Smith Dobson Quartet

Multi-instrumentalist Smith Dobson brings his long-running quartet to Bird & Beckett's Sunday Happy Hour series, featuring hard bop pianist Keith Saunders, veteran bassist Eric Markowitz, and bebop master Tony Johnson on drums. This is the same lineup that held court every Tuesday for nearly a decade at the now-defunct Club Deluxe, exploring material from the Great American Songbook alongside bebop classics and originals.

Smith Dobson V carries forward a distinguished jazz lineage — his late father Smith Dobson IV was a highly respected Bay Area pianist who founded the influential Jazz Series at Garden City and recorded with Bobby Hutcherson, Art Pepper, and Eddie Gomez. The younger Dobson is equally versatile on saxophone, vibes, and drums, bringing what legendary drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath called "totally advanced improvisational skills" and "excellent sensitivity, both solo and as an accompanist."

Pianist Keith Saunders studied with Charlie Shoemake and Horace Silver before leading The NY HardBop Quintet and recording multiple albums for the TCB label. Since relocating to the Bay Area in 2010, he's become a fixture in the local scene. Bassist Eric Markowitz established himself as a first-call player after moving from St. Louis in 2003, while drummer Tony Johnson has been a cornerstone of San Francisco jazz since 1959, having recorded with Earl Hines and Peggy Lee.

This Sunday Happy Hour show is part of Bird & Beckett's neighborhood tradition — a no-cover (donations appreciated) series designed to bring the community together before the work week begins. The intimate bookshop setting in Glen Park provides an up-close experience with seasoned musicians exploring the rich tradition of straight-ahead jazz.