The 29th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival Music Festival Sep 15–Dec 18, 2012

A three-week celebration of jazz music that kicks off in late October at venues throughout the city, the San Francisco Jazz Festival normally plays host to more than 30 concerts, all covering a wide-range of performance styles from classic to the avant-garde.

The San Francisco Jazz Festival was founded in 1983, and has always featured both major jazz acts as well as up-and-comers on the jazz scene, making it a great opportunity to catch an old favorite or see the next big thing in bebop.

Because San Francisco Jazz Festival shows take place at several venues during the three-week event, it’s best to check the calendar for a complete round-up of who is playing where.

San Francisco Jazz Festival tickets vary widely in price based on both the size of the hosting venue as well as who is playing, but normally fall within the $30–$75 range. Some shows are also open only to members of SF JAZZ, a non-profit that hosts many jazz events as well as jazz clinics and workshops throughout the year.

SF JAZZ memberships are $60/year for individuals, with discounts for students and seniors. Members pay no service fees for tickets to San Francisco Jazz Festival concerts, while non-members usually need to pony up an additional $7.50/ticket.