Jazz Club hopes to capture locals for free concerts

by Ed Moy

Scott Silverberg always wanted to be a musician.

A long-time resident of the Richmond District, Silverberg originally lived in the Bronx in New York City. But it was San Francisco where Silverberg discovered his love for Jazz music.

Silverberg counts among his jazz influences the legendary saxophonists Archie Shepp, Sonny Rollins and Wayne Shorter.

In 2002, Silverberg founded the San Francisco-based WestSide Jazz Club, which currently includes Silverberg on tenor sax, Jay Stapleton on guitar, Jan Jackson on drums, Craig Kleineman on bass, and Lynea Diaz-Hagan on vocals.

According to Silverberg, the band seeks to balance modern, innovative jazz music with a solid tradition of small-group bebop.

Over the years, the WestSide Jazz Club has brought together musicians from a broad pool of diverse local talent.

The WestSide Jazz Club performs several times a week as a trio, quartet, quintet or larger group at venues around the City, including Cafe Royale, Revolution Cafe and Sheba Lounge.

The group also performs free jazz concerts at the Inner Richmond's WestSide Art House (maximum seating around 50) as part of its bi-monthly shows.

Silverberg and wife Helen Star run the WestSide Art House, which is located at 540 Balboa St.

The WestSide Art House currently hosts weekly yoga classes, tarot club meetings, piano lessons for youth, and Hindi language classes for youth.

The bi-monthly series of free Jazz concerts is on-going and open to everyone, including "kids and dogs."

Refreshments and snacks are also available for purchase, with no reservations necessary to attend.

At WestSide Jazz Club's most recent free concert, on Jan. 18, Silverberg's wife also began organizing.

"We want to market exclusively to the Richmond District," Helen Silverberg said. "We want to make it a neighborhood event that people living close by can attend without having to drive."

For more information, e-mail [email protected], call (415) 668-0204, or visit the website at www.westsidearthouse.com.