Is the piano a percussion instrument or stringed? When jazz giant Ahmad Jamal is playing, the only sensible answer is "Yes."
Jamal has been reshaping jazz expectations for more than half a century, emphasizing expression and nuance over intellectual puzzles and keeping listeners on their toes with a style that can be fiercely rhythmic one minute and delicately airy the next. At 81 years old, he's still a grand force of nature, as we'll see Saturday when he performs an 8 p.m. SFJAZZ show at the Herbst Theater. Ticket are sold out, but it is the season of miracles...
Also worthy of note this week:
- Versatile pianist and local whirlwind Terry Dilsey give a jazz twist to "The Nutcracker," 8 p.m. Monday at Yoshi's San Francisco. $20
- Powerhouse pianist Kenny Werner brings his A-list quintet (Randy Brecker, David Sanchez, Scott Colley and Antonio Sanchez) to Yoshi's San Francisco for an 8 p.m. Tuesday show. $18
- Mimi Fox, a brilliant guitarist who can do everything from Django-style swing to flat-out funk, gives a free master class/performance 7 p.m. Tuesday at CSU-Hayward.
- Vocalist extraordinaire Faye Carol does a Christmas show, 8 p.m. Tuesday at Yoshi's Oakland. $18-$22
- Bay Ara jump jazz institution Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers focus on Duke Ellington, 8 and 10 p.m. Thursday at Yoshi's Oakland. $15-$20
- Christian McBride, one of the premiere bassists of recent times and one heck of musical chameleon, teams up with an ecclectic cast that includes Grateful Dead icon Bob Weir, fellow bass ace Rob Wasserman and Primus wildman Jay Lane. The show, a fundraiser for the orphans of Casa de Milagro, starts at 8 p.m. Thursday at 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley. $75-$125
- Erik Jekabson emphasizes the cool, romantic music of Chet Baker over his tragic personal story in an SFJAZZ Hotplate show, 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Amnesia. $5
- East Bay native and string-bender supreme Charlie Hunter begins his annual holiday swing around the old neighborhood with an 8 p.m. Friday show at the Mystic Theater in Petaluma. $21-$23
- One of the most agile and versatile guitarists to emerge from the fusion era, Mike Stern continues to burn the torch for electric jazz. He performs with his quartet, including Dave Weckl on bass, 8 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 and 9 p.m. Sunday at Yoshi's Oakland. $20-$26
- Ecclectic, high-octane vocalist Inga Swearingen teams up with local sax ace Anton Schwartz for shows 8 p.m. Saturday at Avonova in Oakland ($15) and 5 p.m. Sunday at Peace Lutheran Church in Danville (free).
- Piano prince Larry Vukovich celebrates his 75th birthday with a solo/trio show, 8 p.m. Saturday at Piedmont Piano Company in Oakland. $15.
- The Duke Ellington Orchestra reminds us that it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing, 8 p.m. Sunday at Davies Symphony Hall. $15-$68
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