The first full November weekend makes room for discovery: a trumpet-and-vocals double bill in San Francisco, inventive guitar at Stanford, a free jazz jam in San Jose and a Sonoma gallery reception. Oakland’s Diwali celebration brings music, dance and neighbors together, while classical guitar and Taylor Mac’s theatrical concert offer contrasting evenings. Choose one neighborhood and linger, or pair a free arts gathering with a ticketed performance. Across the five regions, the choices range from communal celebrations to focused listening.
New sounds, close listening
Brandon Woody’s Upendo / Gabrielle Cavassa (●) (Nov. 7) moves from our radar into this weekend’s plans. The 7 p.m. SFJAZZ double bill brings Woody’s trumpet-led quartet and Cavassa’s vocals to Miner Auditorium in Terence Blanchard’s UpSwing series. Woody draws on his Blue Note debut, For the Love of It All; Cavassa returns to the city where she studied and developed her jazz voice. Listed tickets are $45–$105, with seats available at Friday’s check.
Sunday’s Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Isata Kanneh-Mason (Nov. 8, 2:30 p.m.) changes the scale at Bing Concert Hall: Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 sits alongside Handel, Haydn and a commissioned Katie Jenkins work. Regular tickets are listed at $61.56–$167.40 including fees; check current seats when booking.
Neighborhood discoveries
At Stanford, Yasmin Williams (●) (Nov. 7) offers two chances to hear her exploratory acoustic music, at 7 and 9 p.m. in the Studio. Her sound reaches beyond fingerstyle guitar to kalimba, kora and banjo. At Friday’s check, the early show had only a few seats; the later set offered more choice. Listed regular prices run $48.60–$60.48 across the two shows, including fees.
Oakland Diwali (Nov. 7) brings a free, family-friendly celebration to Bloc15, 252 Second Street, near Jack London Square. The organizer’s program includes music and dance performances, South Asian food and activities welcoming all ages and backgrounds. Check the organizer’s RSVP page for current entry details before going.
San Jose’s SJZ Break Room Jazz Jam (Nov. 6) is free and all ages at 310 South First Street. Doors open at 5 p.m.; the SJZ U19s and Michael Webster Quartet play before the 7–9 p.m. open jam. Bring an instrument if you want to join, or settle in as a listener. Farther north, Thanks to Art (Nov. 7) welcomes visitors to the Arts Guild of Sonoma, 140 East Napa Street, for a free 5–7 p.m. reception. Look for Susan Heeringa-Pieper’s mixed-media work and Rebecca Plachte-Zuieback’s reclaimed-fabric collages; the exhibition continues through Nov. 30.
Strings and stages
Raphaël Feuillâtre (●) (Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.) brings classical guitar to San Francisco’s St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. His program moves through Tárrega and Albéniz to Brouwer, Villa-Lobos and Piazzolla, offering a different kind of close listening from the weekend’s jazz stages. The official booking page lists a $25 “any seat” offer alongside $75 full-price tickets; check the offer’s terms and final total when booking.
Friday at 7:30 p.m., Taylor Mac’s Tender Heart Revolution (Nov. 6) takes over the Curran Theatre with a concert that crosses music and theatrical performance. Mac’s songs and stagecraft offer another route into an evening of live performance. Available seats are listed at $48.80–$115.90 including service fees. The show does not admit children under five.
DIG DEEPER
Explore BAR’s event calendar for more plans, and confirm organizer details before heading out. Oakland’s November First Fridays street festival is canceled; that notice does not apply to San Jose’s South First Fridays program.
