Delroy Lindo, Paul Reiser Headline SFJAZZ Gala Honoring Don Was

The SFJAZZ Center was filled with the sounds of extraordinary music–and generous giving–on June 12, as the organization’s annual gala raised $1.4 million to support artistic and education programs in the Bay Area. Event hosts Delroy Lindo and Paul Reiser guided guests through an evening that perfectly captured jazz’s living, evolving spirit. Executive Artistic Director Terence Blanchard led the celebration honoring Blue Note Records President Don Was with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The all-star concert lineup read like a jazz hall of fame, featuring Charles Lloyd, Melissa Aldana, Kurt Elling, Lisa Fischer, Bill Frisell and Jason Moran, alongside the SFJAZZ Collective. The night’s most poignant moment came with a heartfelt tribute to the late tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, with Charles Lloyd, Eric Harland, Bill Frisell, Jason Moran and Larry Grenadier performing “Hymn to the Mother,” followed by an extended raga from Salar Nader and Alam Khan. Mayor Daniel Lurie, Board Chair Molly Joel Coye, angel investor Chris Larsen and philanthropist Mary Miner joined the celebration, while Paula LeDuc Fine Catering served guests at the festive gala tent. The Gala is SFJAZZ’s largest fundraiser of the year, and raises funds for the organization’s many outreach and education programs.