Music &c.

“People haven’t always been there for me but music always has.” — Taylor Swift

Live Concerts

• Strings for Peace. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan & Sharon Isbin. Herbst Theatre in SF, California, on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

  Crossing barriers of language and culture and uniting people through music, classical guitarist Sharon Isbin and sarod master Amjad Ali Khan find common ground in their respective classical traditions of ragas and European medieval music, interweaving musical, spiritual, and artistic legacies.
  
  

• TAMASHA: An Extravaganza of Desi Fusion. Bing Concert Hall, Stanford, California, on Friday, July 12, 2025.

  Headlining is none other than Bollywood star Raja Kumari—the Grammy-nominated artist, rapper, and songwriter known for her powerful fusion of Indian classical music with hip-hop, R&B, and electronic influences. A trailblazer in global fusion, she’s collaborated with major names like Iggy Azalea, Sidhu Moosewala, Divine, Gwen Stefani, and John Legend.
  
  

• Jaz Sawyer: Tribute to Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers —Honoring Blakey's timeless legacy. Campbell Recital Hall, Stanford, CA on Friday, Jul 11, 2025

  

  Drummer, bandleader, and educator Jaz Sawyer pays homage to one of jazz’s most electrifying forces—Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers—in this powerhouse tribute performance. Infusing Blakey’s iconic hard-bop sound with his own dynamic touch, Sawyer channels the spirit of the legendary drummer, whose relentless swing, thunderous polyrhythms, and fiery energy defined generations of jazz. With a musical foundation spanning classical, jazz, and Afro-Caribbean traditions, Sawyer delivers a heartfelt tribute that captures the essence of Blakey’s masterful legacy.
  
  

• An Evening with Victor Lin: Music of Studio Ghibli —film score classics with a jazz twist. Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford, CA on Thursday, Jul 17, 2025.

  

  Join Stanford Jazz Workshop favorite Victor Lin for a mesmerizing evening as he reimagines the iconic music of Studio Ghibli through the lens of jazz piano and violin. Blending nostalgia with innovation, Lin’s reinterpretations breathe new energy into Hisaishi’s timeless compositions, making for a dynamic, immersive, and deeply heartfelt musical experience. Whether you’re a longtime anime fan or a lover of great music, this performance promises to be an exciting and unforgettable journey through the soundscapes of Studio Ghibli and beyond.
  
  

• Anat Cohen & Marcello Gonçalves—intimate clarinet and guitar mastery. Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford, CA on Saturday, Jul 19, 2025.

  

  Clarinetist Anat Cohen and 7-string guitarist Marcello Gonçalves team up to perform music from their Grammy-nominated album, Outra Coisa: The Music of Moacir Santos, as well as selections from their second album, Reconvexo, featuring a repertoire of breathtaking melodies, Brazilian grooves, and elements of classical music and jazz that showcase their intricate talents.
  
  

• John Santos Sextet with Special Guest Yilian Cañizares—Transcendent jazz and Afro-Cuban fusion. Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford, CA on Sunday, Jul 20, 2025.

  

  Experience an unforgettable evening with the groundbreaking John Santos Sextet, led by multi-GRAMMY nominee and visionary bandleader John Santos. The ensemble dives deep into the roots of Latin jazz, blending vibrant rhythms, sharp improvisation, and bold original compositions. Acclaimed Cuban-born violinist Yilian Cañizares opens the show with her electrifying fusion of jazz, classical, and Afro-Cuban sounds. Together, they create a rich, genre-defying musical journey that bridges tradition and innovation. Expect artistry, virtuosity, and soul in every note.
  
  

• George Cables and Friends—Bold Bebop beauty. Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford, CA on Tuesday, Jul 29, 2025.

  

  Cables’ signature impeccable touch, deep sense of groove, and limitless creativity have made him one of jazz’s most influential pianists, shaping the hard bop and post-bop landscapes. The New York City Jazz Record declares, “He is a piano giant,” while NPR praises his solos for their “deep sense of groove and pacing.” Don't miss this chance to witness Cables’ fire, artistry, and sheer mastery—his performances aren’t just concerts, they’re transformative experiences.
  
  

• Dayna Stephens` Intertwined—Tenor sax innovation. Campbell Recital Hall, Stanford, CA on Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025.

  

  Saxophonist Dayna Stephens is celebrated for his warm, lyrical tone and innovative approach to harmony and rhythm. Stephens brings his extraordinary quartet to the stage for an intimate evening of compelling original compositions and inspired improvisation. A master of rhythmic dialogue, Stephens thrives on interplay, drawing inspiration from his many collaborations with legendary drummers such as Al Foster, Billy Hart, Brian Blade, and Jeff "Tain" Watts. This performance promises a dynamic, heartfelt, and unforgettable night of firebrand virtuosity.
  
  

• Taylor Eigsti Quartet featuring Ben Wendel—Grammy winning brilliance unleashed. Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford, CA on Thursday, Jul 31, 2025.

  

  After winning GRAMMYS in 2022 for Tree Falls and in 2025 for his latest release, Plot Armor, pianist Taylor Eigsti continues to redefine modern jazz with his virtuosity, innovation, and fearless exploration. A master of intricate melodies, infectious yet angular rhythms, and deep grooves, Eigsti seamlessly blends jazz, electronica, hip-hop, rock, and classical influences into a soundscape that is both exhilarating and unpredictable. His music thrills, surprises, and captivates, evoking everything from playful joy to introspective reflection.
  For this special performance Taylor’s innovative quartet is joined by celebrated tenor saxophonist Ben Wendel.
  
  

Recorded Music

At the start of the year, I had the noble idea of tracking every piece of music I listened to—like some kind of sonic librarian. It took approximately five minutes to realize this was a fool’s errand. Case in point: last year alone, I clocked 9,860 songs and over 100,000 minutes on Spotify.

And that’s just Spotify. Throw in CDs, YouTube rabbit holes, car rides, and my Bandcamp jazz benders, and suddenly it looks like I’m trying to inventory Niagara Falls with a teaspoon.

So, after a few weeks of valiant effort (and mild spreadsheet trauma), I threw in the towel. Going forward, I’ll just note the highlights: music that has sounded remarkable to me for one reason or another; songs that made me pause, perk up, or transported me to a strange, weird, fascinating world.

• Pistol Annies (country)
  • Hell on Heels (2011)
  • Annie Up (2013)
• The English Beat: I Just Can’t Stop It (1980, ska/alternative/indie)
• Fake Fruit: Mucho Mistrust (2024, alternative/indie)
• Cornershop: When I Was Born for the Seventh Time (1997, alternative/indie)
• Fatboy Slim: Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars (2000, big beat/electronic)
• Massive Attack: Protection (1994, trip-hop/electronic)
• Girl Talk: Night Ripper (2007, mashup/electronic/hip-hop)
• The Streets (alt hip-hop/grime/electronica)
  • Original Pirate Material (2002)
  • The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living (2006)
• Dessa: A Badly Broken Code (2010, hip-hop)
• Ghostface Killah: Fishscale (2006, rap/hip-hop)
• Jack Harlow: Jackman (2023, rap/hip-hop)
• Ren: Sick Boi (2024, R&B/hip-hop/rap)
• Doechii: Alligator Bites Never Heal (2024, R&B/hip-hop)
• Tierra Whack: World Wide Whack (2024, hip-hop/jazz funk)
• Dudu Pukwana: In the Townships (1974 jazz/South Africa)
• James Carter: Chasin’ the Gypsy (2000, jazz)
• James Brandon Lewis: Apple Core (2025, jazz)
• Jason Palmer: The Cross Over: Live in Brooklyn (2024, jazz)
• Rudresh Mahanthappa & Steve Lehman: Dual Identity (2010, jazz)
• Mozart: Piano Sonatas by Christoph Eschenbach (1999, classical)
• Bach: Goldberg Variations by Murray Perahia (1971, classical)