Upcoming Shows
November 2026 Gigs
Sun, Nov 1, 2pm: Larry Vuckovich Quintet
Brannan Center for the Arts – Calistoga. Playing on my birthday, which is a fine way to spend it.
Fri & Sat, Nov 6–7: Wil Blades and Otis McDonald
Keys Jazz Bistro. Four sets across the weekend with two stellar cats. On Nov 7, stick around for a second round with the Simon Rowe Organ Trio at 10:30pm, same room.
Sat, Nov 14: Triple header
3–5pm: Ken Miller Quartet, background restaurant gig at Momo’s, across from the ballpark.
6–8:30pm: Giulio Xavier Cetto Quintet at Tipples, singer-songwriter meets modern jazz. A second chance for anyone who missed the Bayview Opera House series.
10:30pm: Simon Rowe Trio, Keys Jazz Bistro.
Sun, Nov 15: Duo with Dexter Williams (bass)
Maggie & Mac’s, 1326 9th Ave, in the Inner Sunset. A new food spot that looks good.
Tue, Nov 17, 7–10pm: Club Deluxe
With drummer Goodfellow from NYC i think. Thanks to Dan Fabricant for getting me on this one.
Fri, Nov 20, 7–10pm: Duo with Kazemde George
Berkeley (venue TBD).
About
Kai Lyons is from the Excelsior District of San Francisco and was surrounded by music and community from an early age. He completed his studies at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts in 2012 as the first to graduate from the acclaimed Classical Guitar Program, directed by Scott Cmiel. From 2012-2014, on full scholarship, Kai attended the prestigious jazz program at William Paterson University of New Jersey, directed by Mulgrew Miller. He studied with Vincent Herring, Gene Bertoncini, Harold Mabern, Rich Perry, and Hal Galper. Kai received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from San Francisco State University where he studied with Andrew Speight, Michael Zisman and Hafez Modirzadeh.
Ever since returning to the Bay Area in 2015, he has freelanced extensively and also traveled frequently to New York City, New Orleans, Brazil, Cuba and the Caribbean on music trips. In 2018 he participated in Master Class: Orff-Afrique 2018 in Ghana, Africa.
Besides working with his own trio, Kai has performed with Mike Clark and Donald Harrison of Herbie Hancock’s Original Headhunters, The San Francisco Ballet and the 2024 production of Carmen composed by Arturo O’Farrill, Karl Perazzo, John Santos, award-winning organist Wil Blades and Larry Vuckovich.
