Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band. Shows at 12 and 2pm.
Thursdays 6:30 - 8 pm | 04/02 – 05/21 (8 weeks)
An ongoing weekly class you can join anytime.
Designed for musicians who want to get better at improvising over chord changes and developing jazz improvisation skills in a hands-on, practical way. Ideal for players who enjoy a fast-paced environment, learning by doing, and working through focused improv exercises.
Each session stands on its own, with an emphasis on playing, listening, and real-time application. Open to all levels and instruments.
Come once or come regularly. Gain practical experience and fresh ideas every time.
Save when you plan ahead: Sign up for all 6 sessions in advance and receive a discounted rate.
Thursdays 6:30 - 8 pm | 04/02 – 05/21 (8 weeks)
Explore the soulful, swinging sounds of mid-century jazz. Study and perform music that blends bebop with R&B, gospel, and blues influences, as developed by artists such as Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, Jimmy Smith, and others. This ensemble focuses on the groove-driven, emotionally expressive repertoire of the hard bop era, with an emphasis on phrasing, feel, and interactive group playing.
Designed For
Intermediate to advanced players with substantial ensemble experience
Musicians comfortable improvising over blues and standard song forms
Participants will:
Rehearse classic hard bop repertoire
Strengthen groove and time feel
Refine phrasing, articulation, and solo structure
Deepen ensemble communication and dynamic awareness
Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band. Shows at 3 and 5pm.
Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band.
Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band.
Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band. Shows at 1 and 3pm.
Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band. Shows at 1 and 3pm.
Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band.
Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band. Shows at 1 and 3pm.
Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band. Shows at 1 and 3pm.
Join vibraphonist Mark Clifford and his band, plus special guest trumpeter Ian Carey, for an evening of standards and originals. No cover!
Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band. Shows at 12 and 2:15pm.
Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band.
Trumpeter and vocalist Ian Carey will be joined by a trio of local heavies including pianist Adam Shulman, bassist Ollie Dudek, and drummer Bryan Bowman at Oakland’s Jack London Square for a set of standards, originals, and jazz rarities. Presented by Oaktown Jazz Workshops.
Circus Bella returns for our free 2026 Circus in the Parks series: A-HA! With live original music by the Circus Bella All-Star Band. Shows at 1 & 3pm.
Composer/Arranger/Pianist/Vocalist Tom Reynolds will present his quintet. Get ready for an eclectic excursion. Several new originals and arrangements of pop anthems are in the mix. His writing descends from the jazz tradition, but is inclusive of rock, pop, funk, and samba and MPB genres.
A free performance at Salesforce Park! The Electric Squeezebox Orchestra is the Bay Area’s own 17-piece big band, led by trumpeter Erik Jekabson, playing music composed and arranged by its members. The composers and arrangers, some of the very best in the Bay, draw from a wide variety of influences but always come up with powerful music with groove, beauty and subtlety. The band has colloborated with a number of special guest artists, including John Santos, Kenny Washington, Alan Ferber, Dayna Stephens, Mads Tolling, Sandy Cressman, Kellye Gray, Avotcja, Spok and Ben Goldberg.
Bella! features performers from Circus Bella and the Circus Bella All-Star Band, with a mix of storytelling and classical circus.
About San Francisco Circus Week
This spring, North Beach’s Club Fugazi transforms into a vibrant hub of high-flying artistry and community connection with the inaugural San Francisco Circus Festival -a multi-day celebration honoring San Francisco’s rich legacy as a global epicenter for contemporary circus.
Featuring an exciting lineup of beloved Bay Area circus artists and companies, youth performers, and special community activations, San Francisco Circus Festival places local artists center stage while honoring a legacy of innovation, athleticism, artistry, and risk-taking that is deeply woven into the cultural fabric of San Francisco.
The Electric Squeezebox Orchestra is the Bay Area’s own 17-piece big band, led by trumpeter Erik Jekabson, playing music composed and arranged by its members. The composers and arrangers, some of the very best in the Bay, draw from a wide variety of influences but always come up with powerful music with groove, beauty and subtlety. The band has colloborated with a number of special guest artists, including John Santos, Kenny Washington, Alan Ferber, Dayna Stephens, Mads Tolling, Sandy Cressman, Kellye Gray, Avotcja, Spok and Ben Goldberg.
Thursdays 6:30 - 8 pm | 04/02 – 05/21 (8 weeks)
Designed for musicians new to jazz improvisation, this class focuses on foundational tools for creating clear, musical solos. Students develop melodic ideas, explore rhythmic variation, and learn to navigate common chord progressions. Basic jazz harmony is introduced as a practical framework for understanding chord structures and harmonic movement.
Listening to recordings of great improvisers is an integral part of the course, with guided discussion around phrasing, articulation, time feel, and melodic shape. In class, students engage in ear training, call-and-response exercises, and structured improvisation over simple forms to build confidence and fluency. There is ample playing time each week.
This course provides strong preparation for participation in Jazzschool ensembles.
Suggested Prerequisites: Ability to play major scales in all keys
The Sonoma State Faculty Jazz Ensemble presents this informal workshop performance, featuring compositions by members of the band and Q&A with the audience. Free and open to the public.
West Coast singer and trumpeter Chet Baker had a way of making a song feel like a secret—soft, wistful, and impossibly cool.
Sharing those secrets in this show are vocalist Jill Rogers, known for her work with Orchestra Nostalgico, Crying Time, Bela Ruino, and Ex-Juncos, and vocalist, keyboardist and producer Elihu Knowles, whose effortless, tenor vocals capture Baker’s spirit like few can. Knowles is best known for his work with Bay Area experimental rock group Pateka, and for masterminding and performing at Little Hill Lounge's popular "Jazz on Tuesdays" series along with Rent Romus. Romus is an avant-jazz icon, composer, presenter who brings depth and soul to these arrangements with his rich, expressive saxophone playing. Myles Boisen (Miniwatt Trio, Angela LaFlamme) adds his unmistakable touch, as does trumpeter Ian Carey, who’s played with just about every major Bay Area jazz project. The rhythm section features composer, bandleader, and bassist extraordinaire Safa Shokrai and Pateka drummer Ryan Higley.
From December 12 through January 4, join us in our starlight-drenched custom, heated Big Top Circus Tent right in the heart of San Francisco.
Circus Bella has created an *all-new* show for this winter season. A dazzling array of daring feats and sublime shapes and movement await you!
All the nostalgia and beauty of an old-timey circus combined with the eyebrow-raising savvy & modern look of 2025. And all underscored by the heartbeat of Circus Bella: The Circus Bella All-Star Band!
😮 Stunning tricks and artistry 🫢
😹 Really, really funny clowns 😄
✨ Unbelievable costumes 🎩
Snacks! 🍿 + 🥙 + ☕️ + 🍸 & more
🎶 Toe-tapping live band 🎷
Join San Francisco’s own circus this holiday season. Gather the family, don your most festive attire, bring your holiday spirit, and let the starlit sparkle of the season fill you with wonder.
The show runs 90 minutes with one 15 minute intermission.
Trumpeter and vocalist Ian Carey will be joined by guitarist Jeffrey Burr, drummer Ron Marabuto, and bassist Ollie Dudek at Oakland’s Jack London Square for a set of standards, originals, and jazz rarities. Presented by Oaktown Jazz Workshops.
The Electric Squeezebox Orchestra is the Bay Area’s own 17-piece big band, led by trumpeter Erik Jekabson, playing music composed and arranged by its members. The composers and arrangers, some of the very best in the Bay, draw from a wide variety of influences but always come up with powerful music with groove, beauty and subtlety. The band has colloborated with a number of special guest artists, including John Santos, Kenny Washington, Alan Ferber, Dayna Stephens, Mads Tolling, Sandy Cressman, Kellye Gray, Avotcja, Spok and Ben Goldberg.
Oakland Samba Revue is the San Francisco Bay Area’s premiere banda de gafieira. Featuring a full horn section with tightly crafted original arrangements and 3 vocalists, O.S.R. draws on the sounds of samba de gafieira–an eclectic form of traditional samba from Brazil–while creating their own unique brand with plenty of samba, funk, jazz, forró, bolero and more.
O.S.R. is a product of Grupo Falso Baiano co-founder Brian Moran – “Morangão” (guitar/cavaquinho/vocals and arrangements), backed by a rotating cast of some of the Bay Area’s best jazz and latin jazz musicians including vocalists/percussionists Catia Machado Lund and Katiana Vilá, Zack Pitt-Smith (reeds), Ian Carey (trumpet), Jeff Cressman (trombone), Brendan Neutra (bass), Zack Mondlick (drums).
Come enjoy a lively summer evening in the Redwood Grove!
Join trumpeter & vocalist Ian Carey, pianist Ben Stolorow, and bassist Tomoko Funaki for an evening of standards, original compositions, and jazz rarities.
Experience the hypnotic hijinks and hilarity of HOOPLA! - a captivating blend of circus enchantment and madcap mayhem. Circus Bella offers a modern twist on one-ring circus… overflowing with heart and soul. This exhilarating 60-minute show promises to delight and astonish children of all ages in a cherished family event. Watch in awe as the vibrantly colorful Circus Bella Company, comprising a diverse troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond, performs to the lively tunes of the 6-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. Best of all, these performances are completely FREE, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
Written & Directed by Abigail Munn
Music Composed by Rob Reich
Costumes by Autumn Adamme
Feel free to bring picnic blankets and small folding chairs to all locations. Circus Bella does not provide audience seating at events.
Performances run approximately 60 minutes.
Experience the hypnotic hijinks and hilarity of HOOPLA! - a captivating blend of circus enchantment and madcap mayhem. Circus Bella offers a modern twist on one-ring circus… overflowing with heart and soul. This exhilarating 60-minute show promises to delight and astonish children of all ages in a cherished family event. Watch in awe as the vibrantly colorful Circus Bella Company, comprising a diverse troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond, performs to the lively tunes of the 6-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. Best of all, these performances are completely FREE, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
Written & Directed by Abigail Munn
Music Composed by Rob Reich
Costumes by Autumn Adamme
Feel free to bring picnic blankets and small folding chairs to all locations. Circus Bella does not provide audience seating at events.
Performances run approximately 60 minutes.
Experience the hypnotic hijinks and hilarity of HOOPLA! - a captivating blend of circus enchantment and madcap mayhem. Circus Bella offers a modern twist on one-ring circus… overflowing with heart and soul. This exhilarating 60-minute show promises to delight and astonish children of all ages in a cherished family event. Watch in awe as the vibrantly colorful Circus Bella Company, comprising a diverse troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond, performs to the lively tunes of the 6-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. Best of all, these performances are completely FREE, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
Written & Directed by Abigail Munn
Music Composed by Rob Reich
Costumes by Autumn Adamme
Feel free to bring picnic blankets and small folding chairs to all locations. Circus Bella does not provide audience seating at events.
Performances run approximately 60 minutes.
Experience the hypnotic hijinks and hilarity of HOOPLA! - a captivating blend of circus enchantment and madcap mayhem. Circus Bella offers a modern twist on one-ring circus… overflowing with heart and soul. This exhilarating 60-minute show promises to delight and astonish children of all ages in a cherished family event. Watch in awe as the vibrantly colorful Circus Bella Company, comprising a diverse troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond, performs to the lively tunes of the 6-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. Best of all, these performances are completely FREE, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
Written & Directed by Abigail Munn
Music Composed by Rob Reich
Costumes by Autumn Adamme
Feel free to bring picnic blankets and small folding chairs to all locations. Circus Bella does not provide audience seating at events.
Performances run approximately 60 minutes.
Experience the hypnotic hijinks and hilarity of HOOPLA! - a captivating blend of circus enchantment and madcap mayhem. Circus Bella offers a modern twist on one-ring circus… overflowing with heart and soul. This exhilarating 60-minute show promises to delight and astonish children of all ages in a cherished family event. Watch in awe as the vibrantly colorful Circus Bella Company, comprising a diverse troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond, performs to the lively tunes of the 6-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. Best of all, these performances are completely FREE, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
Written & Directed by Abigail Munn
Music Composed by Rob Reich
Costumes by Autumn Adamme
Feel free to bring picnic blankets and small folding chairs to all locations. Circus Bella does not provide audience seating at events.
Performances run approximately 60 minutes.
Experience the hypnotic hijinks and hilarity of HOOPLA! - a captivating blend of circus enchantment and madcap mayhem. Circus Bella offers a modern twist on one-ring circus… overflowing with heart and soul. This exhilarating 60-minute show promises to delight and astonish children of all ages in a cherished family event. Watch in awe as the vibrantly colorful Circus Bella Company, comprising a diverse troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond, performs to the lively tunes of the 6-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. Best of all, these performances are completely FREE, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
Written & Directed by Abigail Munn
Music Composed by Rob Reich
Costumes by Autumn Adamme
Feel free to bring picnic blankets and small folding chairs to all locations. Circus Bella does not provide audience seating at events.
Performances run approximately 60 minutes.
Experience the hypnotic hijinks and hilarity of HOOPLA! - a captivating blend of circus enchantment and madcap mayhem. Circus Bella offers a modern twist on one-ring circus… overflowing with heart and soul. This exhilarating 60-minute show promises to delight and astonish children of all ages in a cherished family event. Watch in awe as the vibrantly colorful Circus Bella Company, comprising a diverse troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond, performs to the lively tunes of the 6-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. Best of all, these performances are completely FREE, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
Written & Directed by Abigail Munn
Music Composed by Rob Reich
Costumes by Autumn Adamme
Feel free to bring picnic blankets and small folding chairs to all locations. Circus Bella does not provide audience seating at events.
Performances run approximately 60 minutes.
Experience the hypnotic hijinks and hilarity of HOOPLA! - a captivating blend of circus enchantment and madcap mayhem. Circus Bella offers a modern twist on one-ring circus… overflowing with heart and soul. This exhilarating 60-minute show promises to delight and astonish children of all ages in a cherished family event. Watch in awe as the vibrantly colorful Circus Bella Company, comprising a diverse troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond, performs to the lively tunes of the 6-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. Best of all, these performances are completely FREE, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
Written & Directed by Abigail Munn
Music Composed by Rob Reich
Costumes by Autumn Adamme
Feel free to bring picnic blankets and small folding chairs to all locations. Circus Bella does not provide audience seating at events.
Performances run approximately 60 minutes.
Experience the hypnotic hijinks and hilarity of HOOPLA! - a captivating blend of circus enchantment and madcap mayhem. Circus Bella offers a modern twist on one-ring circus… overflowing with heart and soul. This exhilarating 60-minute show promises to delight and astonish children of all ages in a cherished family event. Watch in awe as the vibrantly colorful Circus Bella Company, comprising a diverse troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond, performs to the lively tunes of the 6-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. Best of all, these performances are completely FREE, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
Written & Directed by Abigail Munn
Music Composed by Rob Reich
Costumes by Autumn Adamme
Feel free to bring picnic blankets and small folding chairs to all locations. Circus Bella does not provide audience seating at events.
Performances run approximately 60 minutes.
