Kim Nalley & Houston Person at Yoshi's Oakland

Awarded "Most Influential African American in the Bay Area," vocalist Kim Nalley, is already being called "legendary" and "San Francisco institution." With an international reputation as one of world's best jazz & blues vocalists, she is has graced concert halls from Moscow to Lincoln Center. A true Renaissance woman, Kim Nalley has also been a featured blog writer for JazzWest and SF Chronicle's City Brights, shortlisted for a Grammy, a produced playwright, a former jazz club owner, an accomplished stage actress, a history academic, and an avid lindy hop & blues dancer. Her many philanthropic endeavors include founding the Kim Nalley Black Youth Jazz Scholarship....

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Awarded "Most Influential African American in the Bay Area," vocalist Kim Nalley, is already being called "legendary" and "San Francisco institution." With an international reputation as one of world's best jazz & blues vocalists, she is has graced concert halls from Moscow to Lincoln Center. A true Renaissance woman, Kim Nalley has also been a featured blog writer for JazzWest and SF Chronicle's City Brights, shortlisted for a Grammy, a produced playwright, a former jazz club owner, an accomplished stage actress, a history academic, and an avid lindy hop & blues dancer. Her many philanthropic endeavors include founding the Kim Nalley Black Youth Jazz Scholarship.

Houston Person is one of the most respected horn players in jazz, and his huge tenor sound and melodic approach are instantly recognizable. The late, great bassist Ray Brown praised Houston’s soulful sound when he said, “He’s one of the few left with any honest grease.” Like the original big-toned Boss Tenor, Gene Ammons — with whom he is often compared — Houston has a long association with jazz organists such as the late Richard “Groove” Holmes. As a result of the resurgence in interest in the groove jazz of the 1960s, Houston is thought of as one of the fathers of Acid Jazz. Many jazz fans know Houston as the musical partner of the late singer Etta Jones, with whom he toured and recorded for many years.

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