San Francisco's jazz scene has a rich and vivid hitory: from the numerous Fillmore acts of the 50's and the 60's to innovative acid jazz movement in the 80s and 90s, the genre entered our century smoothly and never stopped evolving. There's nothing to worry about when the traditions and novelties are patronized by musicians going under a name like Jazz Mafia.
This impressive collective covers a vast number of bands: the Shotgun Wedding, Realistic Orchestra, Brass Mafia to name a few. Members of the Mafia take their mission of keeping jazz alive and vibrant seriously: they perform every week all over the city, so living in San Francisco and missing out this experience should be considered criminal.
However, be prepared for an uncoventional performance: Realistic Orchestra is noted for merging traditional jazz band patterns with experimental electronic elements and hip-hop narratives. These cross-genre notions are backed up by a century old classic ensemble known as the “Big Band” or “Jazz Orchestra” which includes 13 horns and a rhythm section of drums, upright bass and keyboards. This approach is not entirely unheard of. Brooklyn's Digable Plants, for instance, have been enhancing their rap with soothing jazzy brass tunes and rhythms for a while. However, Jazz Mafia take their hip-hop experiments to a whole new level erasing all genre borderlines and creating an unrivaled musical experience.
Realistic Orchestra's godfather is Adam Theis who also co-leads The Shotgun Wedding Quintet and Hip-Hop Symphony, Brass Mafia and Supertaster. Last year Adam received the prestigious Gerbode-Hewlett Grant for Jazz composition. With the comission Adam is arranging a 50 piece one hour long symphony combining elements form the 10 years of development he has been involved with in the San Francisco music scene. The work will premiere in April of 2009 at the Palace of Fine Arts as part of the SF Jazz Festival Spring Season.
Tribute concerts take up a significant part in Jazz Mafia's busy schedule. May fancies their interpretations of James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis, so an invitation to one of the Jazz Mafia performances is an offer you cannot refuse.
For NOVO magazine.