a nonprofit presenter of jazz artistic and education programs

Eric Harland (drums) and Matt Penman (bass) performing with the Collective at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

This year, the SFJAZZ Collective will perform six works by master pianist and composer Herbie Hancock with, as in the previous two years, new arrangements by Grammy-winning arranger Gil Goldstein. The Collective will also perform eight new original works, commissioned by SFJAZZ, to complete the 2006 repertoire.

Regarding Hancock, Artistic Director Joshua Redman commented: “Herbie Hancock was a natural choice for us to focus on this season. Herbie’s music has played a critical role in defining the sound of modern jazz, and many of his songs have become veritable standards. All of us in the Collective have been hugely influenced by him — as an instrumentalist, as a band leader, as a creative artist, and as a composer.”

In 2005, the Collective highlighted the work of jazz icon John Coltrane with new arrangements by arranger Gil Goldstein of Coltrane's signature pieces as well as eight new compositions by each band member. Redman said, “"Coltrane represents the highest level of commitment and intensity in jazz —always searching, never resting. It's an enormous challenge for us as musicians—and one we're greatly looking forward to".”

In its 2004 inaugural season, the Collective focused its repertoire on six works by saxophonist/composer Ornette Coleman with new arrangements by Gil Goldstein and new compositions by each of the eight band members.