Black Cat will be CLOSED December 24-25. Merry Christmas! 

Black Cat will be CLOSED December 24-25. Merry Christmas! 

Tickets: $20 , $40 , $50 , $60 (price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee) 7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00 9:30 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:45 Martin Luther McCoy is a visionary soul singer who blends traditional jazz, funk, rock, and soul music into a fluid, electrifying sound. His vibe is a liquid-cooled, versatile funk. His powerful voice has led him to perform as the frontman for SFJAZZ Collective and The Roots and was recently featured at Mt. Tamalpais Sound Summit’s tribute to Sly and the Family Stone. Back at Black Cat SF for The Funk That Stole Christmas is Martin and his electric band. He is perhaps best known for his breakout role as a Jimi Hendrix-inspired character in the acclaimed film Across the Universe (Sony/Columbia), directed by Julie Taymor. His collaborations with dance music innovator Miguel Migs have also garnered international attention; their latest track, “Keep on Dreaming,” was released earlier this year on Salted Music. Luther has a distinctive knack for reinterpretation, often covering classics with a fresh, edgy twist. Versatile and genre-defying, Luther’s show will reimagine a portion of holiday classics but ultimately brings the funk and heavy jams to keep audience members swaying and singing along in their seats. Sade and Stevie Wonder lovers unite under a groove. Joining Martin are Howard Wiley, Clark Sims and the members of Graham Central Station, Brian Braziel, Wilton Rabb and Dave Council. Prince Vs Rick James or Ohio Players vs Parliament!! The funk that stole Christmas will have you jamming in your seats. Band Lineup: Martin Luther McCoy, Guitar, Vox Clark Sims, Bass Wilton Rabb, Guitar Dave Council, Keys Brian Braziel, Drums Howard Wiley, Sax 

Tickets: $20 , $40 , $50 , $60 (price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee) 7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00 9:30 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:45 Martin Luther McCoy is a visionary soul singer who blends traditional jazz, funk, rock, and soul music into a fluid, electrifying sound. His vibe is a liquid-cooled, versatile funk. His powerful voice has led him to perform as the frontman for SFJAZZ Collective and The Roots and was recently featured at Mt. Tamalpais Sound Summit’s tribute to Sly and the Family Stone. Back at Black Cat SF for The Funk That Stole Christmas is Martin and his electric band. He is perhaps best known for his breakout role as a Jimi Hendrix-inspired character in the acclaimed film Across the Universe (Sony/Columbia), directed by Julie Taymor. His collaborations with dance music innovator Miguel Migs have also garnered international attention; their latest track, “Keep on Dreaming,” was released earlier this year on Salted Music. Luther has a distinctive knack for reinterpretation, often covering classics with a fresh, edgy twist. Versatile and genre-defying, Luther’s show will reimagine a portion of holiday classics but ultimately brings the funk and heavy jams to keep audience members swaying and singing along in their seats. Sade and Stevie Wonder lovers unite under a groove. Joining Martin are Howard Wiley, Clark Sims and the members of Graham Central Station, Brian Braziel, Wilton Rabb and Dave Council. Prince Vs Rick James or Ohio Players vs Parliament!! The funk that stole Christmas will have you jamming in your seats. Band Lineup: Martin Luther McCoy, Guitar, Vox Clark Sims, Bass Wilton Rabb, Guitar Dave Council, Keys Brian Braziel, Drums Howard Wiley, Sax 

Tickets: $20 , $40 , $50 , $60 (price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee) 7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00 9:30 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:45 Martin Luther McCoy is a visionary soul singer who blends traditional jazz, funk, rock, and soul music into a fluid, electrifying sound. His vibe is a liquid-cooled, versatile funk. His powerful voice has led him to perform as the frontman for SFJAZZ Collective and The Roots and was recently featured at Mt. Tamalpais Sound Summit’s tribute to Sly and the Family Stone. Back at Black Cat SF for The Funk That Stole Christmas is Martin and his electric band. He is perhaps best known for his breakout role as a Jimi Hendrix-inspired character in the acclaimed film Across the Universe (Sony/Columbia), directed by Julie Taymor. His collaborations with dance music innovator Miguel Migs have also garnered international attention; their latest track, “Keep on Dreaming,” was released earlier this year on Salted Music. Luther has a distinctive knack for reinterpretation, often covering classics with a fresh, edgy twist. Versatile and genre-defying, Luther’s show will reimagine a portion of holiday classics but ultimately brings the funk and heavy jams to keep audience members swaying and singing along in their seats. Sade and Stevie Wonder lovers unite under a groove. Joining Martin are Howard Wiley, Clark Sims and the members of Graham Central Station, Brian Braziel, Wilton Rabb and Dave Council. Prince Vs Rick James or Ohio Players vs Parliament!! The funk that stole Christmas will have you jamming in your seats. Band Lineup: Martin Luther McCoy, Guitar, Vox Clark Sims, Bass Wilton Rabb, Guitar Dave Council, Keys Brian Braziel, Drums Howard Wiley, Sax 

Step into the sultry atmosphere of the Black Cat this New Year’s Eve and let the enchanting Benny Benack III whisk you into 2026 with his irresistible charm and velvet voice! Back by popular demand, his band is returning for their 3rd Annual NYE celebration at Black Cat SF. In a night themed “Cheers to Life!” Benny will deliver a dazzling mix of timeless jazz standards and modern classics, all wrapped in his signature flair. This very quartet was birthed at the Black Cat, and just released a live album this Spring to commemorate the occasion. As the clock ticks down to midnight, feel the electric energy in the air, sip on exquisite themed-cocktails, and revel in the magic of some of the greatest Jazz you’ll hear anywhere in the world. This isn’t just a concert - it’s a celebration of life, love, and new beginnings. Dance, laugh, and embrace the night with us—let’s ring in the new year in style and soul! Band Lineup: Benny Benack III, vocals, trumpet, shenanigans Mathis Picard, piano Russell Hall, bass Joe Peri, drums A night of celebration with music, Festive dinner and cocktails into 2026 until 12:45 am!! Amuse: House chips , French onion dip ………………………............................................................ Rustic French bread: whipped butter, maldon salt. ………………………............................................................. Appetizer - Beet Carpaccio: goat cheese, lemon EVO, balsamic, and pistachios. OR - Crab Cakes: with sauce Newberg. ………………………............................................................ Entree - Seared Coho Salmon leek fondue , saffron roasted potatoes , and blistered snap peas OR - Wagyu Steak: 8oz seared wagyu top sirloin with cognac cream sauce, 50/50 potatoes, and roasted broccolini OR - Vegetarian Option: Vegetable Curry ………………………............................................................ Dessert Chocolate Ganache , Key Lime Pie , Flan made in-house. ………………………............................................................ Note: Everyone on the reservation must participate. These will be the only dinner options. We will not have an a la carte menu for NYE. *A 22% service fee , Sales Tax 8.63% and A 5.50 ticket and processing fee will be added to all checks . The service fee is not a tip or gratuity and is an added fee controlled by the restaurant to ensure a living wage for all of our employees.* TWO SEATINGS: EARLY SEATING Starts at 5:45 for the 7:00 show. LATE SEATING Starts at 8:45, Bar at 5:45 includes two performances at 9:30 & Midnight with a Midnight champagne toast! INCLUSIVE TICKET PRICES FOR THE 7:00 SHOW including a festive 3-course dinner. - Standard Seating $95 plus 22% service charge & sales tax 8.63% ,ticket & processing fee $5.50 Totaling $129.50 - Premium Seating $130 plus 22% service charge & sales tax 8.63% ticketing & processing fee $5.50 Totaling $178.50 INCLUSIVE TICKET PRICES FOR 930/MIDNIGHT SHOWS including a festive 3-course dinner, two music performances and a midnight toast. - Standard Seating $195 plus 22% service charge & sales tax 8.63% ticketing & processing fee $5.50 Totaling $264.50 - Premium Seating $225 plus 22% service charge & sales tax 8.63% ticketing & processing fee $5.50 Totaling $304.50 PLEASE NOTE: Tickets will be all inclusive with exception of drinks purchased that night. More on Benny Benack III: Emmy-nominated Trumpeter and Vocalist Benny Benack III has quickly become a leading voice in Jazz for his generation, headlining clubs and festivals around the world on the heels of his latest critically acclaimed live album “This Is The Life” which has been garnering thousands of streams and topping the JazzWeek Radio Charts. He is the rare talent who is just as formidable as a fiery trumpeter ranging from Freddie Hubbard to Louis Armstrong and everyone in between, while as a singer he delivers sly, mature, naturally expressive post-Sinatra vocal stylings. His sophomore album “A Lot of Livin’ to Do” (2020) featured the likes of bass luminary Christian McBride, achieving viral online fame w/his vocalese rendition of "Social Call" ft. Veronica Swift that's been transcribed and covered by singers around the world. He has crooned his way to millions of more listeners alongside groups such as the Grammy-winning “8-Bit Big Band” and YouTube sensation “Postmodern Jukebox”. His (2023) album “Third Time’s the Charm” went all the way to #2 on the charts and featured a veritable line-up of special guests including Peter Bernstein, Bria Skonberg, Chad LB & more. His double-threat credentials were first apparent when he was a finalist in the 2014 Thelonius Monk Competition on trumpet, and then won Third Place in the 2021 Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition. His resume for both was recently bolstered by Downbeat Magazine’s Readers Poll for 2025, where he placed #1 for Rising Star Male Vocalist and was also #8 for Rising Star Trumpet. His global recognition has been bolstered through his collaborations with the GRAMMY-award winning “8-Bit Big Band” and touring with Postmodern Jukebox. The recent advent of live-streaming concerts has been a boon as well, both through his residency at Smalls Jazz Club, as well as frequent appearances at fellow superstar Emmet Cohen’s “Emmet’s Place” online series. He has arrived as one of the most in-demand touring artists and music educators in the Jazz world, with a never-ending intercontinental schedule that reflects his indefatigable love for the music, with his smile and panache on full-display wherever it takes him next. 

Tickets: $20 , $30 , $40 , $50 (price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee) 7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00 9:15 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:30 “Block generates excitement that emanates from something hidden within him that is ready to come into being. He could be compared with the young Herbie Hancock whose early risk taking and imagination would keep expanding throughout his legendary career.” -All About Jazz "Joe Block possesses an ultra sophisticated, richly textured and deeply personal harmonic palette like none other. He is a vital and most welcome new voice in music who's already extending the profound documented legacy of how beautiful a piano can sound." -Benny Green Joe Block is a Steinway Artist and award-winning pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and musical director from Philadelphia, PA. Classically trained from the age of two, he later discovered a deep passion for jazz and went on to study at Columbia University and The Juilliard School. Now based in New York City, Block has quickly become one of the most sought-after musicians of his generation, performing and touring internationally with artists including Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gary Bartz, and Leslie Odom, Jr. His work has taken him to many of the world’s most revered stages, among them Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard, Lincoln Center, and the Apollo Theater. Recognized by Jazz at Lincoln Center as one of “jazz’s most promising young composers,” Block is the recipient of the 2024 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award and was a semi-finalist in the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition. He leads his own ensembles—the Open Heart Trio and the Joe Block Quintet—dedicated to presenting his original compositions, and is a frequent musical director for projects at Jazz at Lincoln Center. In 2025, Block served as associate musical director and pianist for George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck on Broadway, and most recently was musical director for Ornada, the award-winning Armada Skis feature film accompanied by a live original score. Band Lineup: Joe Block - piano Paul Sikivie - bass Jerome Gillespie - drums 

Tickets: $20 , $40 , $50 , $60 (price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee) 7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00 9:30 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:45 “Block generates excitement that emanates from something hidden within him that is ready to come into being. He could be compared with the young Herbie Hancock whose early risk taking and imagination would keep expanding throughout his legendary career.” -All About Jazz "Joe Block possesses an ultra sophisticated, richly textured and deeply personal harmonic palette like none other. He is a vital and most welcome new voice in music who's already extending the profound documented legacy of how beautiful a piano can sound." -Benny Green Joe Block is a Steinway Artist and award-winning pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and musical director from Philadelphia, PA. Classically trained from the age of two, he later discovered a deep passion for jazz and went on to study at Columbia University and The Juilliard School. Now based in New York City, Block has quickly become one of the most sought-after musicians of his generation, performing and touring internationally with artists including Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gary Bartz, and Leslie Odom, Jr. His work has taken him to many of the world’s most revered stages, among them Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard, Lincoln Center, and the Apollo Theater. Recognized by Jazz at Lincoln Center as one of “jazz’s most promising young composers,” Block is the recipient of the 2024 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award and was a semi-finalist in the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition. He leads his own ensembles—the Open Heart Trio and the Joe Block Quintet—dedicated to presenting his original compositions, and is a frequent musical director for projects at Jazz at Lincoln Center. In 2025, Block served as associate musical director and pianist for George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck on Broadway, and most recently was musical director for Ornada, the award-winning Armada Skis feature film accompanied by a live original score. Band Lineup: Joe Block - piano Paul Sikivie - bass Jerome Gillespie - drums 

Tickets: $20 , $40 , $50 , $60 (price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee) 7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00 9:30 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:45 “Block generates excitement that emanates from something hidden within him that is ready to come into being. He could be compared with the young Herbie Hancock whose early risk taking and imagination would keep expanding throughout his legendary career.” -All About Jazz "Joe Block possesses an ultra sophisticated, richly textured and deeply personal harmonic palette like none other. He is a vital and most welcome new voice in music who's already extending the profound documented legacy of how beautiful a piano can sound." -Benny Green Joe Block is a Steinway Artist and award-winning pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and musical director from Philadelphia, PA. Classically trained from the age of two, he later discovered a deep passion for jazz and went on to study at Columbia University and The Juilliard School. Now based in New York City, Block has quickly become one of the most sought-after musicians of his generation, performing and touring internationally with artists including Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gary Bartz, and Leslie Odom, Jr. His work has taken him to many of the world’s most revered stages, among them Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard, Lincoln Center, and the Apollo Theater. Recognized by Jazz at Lincoln Center as one of “jazz’s most promising young composers,” Block is the recipient of the 2024 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award and was a semi-finalist in the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition. He leads his own ensembles—the Open Heart Trio and the Joe Block Quintet—dedicated to presenting his original compositions, and is a frequent musical director for projects at Jazz at Lincoln Center. In 2025, Block served as associate musical director and pianist for George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck on Broadway, and most recently was musical director for Ornada, the award-winning Armada Skis feature film accompanied by a live original score. Band Lineup: Joe Block - piano Paul Sikivie - bass Jerome Gillespie - drums 

Tickets: $20 , $30 , $40 , $50 (price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee) 7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00 9:15 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:30 From co-founding The Bad Plus—the avant-garde trio that redefined jazz and indie rock—to crafting critically acclaimed albums on ECM and Blue Note, Ethan Iverson is a master of melody and innovation. With collaborations spanning jazz legends like Tom Harrell, Jack DeJohnette, and Billy Hart, his music is as adventurous as it is accessible. Whether commanding the stage, composing for modern dance, or publishing sharp-witted jazz criticism, Iverson continues to shape the sound and conversation of contemporary jazz. “A natural, consistent crowd-pleaser.” – Stereophile “A master of melody.” – Downbeat "Better than anyone at melding post-’60s jazz and indie rock." – The New York Times Catch him live and experience the bold, brilliant artistry of Ethan Iverson! Band Lineup: Ethan Iverson, Piano Mat Muntz , Bass Scott Amendola, Drums 

Tickets: $20 , $30 , $40 , $50 (price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee) 7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00 9:15 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:30 Launched by bassist Giulio Xavier Cetto and former Mars Volta/Thundercat drummer Thomas Pridgen, Big Trippin is a California-based improvisation-laced vehicle for exploring state-of-the-art grooves. While the band mainly performs as an instrumental quartet including alto saxophonist John Palowitch and pianist Javier Santiago, they are known for surprise "collective" shows utilizing California's most talented artists, including emcees, vocalists, and instrumentalists alike. These vibe masters specialize in getting a party started and keeping the energy bumping for improvisers, MC’s and dancers alike. Encompassing rock, hip hop, funk and jazz, the collective is built on the loose and limber rhythm section tandem of Cetto and Pridgen, players recognized internationally as contemporary music standard bearers. For this show, Big Trippin will play in its original form: a raw instrumental quartet, delivering original music and arrangements with searing fusion melodies expertly placed over house and hip hop-inspired grooves. A night not to miss from one of the US's most promising up-and-coming jazz groups. John Palowitch – saxophone Javier Santiago – keys Giulio Xavier Cetto – bass Thomas Pridgen – drums 

Tickets: $20 , $30 , $40 , $50 (price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee) 7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00 Rabiah Kabir is a Jazz flute player who uses her instrument, skill in storytelling and unique style to bend the expectations of what “Jazz” music really is. Born and raised in the East Bay, Rabiah draws from her lived experience as a mixed Black woman to create music that is meditative, contemplative and conceptual. For her, musical memory begins in the kitchen, with her dad playing the sounds of Charles Mingus, Phillip Glass, Erik B. & Rakim, Dead Can Dance, Toots and the Maytals, Compay Segundo and Natacha Atlas (to name a few), as he cooked dinner in their Berkeley home. As she dived into the Bay Area Jazz scene, she noticed how few women surrounded her, a problem that has plagued Jazz since its inception at the turn of the 20th century. Her debut album, “Jezebel: Rewritten” and related Honors Thesis paper from Stanford University, “The Jezebel Flute”, explores themes of Black womanhood and feminism, a core part of Jazz history often overlooked. She hopes the project carves a new place for scholarship surrounding flute players, power and Black feminist artistic expression. Her thesis, winner of the 2025 Stanford University George Fredrickson award, is published on Stanford’s Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity department page. The album,“Jezebel: Rewritten” is available for streaming on October 24, 2025. Rabiah has had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with artists like Murray Low, Zheniia, José Andrés, Taleen, Jesús Díaz and Edgardo Cambon. She is unbelievably grateful for the vibrant and diverse musical community of the Bay Area and strives to celebrate its influence in her music. Band Lineup: Rabiah Kabir: Flute Ethan Buck: Alto Saxophone Jaycie Grady: Drums Leela Paymai: Bass Julain Lopez: Piano Nathan Sariowan: Violin Wesley Larlab: Guest Piano feature 

Tickets: $20 , $30 , $40 , $50 (price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee) 7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00 9:15 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:30 Trinidad born Etienne Charles is a performer, composer and storyteller, who is constantly searching for untold tales and sounds with which to tell them. His lush trumpet sound, varied compositional textures and pulsating percussive grooves enable him to invoke trance, soothing and exciting listeners while referencing touchy and sometimes controversial subjects in his music. Highlighting marginalized communities and engaging with them has been his mission, evident with projects such as his Guggenheim Fellowship Project, Carnival: The Sound of a People Vol. 1, San Jose Suite, Creole Soul, Gullah Roots, Folklore and his latest commission, San Juan Hill - A New York Story. His concerts engage, enlighten, educate and enrich audiences with energized multidisciplinary performance utilizing original composition, thematic improvisation, dance, short films and spoken word to create a holistic experience. A firm believer in music and performance as a tool for provoking thought and dialogue, Charles’s themes speak to the status quo while drawing parallels to history. His work is actively connecting the African diaspora and drawing lines to the regions at the roots of migrations, evident in his latest release, NAACP Image Award nominated Creole Orchestra which was named #1 Jazz album on Jazzweek’s top 100 of 2024 after spending 7 weeks at #1 on the chart in the summer. His dedication to music as a tool for social uplift has seen him named as a Laureate of the Arts and Letters, Anthony N. Sabga Awards, Caribbean Excellence (2025). He was conferred the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture (2024) and was awarded a Congressional Citation from the United States (2012). As a sideman he has performed with and/or arranged for Roberta Flack, Chucho Valdes, Marcus Roberts, Marcus Miller, Count Basie Orchestra, Frank Foster’s Loud Minority Big Band, Monty Alexander, Gregory Porter, Terri Lyne Carrington, René Marie, David Rudder, Machel Montano and many others. He has been commissioned as a composer and arranger by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (2025), Lincoln Center for the New York Philharmonic (2021), Savannah Music Festival (2017), Chamber Music America (2015 & 2021), the Charleston Jazz Orchestra (2012), the Chicago Jazz Ensemble (2011) and the Danish Radio Big Band (2025) He currently serves as Professor of Studio Music and Jazz at University of Miami Frost School of Music Band lineup: Etienne Charles, trumpet Mikailo Kasha, bass Miles Turk, drums