The Back Room

Join us on Sun, May 17, 7pm for Kommuna Lux | Tickets: /kommuna-lux “In Odesa, people find togetherness. In Odesa, all will laugh and sing." Ukraine’s Kommuna Lux validates these words from an old poem, performing their own style called "Odesa Gangsta Folk," a mix of thrilling klezmer music and common gangster folk songs from their hometown, all with a dose of rocket fuel. Odesites have always been known for their great tolerance, easy-going lifestyle, and very special sense of humor. This multicultural port city is world-famous for its significant Jewish culture and for being the birthplace of the Urban Chanson genre. The streets are rich with nostalgia and a bohemian Black Sea coastal vibe. These are set to a timeless new level by the vibrant performances of the lovely singer Bagrat Tsurkan and his charming musicians. Kommuna Lux plays joyful songs and melodies from Odesa and all Eastern Europe in spiced up arrangements.

Join us on Sun, May 17, 3pm for Blues & Jazz Singers Jam Session with Sam Rudin & Pamela Rose | Tickets: /blues-and-jazz-singers-jam-session-may2026 Blues & Jazz Singer's Jam Session - We bring the band, you be the star! Hosted by Sam Rudin and Pamela Rose. Come sing or just cheer them on, as vocalists take the stage in this incredibly supportive and creative environment. All levels welcome. Singers can bring in either a simple chart in their key, or a blues or jazz standard to sing. Bonus! In addition to the songs that feature our guest vocalists, this all-star band will also take the opportunity to do several tunes of their own. And in case you don't recognize the names of these musicians, please be assured that they are among the finest players that NorCal has to offer. So, not only will you be hearing and seeing your friends and neighbors take their turn in the spotlight, you will also be seeing top-notch professionals doing what they do best!

Join us on Sat, May 16, 8pm for Alex Carlin | /alex-carlin Alex Carlin will be playing with the drummer and bass player who toured the Soviet Union for 6 months with him in 1990, and they will play some of those same original songs they performed back then. But mostly they will play Alex's recent compositions, inspired by his over one thousand concerts in the last 13 years, transversing every time zone, latitude and attitude in Russia. The drummer Peter Ffrench's groove is shockingly powerful, especially when paired with bassist Bill MacBeath's relentlessly rhythmic soul, which he perfected in the clubs of Istanbul, southern Mexico and East Oakland. Schatzie Frisch charismatically supplies the vocal harmonies central to Alex's songwriting style which is rooted in the harmonious Lennon/McCartney tradition. Scott Wilson will be a special guest bassist on three songs. Alex will open the evening with a short tribute to Chopin and Rachmaninoff on the piano. Then the classic rock will commence. Since Alex broke the Guinness World Record for Longest Solo Concert - 32 hours - he finds it difficult to end the concerts at a civilized hour, but he promises not to over-extend requests for encores beyond reason. /watch?v=unGvP9EnDB8

Join us on Fri, May 15, 7pm for Jae Truesdell: In Love | Tickets: /jae-truesdell-in-love Dynamic vocalist Jae Truesdell returns in a performance that weaves together jazz standards and personal storytelling to trace the many dimensions of love — from wonder and ecstasy to loyal devotion, playfulness, and the quiet comfort of being deeply known. Drawing on a three-octave range and a nearly two-decade relationship with their husband, Marek, the program moves through songs and memories of falling fast, steadfastness through severe illness and hurt, deep intimacy and lasting partnership.

Jazz, Thrilling Vocals, Rock & Roll, Blues/Jazz & more! This Week at The Back Room! 🎵

Join us on Thu, May 14, 8pm for the Ben Goldberg / Scott Amendola Duo | Tickets: /ben-goldberg-scott-amendola-duo Ben Goldberg - clarinets | Scott Amendola - drums/percussion/electronics Ben Goldberg and Scott Amendola have been playing music together for over 3 decades. Tunes, improv, who knows what's going to happen, but their long storied history will for certain make it for an interesting evening. Both utilize electronics and have a deep love of Thelonious Monk. Stretching the boundaries of jazz, and improvisation, at one minute there could be a stream of sound. The next a composition. The deep intuitive nature of Ben and Scott can only make for an evening of deep, fun, and joyous music. Clarinetist/composer Ben Goldberg grew up in Denver. He was a pupil of the eminent clarinetist Rosario Mazzeo and studied with Steve Lacy and Joe Lovano. Since 1992, when his group New Klezmer Trio "kicked open the door for radical experiments with Ashkenazi roots music" (SF Chronicle), Ben has shaped a career through curiosity and experimentation. The New York Times says Ben’s music “conveys a feeling of joyous research into the basics of polyphony and collective improvising.” Downbeat Magazine has twice named him Rising Star Clarinetist. During the Covid-19 quarantine, Ben began PLAGUE DIARY, with the goal of writing and recording a new piece every day. PLAGUE DIARY is offered free of charge on Bandcamp, and now has over 200 tracks. Ben has released over thirty records of his own compositions, ranging from further explorations of traditional Jewish music, through jazz, to the uncategorizable. For Scott Amendola, the drum kit isn’t so much an instrument as a musical portal. An ambitious composer, savvy bandleader and capaciously creative foil for some of the world’s most inventive musicians, Amendola applies his rhythmic virtuosity to a vast array of settings.

🎺 Berkeley, we’re happy to be back! After a long pause, Kommuna Lux returns to Berkeley 🇺🇸 We’re excited to reunite with our California friends for another unforgettable night of Ukrainian urban folk, Odessa vibes, Balkan rhythms, and explosive live energy at The Back Room 📍 Berkeley, CA — The Back Room 📅 May 17 🕖 7PM Let’s sing, dance, and celebrate together again 💃🕺 🎟 Tickets: /kommuna-lux ___ 🎺 Berkeley, ми раді повернутися! Після довгої паузи KOMMUNA LUX знову їде до Berkeley 🇺🇸 Ми щасливі знову зустрітися з нашими каліфорнійськими друзями на вечорі українського міського фольку, одеського вайбу, балканських ритмів та вибухової живої енергії у The Back Room 📍 Berkeley, CA — The Back Room 📅 17 травня 🕖 19:00 Будемо співати, танцювати й святкувати разом 💃🕺 🎟 Квитки: /kommuna-lux

TODAY (5/11) at 4pm, world class drummer and Bay Area luminary, Scott Amendola (@scottamendola ), returns to the KALX studios for a talk with Test Pattern. Tune in to hear what Scott is currently up to along with more info on his upcoming performances at The Back Room (@thebackroomberkeley ) in Berkeley on May 14th and the Center For New Music (@c4newmusic ) in SF on May 15th.

Join us on Sat, May 9, 8pm for Don Burnham & the Bolos | Tickets: /don-burnham-and-the-bolos Veteran Bay Area musician Don Burnham will relocate soon to Wellington, New Zealand. Before jetting cross the pond, Don herds his allstar band THE BOLOS into The Back Room for a swinging romp through saddle bags brimming with original and classic Western Swing. BOLOS LINEUP: Mark Holzinger & Richard Saslow, guitars Bing Nathan, bass Rick Alegria, drums Scott Lawrence, piano Charlie Wallace, pedal steel guitar Doc Stein, dobro Jeremy Cohen, fiddle Ernie Mansfield, reeds Don Burnham, guitar & vocals

Brass with Sass, Western Swing, Jazz & more! This Week at The Back Room! 🎵

JUNE 5TH THE BACKROOM ❗️ 730 PM @ THE BACK ROOM ~ 1984 BONITA AVE YOAVKONIG QUARTET: NICO COLUCCI 🎷 MICHAEL POTTER 🎹 MILES TURK 🥁 YOAV KONIG 🎻 BUY TICKETS BEFORE SOLD OUT 🚨‼️ /yoav-konig-quartet-ft-nico-colucci-michael-potter-miles-turk?_gl=1*18nv2zy*_gcl_au*gNjE4OTA5MzAzLjE3NzQ1NDI5MjI.*_ga*NTMzMjAxODkuMTc3NDU0MjkyMg..*_ga_LHKW5FR9N6*czE3NzgxMDEwOTYkbzgkZzAkdDE3NzgxMDExMDIkajU0JGwwJGgw ART 🖼️ @tooth.payste

Join us on Sun, May 3, 7pm for Larry McDonough - CD Release for Conversations with Bill Evans | Tickets: /larry-mcdonough-cd-release Award-winning pianist, composer, and singer Larry McDonough returns to bring the legendary pianist and composer Bill Evans back to life in a solo show covering the music and personal life of Bill Evans that has filled rooms in across the country. The show includes piano and voice, spoken word, and commentary on the life of Bill Evans. Evans performed on the Miles Davis album "Kind of Blue" in 1959, the best-selling jazz album ever. His trio with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian introduced simultaneous improvisation and is regarded as a seminal modern jazz trio. He received 31 Grammy nominations and seven awards, and was inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame. McDonough recorded his 2025 Back Room show for his new CD, Conversations with Bill Evans. He will perform selections from the CD along with songs of other pianists who worked with Miles Davis. Vocalist Lorin Bond will join McDonough for a few new songs.