San Francisco is known for many things, but until last week jazz was not one of them. This is not to say that the local scene is not filled with talented and passionate musicians, pushing boundaries and creating music worth checking out. What I mean is that San Francisco has not received the respect and has not fostered an environment where young musicians want to stay and build a career. On January 23, 2013 the SFJAZZ Center opened its doors with and all-star concert and has firmly planted San Francisco at the heart of 21st century jazz. Built from the ground up as the only performance space in the world specifically designed to showcase jazz music, the SFJAZZ Center is an incredible venue and I was fortunate enough to attend and photograph the inaugural performance.
With Bill Cosby acting as master of ceremonies and veritable who’s who of jazz taking the stage in various configurations throughout the night this concert will reverberate through the industry for many years to come. I do hope these photos will help to highlight the evening in all its glory.
Scott Chernis 