICKET LINK:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/piedmontpiano/2213022

WHEN/WHERE TO MEET: Meet inside the piano store no later than 4:30 p.m. (The show starts at about 5:00 p.m.; Piedmont Piano shows typically consist of one 90-minute set with no intermission.)

HOW TO FIND ME: I'm WF, about 5 feet tall, with glasses, and short salt and pepper hair (see my photo with my Meetup profile). I'll email RSVPers my phone number prior to the event - and if I get seated before other Meetup members, I'll post a comment on the Meetup Event Page saying where I am located.

TRANSIT/PARKING: The piano store is a short walk from the 19th Street and 12th Street Oakland BART stations. (The closest BART exit is the one near 17th and Telegraph, accessible from the 19th Street BART station.) There are at least two paid parking lots in the area, and there is often free street parking unless there are shows at the three large concert halls in the neighborhood.

OPTIONAL DINNER after the show at a Japanese restaurant on Telegraph at 17th Street. Dinner headcount is limited to six people (preference given to Meetup members in good standing), but I gladly welcome additional RSVPers for the concert itself.