SFJAZZ today announced the all-star roster of musicians set to join Cindy Blackman Santana on stage for her upcoming engagement, taking place Saturday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, September 14 at 7 p.m. in Miner Auditorium at the SFJAZZ Center. Single tickets are on sale now at sfjazz.org.
A singular artist possessed of unmatched passion, fire, and percussive mastery, Cindy Blackman Santana graces the Miner Auditorium stage for this long-awaited return appearance with her newest project. For these concerts, Blackman Santana will share the stage with Ravi Coltrane on saxophone, three-time GRAMMY Award nominee Patrice Rushen on keyboards, Aurélien Budynek on guitar, and Benny Rietveld on electric bass. Legendary 10-time GRAMMY Award winner Carlos Santana to appear as special guest guitarist.
Made famous by her 17 years providing the bone-deep grooves behind singer and guitarist Lenny Kravitz, Blackman Santana has distinguished herself as a highly versatile player and composer who is as comfortable leading post-bop sessions with Joe Henderson and Wallace Roney as she is touring with pop stars like Kravitz and husband Carlos Santana, whose legendary band she currently anchors.
Making a life-defining connection with the drums at age 7, Blackman Santana discovered jazz at 13, taking inspiration from the hyper-speed polyrhythms of bop master Max Roach. A visceral experience with the power and grace of Tony Williams at a music store clinic exploded Blackman Santana’s notions of the role of drums in jazz, and inspired exploration of the limitless possibilities of the instrument when played by a force of nature like Williams.
Making her debut in 1987 with the all-star session Arcane for Muse Records, the drummer has led eleven albums and performed in the collective Spectrum Road — a project dedicated to Tony Williams’ epochal Lifetime band of the 1970s that featured Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid, keyboard master John Medeski, and the late, iconic Cream bassist Jack Bruce.
About SFJAZZ
SFJAZZ is a nonprofit organization that presents the finest jazz artists from around the world through concerts, educational programs, and community outreach. Its mission is to promote jazz as a living art form and to inspire and engage audiences through dynamic programming and performances. For more information, visit sfjazz.org.
