Nearly given up for dead a few years ago, the North Beach Jazz Festival has not only rebounded, thanks to a nice boost from the city, but is actually expanding this year. The festival, which usually opens on a Wednesday with a nightlong explosion of acts all over the neighborhood, gets out early this year as the trio of drummer Mike Clark, guitarist Paul Jackson and saxman Sherik get things rolling tonight at Mojito's, 1337 Grant Ave., at 9 p.m. The show is expected to sell out. (Check online for tix.)
Wednesday will still be the big night for the 14th edition of the festival, with live music all over North Beach frorm early to late. Roughly 20 different joints, from cafes to bars to restaurants, will be featuring some of the leading names in jazz, including a lot of local players. If jazz isn't your scene, this is the night to barricade the door and break out your Led Zeppelin vinyl.
Thursday will be Latin jazz night and on Friday the festival, or part of it anyway, leaves North Beach for the Great American Music Hall, where Bitter:Sweet, The Frequency and Tal M Klein will jam. Washington Square becomes the venue both Saturday and Sunday.
To buy tickets for specific shows, you can look at a schedule at the link above and then click here to fork it over. For an overview of the festival and what it means to the neighborhood and the city and the jazz scene in general, check out Derk Richardson's most recent post.