I am so glad to write this review for WGB. They played the reception of our recent wedding and I…read morecannot stop thinking about how great the night was. We've had so many of our guests tell us what a great time they had out on the dance floor listening to WGB. They had people of all ages out there whole time! They played a great mix of songs and even learned a new one for our first dance. You could tell that everyone in the band really loves their craft and were happy to be there. They had excellent energy and did a great job emceeing. Anna and the band were responsive and super easy to work with leading up to the event. We booked this band even before we secured the venue - now that says something!

I hired WGB to play in my backyard for my father and his twin's 70th birthday party. Not to be…read moreimmodest but it was the greatest party I've ever thrown. The band was friendly, personable and played their heart out! They were so talented I couldn't believe we had them all to ourselves. Excellent Motown music perfect for a family party with young kids all the way through great-grandparents. Everyone who came to the party wants to hire them now! Excellent, professional, accommodating. A perfect choice!

Pure Ecstasy played at my wedding, at the St. Francis in San Francisco, 26 years ago…read more Friends still mention what a wonderful event it was and especially "that Fabulous band!" They even danced with my 93 year old Aunt Margaret. Much sincere thanks again!

I cannot thank Preston and Pure Ecstasy enough for making our wedding day truly special. Their…read moreperformance was nothing short of extraordinary, and they made our wedding day unforgettable. I have been to so many weddings and I've never seen an entire ballroom get on the dance floor to kick off the night! This band KNOWS how to get people on the dance floor and we never wanted the night to end! The best memories were made and even pants ripped from dancing so hard! They exceeded our expectations in every way and created memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. If you're looking for a wedding band that will elevate your special day to the next level, look no further than Pure Ecstasy. They are worth every penny and more! I highly recommend them to anyone in search of the perfect wedding band. Thank you, Preston + Pure Ecstasy, for making our wedding day the best day of our lives! So much love to you all!

First time at Gold Bar Distillery, we took the cocktail class and it was amazing! Johnny was the…read morebest teacher and we had so much fun!

I came to Gold Bar Distillery on Treasure Island for a cocktail-making class and left with…read moresignificantly more confidence in my bartending abilities than my wife probably wanted me to have. The class was genuinely awesome. Great drinks, great atmosphere, and an instructor who somehow managed to make cocktail-making feel both impressive and completely doable. He was knowledgeable, entertaining, and had the patience of a saint, especially considering some of the questions coming from our group. The cocktails were fantastic, the experience was genuinely fun, and I learned enough to now be dangerous behind my own home bar. My only complaint is that the instructor, Nick, was a little too charming and charismatic. I'm not entirely sure I feel comfortable bringing my wife around him again. 10/10 experience. Would absolutely recommend. Just maybe keep an eye on your spouse.

A friend introduced me to Dewayne Oakley during the COVID-19 lockdown, and I will be forever…read moregrateful. He does occasional Sunday concerts online, all of them soulful and moving. I usually prefer jazz without vocals, but Oakley's singing is so delightful. We are lucky to have such a talented jazz vocalist and bass player in our Northern California community. Highly recommended (and loved).

I stumbled upon them in Golden Gate Park and they crept into my soul. They were so good and so…read morehumble playing that you couldn't not listen.

Over the course of the last 6 years of living in San Francisco, I've seen many performances at this…read morevenue. For the last 41 years, Old First Concerts has presented music featuring musicians from all over the world. Most of them are from the Bay area. Last night I was there to hear 2 musicians. Michael Gould performed the first half of the concert. He played solo shakuhachi and also performed a few duets with another shakuhachi player. My friend said it was like being at the Kabuki Hot Springs without the steam. The second half of the concert featured Mark Deutch playing the Bazantar. You may ask "What is a Bazantar?" It's basically a double bass fitted with additional drone strings to emulate the sound of a sitar. It was hauntingly beautiful. The venue is beautiful, stark church with nice acoustics. There is a balcony. It's a good place if you want to hear talented musicians in an intimate environment for a reasonable price. Most concerts are $17. They have performances every weekend. Check out their schedule: http://www.oldfirstconcerts.org/

With my parents visiting and the SF Symphony dark, I looked on SF Gate to find local classical…read moreconcerts and stumbled upon Old First. I wasn't expecting much because it's in a church and tickets are only about $15, but I was surprisingly impressed - they have very good performers and acoustics. My parents liked it too!

We attended the Summer Jazz Brunch Series at Swan's Market in Oakland this past weekend to grab…read moresome lunch and experience the musical talents and entertainment of Jazz Mafia artists. They explained to the audience how they play mostly originals... jazz, funk, and soul. And they were amazing, adding to the carefree atmosphere at this particular event, doing their thing on the trumpet, trombone, flute, keyboard, drums, and hand percussion instruments. Made for a lovely outing with great weather, good food and drinks (The Cook and Her Farmer), and positive vibes all around.

They're the reason I still live in the Bay Area. Is that reason enough to check them out?…read more Spaceheater is my favorite Jazz Mafia band, they intro'd me to aaaaal the music I've grown to love and, well... become obsessed with. Check 'em out online: * http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spaceheater-Spaceheaters-Blast-Furnace/92287671670 * http://www.jazzmafia.com/spaceheater They just released a brand new album for sale online at Ropeadope Records: http://www.ropeadope.com/music/record/spac/ ROCK.

I was rolling with a Group of Friends , That were going to Brunch and we happened upon this Blues…read moreFestival. It happen to be "The 20th Annual Jazz on Fourth Festival " . 20th Annual Jazz on Forth Festival is presented by the Fourth Street Merchants and KCSM/Jazz 91 . 20th Annual Jazz on Fourth Festival took place on Sunday May 17, 2015 from Noon - 5 PM. 20th Annual Jazz on Fourth Festival benefits Berkeley High School Jazz Program a very Worth While Cause. The Performers were : 2 Berkeley High School Jazz Combos Mal Sharpes Big Money In Jazz Band With Special Guest Kellye Gray Terrie Odabi and Edgardo + Candela - A Salsa band . The Jazz on Fourth Festival has raised over $175,000 for Berkeley Highs School Jazz Program since the Festivals Inception. Its a wonderful Festival that doesnt charge an Admission fee . It is Free.

What a great weekend festival in Berkeley! I ran right into this event before going to brunch with…read morea couple of friends and didn't even know it existed! The 20th Annual Jazz on Forth Festival took place on Sunday 5/17/15 from 11AM to 5PM. I was on my way to have breakfast brunch with my dinner crew and seen all the stages and booth set up! It was such a delight. They had two music stages: One near Bette's Diner and the other near the Pasta Shop. Both stages were playing great music and had a lovely band that had me swinging my hips back and forth. They had tons of food booths even Bette's Diner selling many different varieties of foods such as: Corn on the cob, Pizza, BBQ and hotdogs. They even had a free photo booth from Photolabatory.com which is a photo print lab! Although I didn't get a chance to take a free photo I will definitely look for that booth next year! I will definitely be back to this again next year! It was tons of fun and so many venders! WAY TO GO JAZZ ON FOURTH!

D-e-a-a-o, Daylight come and me want go home...at 80, Belafonte is tireless in his humanitarian…read moreefforts as an activist and was the recipient of the first Berkeley Jazz Icon award. And yes, the man graced us with a verse of the song he will eternally be equated with. This tribute was a real treat in the midst of a concert that brought out many artists that we have scarcely seen since the seventies. It was as if time stood still as Randy Crawford belted out 'Street Life', accompanied by Joe Sample. A wave of nostalgia washed over me as Roy Ayers, Jean Carne, Lonnie Liston Smith, Wayne Hendersen and one of my favorite singers, Jon Lucien performed, and still has an amazing rich and deep voice. It seems like yesterday, when we would bring the rice balls, chicken, potato salad, and fruit salad, feasting while we drank in the rich sounds of Grover, Donald Byrd, Pieces of a Dream, Miles, Stanley Clarke, and countless other jazz greats over a 3 day lineup sitting high up on the hill overlooking the tower, the San Francisco bay in the background and feelin' the 420 buzz...yes, those were the days...excuse me while I get out my vinyl and reminisce. update: we lost another great artist...Jon Lucien passed just a few days after this concert...bless you for your gift to us all...RIP