Alan Jones presents Fog and Concrete: a Musical Portrait of San Francisco Brutalism

Drummer, composer, and educator Alan Jones presents Fog and Concrete: a Musical Portrait of San Francisco Brutalism — a musical exploration that promises to transform the city's stark architectural monuments into sonic landscapes. Known for his "seat of your pants, scary tunes that twist and turn, go up and down while moving sideways, all seemingly happening at the same time," Jones crafts compositions that mirror the bold, angular geometry of Brutalist structures.

Jones has built a reputation as one of Portland's most creative and powerful jazz drummers, with over 40 recordings and collaborations with jazz legends like Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, and Elvin Jones. His compositional style draws from post-bop, modal jazz, and avant-garde traditions, creating what critics describe as "mountain climbing songs" — complex pieces that capture the emotional intensity of difficult maneuvers and architectural ascents.

Expect an evening where Jones' "daredevil" compositions meet the imposing concrete forms that define San Francisco's urban landscape. His writing tends toward the cinematic — he's composed soundtracks for film, dance, and theater — and audiences often find themselves in "mesmerized awe" of the musical mountains his ensembles produce. The performance should unfold like an architectural tour through sound, with Jones' rhythmic foundation supporting melodic structures as bold and uncompromising as the Brutalist buildings that inspired them.

This concert marks a rare opportunity to experience Jones' conceptual work in the intimate setting of Black Cat, where his detailed compositional vision can unfold with the precision and focus that has made him a sought-after educator through his Alan Jones Academy of Music. For those drawn to music that challenges and rewards attention, this architectural jazz journey promises to reveal new perspectives on both the city's concrete monuments and the art of composition itself.