Lettuce

The reigning kings of psychedelic funk return to San Francisco as part of their Cook World Tour, bringing a power-packed celebration of groove in support of their new album Cook. This four-night residency at SFJAZZ marks another chapter in Lettuce's three-decade journey from enthusiastic Berklee students hitting up Boston venues with the plea "Let us play!" to a modern funk supergroup selling out major theaters worldwide.

Lettuce trades in a vibrant palette of sounds that spans '70s funk, golden-era hip-hop, jazz fusion, Latin rhythms, D.C. go-go, and psychedelia — all seasoned with fearless improvisation. Their live shows are dance-floor dynamite, with drummer Adam Deitch and bassist Erick "Jesus" Coomes forming a monster rhythm section that powers propulsive grooves. The horn duo of saxophonist Ryan Zoidis and trumpeter Eric "Benny" Bloom delivers dynamic interplay, while guitarist Adam "Shmeeans" Smirnoff and keyboardist Nigel Hall add layers of funk and soulful vocals.

Each member brings serious credentials beyond their collective work. Deitch spent years as John Scofield's rhythm anchor on seminal albums Überjam and Up All Night, while Zoidis divided time between Soulive and Maine's Rustic Overtones. Coomes has toured internationally with Britney Spears and The Game, Smirnoff has worked as a first-call sideman with Lady Gaga and Robert Randolph, and newest member Bloom has become a New Orleans stalwart, recording with Jon Cleary and Aaron Neville.

Their latest album Cook is described as "a true sensory experience featuring 16 tracks of rib-sticking funk," including the standout "Keep On" featuring Tower of Power founder Emilio Castillo. Live, Lettuce takes their instrumental grooves to the next level with extended solos, incredible improvisation, and infectious on-stage chemistry. Recent reviews praise their "fiery" performances and note how they "always leave ticket buyers feeling euphoric with their finger-licking, booty-shaking sets."

The band's San Francisco shows promise the tight, funky precision that has earned them a Grammy nomination and multiple #1 albums on the Billboard Jazz chart. With dance floor seating available, this residency offers the perfect opportunity to get down on the good foot with one of funk's most enduring and electrifying acts.