The Golden Gate Jazz Festival was founded based on performing Jazz and a willingness to give back to organizations that need support. An important goal of the Festival is to ensure that all kids have music in their schools and that we support the educational needs of young people by providing experiences in the arts.

Performing on March 26, is the Lao Tizer Band a nominee for  “Jazz Group of the Year" by Oasis Jazz Awards. They are a group of all-star musicians from diverse geographic, ethnic, and musical backgrounds. Led by keyboardist, composer, recording artist, and former "Best New Jazz Artist" nominee Lao Tizer, the group performs almost entirely original music. Their new critically acclaimed CD/DVD combo release (Songs from The Swinghouse) debuted at number eight on the Billboard Jazz Album Chart. Tizer's regular collaborators, who are celebrated in their own right, are Chieli Minucci, the three-time Emmy-winning and Grammy® Award-nominated guitarist and composer; Eric Marienthal, who is a permanent member of the Chick Corea Elektric Band, and violinist Karen Briggs, who has graced the stage with Yanni, Diana Ross, Wu-Tang Clan, Chaka Khan and more, drum legend Gary Novak (Chick Corea, Alanis Morisette, Jeff Lorber (bassist extraordinaire Anthony Crawford (Erykah Badu, Frank McComb), percussion legend Munyungo Jackson (Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis) and dynamic vocalist Tita Hutchison (Rick Rubin, Michael McDonald).

The group infuses a wide array of influences from Jazz, World, Funk, Classical & Rock into a delicious, high-octane blend all their own! Please join us for a memorable evening of music at this beautiful, state-of-the-art venue!

The opening act for this great show will be the Tony Saunders Band featuring:

Darrell Edwards, vocals, Drew Youngs, guitar; Gail Johnson, keyboard

Susan Copperman, saxophone; Tony Moore, drums; Kathy Kosins, vocals

Michael Spiderman Robinson, keyboard and bass; Tony Saunders, bass.

They currently have a chart-topping CD "ALL ABOUT LOVE" on the radio and their current single "Summertime Love" is making its way up the charts.