Black Cat's Upcoming Shows

Tickets: $20 , $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

Deeply swinging, modern jazz from two master improvisers with decades of chemistry and serious fire.

Pianist and keyboardist Marc Seales brings his distinctive blend of post-bop language, rich harmony, and fearless spontaneity to Black Cat alongside legendary tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts. Seales has toured and recorded with Joe Henderson, Art Pepper, Benny Carter, Mark Murphy, and Watts, while his acclaimed trio New Stories earned a Grammy nomination with vocalist Mark Murphy.

Two-time Grammy winner Ernie Watts is one of the most recorded and recognizable tenor saxophonists of his generation, appearing on more than 500 recordings and working with artists including Thelonious Monk, Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan, Kurt Elling, and Herbie Hancock. Together, Seales and Watts move effortlessly between hard-swinging acoustic jazz, soulful lyricism, and vivid electric color.

As All About Jazz wrote of Seales: “...astonishingly vivid electronic colorations balanced within acoustic performances... Perhaps the strongest facet of Marc Seales’ playing is that he’s always ‘in the moment.’”

Band Lineup:

Marc Seales, piano & keyboards

Ernie Watts, tenor saxophone

Bruce Lett, acoustic bass

Moyes Lucas Jr., drums

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

Deeply swinging, modern jazz from two master improvisers with decades of chemistry and serious fire.

Pianist and keyboardist Marc Seales brings his distinctive blend of post-bop language, rich harmony, and fearless spontaneity to Black Cat alongside legendary tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts. Seales has toured and recorded with Joe Henderson, Art Pepper, Benny Carter, Mark Murphy, and Watts, while his acclaimed trio New Stories earned a Grammy nomination with vocalist Mark Murphy.

Two-time Grammy winner Ernie Watts is one of the most recorded and recognizable tenor saxophonists of his generation, appearing on more than 500 recordings and working with artists including Thelonious Monk, Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan, Kurt Elling, and Herbie Hancock. Together, Seales and Watts move effortlessly between hard-swinging acoustic jazz, soulful lyricism, and vivid electric color.

As All About Jazz wrote of Seales: “...astonishingly vivid electronic colorations balanced within acoustic performances... Perhaps the strongest facet of Marc Seales’ playing is that he’s always ‘in the moment.’”

Band Lineup:

Marc Seales, piano & keyboards

Ernie Watts, tenor saxophone

Bruce Lett, acoustic bass

Moyes Lucas Jr., drums

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, Charles McNeal joins the show, bringing a commanding saxophone sound shaped by work with artists including Wynton Marsalis, McCoy Tyner, Roberta Flack, Boz Scaggs, and The Headhunters.

Also joining the show, Angelo Luster brings a rich, soulful saxophone sound rooted in jazz, gospel, and the musical traditions of the Bay Area.

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

Charles McNeal - Saxophone

Angelo Luster - Saxophone

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, voice-led songwriting where jazz, soul, and indie rock meet with warmth, depth, and serious musicality.

Fresh off a two-year run touring with ten-time Grammy winner Norah Jones, singer-songwriter Sami Stevens brings her own band to Black Cat for a deeply personal set of original music, including the premiere of unreleased material. At the piano and Wurlitzer, Stevens moves between jazz, soul, and indie rock with the storytelling instinct of the great American singer-songwriters of the ’60s and ’70s.

Her debut solo album Morning drew praise from Glide Magazine, which called her “one of the most promising songwriters to appear in the past few years.” Stevens has also performed and recorded with Brian Blade, John Scofield, Jason Moran, Dave Douglas, Emily King, and John Zorn, with appearances at Tiny Desk, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Red Rocks, and the Tonight Show.

Expect rich vocals, finely drawn songs, and a band that knows how to let the music breathe.

Band Lineup:

Sami Stevens, voice & piano

Chili Corder, guitar

Giulio Xavier Cetto, bass

Jaycie Grady, drums