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SFJAZZ is excited to partner with Diablo Regional Arts Association and Lesher Center Presents on another season of concert events in Contra Costa County. Curated by SFJAZZ, this thrilling series returns for a second year in residence at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts during the 2026-27 Season.
We’re going BIG for our second season with eight extraordinary concerts that feature a broad spectrum of internationally acclaimed jazz artists! Take advantage of this early offer to purchase the best seats at the best prices:
Order our complete, 8-show package and save up to $156 per person!
Order our 5-show sampler package and save up to $72 per person!
Explore the artists that make our 2026-27 SFJAZZ Presents @ The Lesher Center season and order today!*
BUY AN 8-SHOW FULL SERIES PACKAGE
BUY A 5-SHOW SAMPLER PACKAGE
* When purchasing your package, you will be prompted to select seats for both the Hofmann Theater and the Lesher Theater. Four shows in the series take place in the 785-seat Hofmann Theater (Payton, SFJAZZ Collective, Trio Da Paz, and The Hot Sardines) and four shows take place in the 297-seat Margaret Lesher Theater (Parlato, Rose, Mayo, and The Fred Hersch Trio).
Single tickets for SFJAZZ Presents @ the Lesher Center are now on sale! Visit individual event pages to book your seats.
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SFJAZZ Collective: Wayne Shorter's Native Dancer and New Compositions
SFJAZZ Presents @ The Lesher Center presented by Lesher Center and Diablo Regional Arts Association
- Date: 01/14/2027 7:30 PM
- Location: Lesher Center for the Arts
1601 Civic Drive
Walnut Creek, California 94596 - Introduction: The all-star resident ensemble and composer's workshop at SFJAZZ
BUY AN 8-SHOW FULL SERIES PACKAGE
SFJAZZ is excited to partner with Diablo Regional Arts Association and the Lesher Center Presents Headliners series on another season of concert events in Contra Costa County. Curated by SFJAZZ, this thrilling line-up of internationally recognized jazz artists returns for a second year in residence at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts during the 2026-27 Season.
SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE: Wayne Shorter's Native Dance and New Compositions
January 14, 2027, 7:30pm
Hofmann Theater
ABOUT THE SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE
Founded in 2004, the SFJAZZ Collective is our all-star resident ensemble and composer’s workshop that represents what’s happening now in jazz. The group features saxophonist and band director Chris Potter, saxophonist David Sánchez, trumpeter Mike Rodriguez, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, pianist Edward Simon, bassist Matt Brewer, and drummer Kendrick Scott.
For this performance, the septet performs the music of Wayne Shorter’s 1975’s iconic album Native Dancer — a hugely influential collaboration with Brazilian legend Milton Nascimento whose influence continues to resonate. The Collective bring their interpretive power to the material, along with a fresh batch of original compositions inspired by Shorter’s mid-decade masterpiece.
Released by Columbia Records in January of 1975, Native Dancer is an early triumph of the so-called “world fusion” movement, blending jazz, rock, funk, and Brazilian elements over its nine tracks. Featuring notable Shorter compositions “Beauty and the Beast.” “Diana,” and “Ana Maria” as well as four Nascimiento works including the classic “Ponta de Areia,” Native Dancer is a landmark in modern jazz and a perfect vessel for fresh explorations.
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