Black Cat's Upcoming Shows

Tickets: $20 , $30, $40 , $50 , $60

(price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee)

7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00

9:30 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:45

Propulsive piano-trio jazz with Afro-Latin drive, heavyweight rhythm, and world-class improvisational fire.

Two-time Grammy-nominated pianist Benito Gonzalez brings his trio to Black Cat for a three-night run built on power, movement, and deep musical command. Expect a high-energy set where American jazz tradition meets rhythms from around the world — swinging hard, pushing forward, and driven by one of the strongest rhythm-section concepts in modern jazz.

Gonzalez is known for an explosive sound shaped by the influence of McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Keith Jarrett, while carving out a voice that is unmistakably his own. His credits include major runs with Kenny Garrett and Pharoah Sanders, along with work alongside Jackie McLean, Bobby Hutcherson, Christian McBride, Gary Bartz, Azar Lawrence, and more.

The trio features legendary drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, one of the defining drummers of modern jazz. A Grammy-winning force behind Wynton Marsalis, the Branford Marsalis Quartet, the Mingus Big Band, and countless landmark projects, Watts brings volcanic swing, precision, and unmistakable presence to the bandstand.

Band Lineup:

Benito Gonzalez, piano

Jeff “Tain” Watts, drums

Stefano Battaglia, bass

Tickets: $20 , $30 , $40 , $50

(price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee)

7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00

9:15 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:30

Intimate, groove-forward soul and modern jazz built around vulnerability, connection, and songs that breathe.

Oakland vocalist and songwriter Veotis Latchison joins bassist, composer, and educator Isaac Coyle for a deeply personal night of original music, reimagined favorites, and new work still taking shape.

With a band featuring JC Grady on drums and Michael Potter on piano, the set is designed as an open, collaborative space - part performance, part workshop, and fully rooted in community, honesty, and live connection.

Band Lineup:

Veotis Latchison, voice

Isaac Coyle, bass

JC Grady, drums

Michael Potter, piano

Tickets: $15.50 - $25.50

7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00

Where groove meets spirit—an intimate Wednesday-night collision of jazz, soul, gospel, funk, and R&B.

JaZzLine INSTITUTE Presents The Soul Sessions

The Soul Sessions bring some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians to Black Cat for a weekly night built around deep groove, soulful improvisation, and the energy that happens when world-class players meet in an intimate room.

Led by pianist Joe Warner, with Dante “Taz” Roberson on drums and Michael “Tiny” Lindsey on bass, the series brings together legends, rising stars, and special guests for music that moves freely between jazz, gospel, funk, soul, and R&B. No two nights are quite the same.

This week, Bay Area percussion powerhouse Juan Escovedo joins the Soul Sessions. Escovedo has toured and recorded with Prince, Herbie Hancock, Patti LaBelle, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby McFerrin, Sheila E., Pete Escovedo, and more.

Seats are limited. The vibe is undeniable. Make your reservations now while supplies last. The $10 cash tickets are available at the door based on availability.

Supported by a Culture Forward grant from The Svane Family Foundation

Band Lineup:

Joe Warner — piano

Dante “Taz” Roberson — drums

Michael “Tiny” Lindsey — bass

Juan Escovedo - Percussion

Tickets: $20 , $30 , $40 , $50

(price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee)

7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00

Late-night solo piano with deep swing, rich harmony, and the kind of intimacy that makes every note feel close.

Joe Block opens his Black Cat run with a rare solo piano performance featuring music from his recent album, Solo Piano Vol. 1. The set moves through the American Songbook, Thelonious Monk, and modern jazz improvisation with a deeply personal touch.

Pianist Benny Green called Block’s playing “ultra sophisticated, richly textured and deeply personal,” while All About Jazz praised the imagination and compositional depth of his solo work.

A 2027 American Piano Awards finalist who has worked with Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Gary Bartz, Block brings serious musical command to a night built for close listening.