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The Tony Johnson Quartet: Reminiscing in a Deluxe Tempo!

bebophard bopswinglatin jazzballadsmainstream jazz

A Love Letter to San Francisco's Vanished Jazz Soul

Trumpeter Mike Olmos steps into the spotlight with the Tony Johnson Quartet for "Reminiscing in a Deluxe Tempo!" — a tribute to the countless nights of bebop and ballads, burners and bossas that once echoed through the legendary Club Deluxe. This special evening honors the memory of Jay Johnson's beloved Haight Street jazz haven, evoking the cocktail-fueled atmosphere where San Francisco jazz legends once held court.

At the helm is veteran drummer Tony Johnson, "Tony the Tiger," a cornerstone of the San Francisco scene since 1959. The Australian-born master of swing and bebop has shared stages with Earl "Fatha" Hines, Peggy Lee, and saxophonist Pony Poindexter, recording with Riverside Records and touring nationally with jazz royalty. His six-decade career spans the golden era of SF jazz clubs — from North Beach's Coffee Gallery to the much-missed Club Deluxe.

Olmos, a Bay Area trumpeter and flugelhornist with over 30 years of experience, brings his versatility across jazz, Latin, R&B, and soul styles. He gained early recognition touring with vocalist Rosemary Clooney and has deep musical roots spanning multiple genres.

Pianist Keith Saunders studied with legends Charlie Shoemake and Horace Silver before establishing himself in New York, where he led The NY HardBop Quintet and recorded multiple albums. Since relocating to the Bay Area in 2010, he's become a fixture in the local scene.

Bassist Eric Markowitz completes the quartet, bringing ten years of experience from the St. Louis jazz scene before becoming a first-call player in the Bay Area since 2003. He's performed with visiting jazz masters including Jimmy Heath, Harold Mabern, and Grant Stewart.

Expect an evening flowing from tender ballads to hard-swinging bebop, channeling the spirit of those vanished nights when jazz was king in San Francisco. The intimate bookshop setting captures the essence of the Club Deluxe's legendary atmosphere — where serious jazz met serious fun.