With Mario Guarneri and Erik Jekabson on trumpets, Akira Tana on drums, John Wiitala on bass, and guest artist Randy Vincent on guitar, this is really an overlap of two quartets: the Guarneri Jazz Quartet plus tbd_a quartet. It’s always a special evening for all when Vincent joins in onstage.

The instrumentation of trumpets, bass, and drums (hence the name tbd) evolves out of the great West Coast jazz tradition begun by Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, and Stan Getz in the 1950s and 60s and explores a new sound through original and standard jazz vehicles, with a fresh and original take.

Offered with no admission charge, these performances are being produced by Mario Guarneri with underwriting from the Music Performance Trust Fund, Local 6 American Federation of Musicians, Berp & Co., and the Magic Flute music store.

In a new development for Jazz in the Neighborhood, musicians playing in this series are being paid union scale along with union benefits for those who are members of Local 6 AFM. Union gigs are pretty rare for jazz musicians these days — for instance, not even SFJazz is a union house. Jazz in the Neighborhood hopes to raise awareness about the benefits of union gigs with this series. For more about the state of unions in SF, see An Open Letter from Mario Guarneri.

Please come out to hear these fabulous union musicians. There’s no cover charge and no tip jar, but donations to help support Jazz in the Neighborhood’s mission will be gratefully accepted.