Vibe: Sophisticated Listening Room | Historic Elegance | The Heartbeat of Broadway
Keys Jazz Bistro is a premier 4,000-square-foot jazz destination located on the historic Broadway strip in North Beach. Founded by Dr. Simon Rowe—a distinguished pianist and former Executive Director of the Brubeck Institute—the venue occupies a space with a deep musical lineage, once home to the legendary 1950s club El Matador. Designed as a “listening room,” Keys prioritizes the connection between artist and audience, offering a refined environment where world-class jazz, seasonal dining, and community culture converge.
The venue is thoughtfully divided into two distinct areas. Upon entering, guests are welcomed into a front bar and lounge (80 capacity), which sits on the site of the original El Matador. Beyond this lies the “Listening Room” (125 capacity)—an intimate, state-of-the-art performance space where no seat is more than 25 feet from the stage. The room features a Yamaha concert grand piano and a resident Hammond B3 organ, bathed in warm lighting and optimized for acoustic perfection.
Marquee Residencies: The programming features a mix of Bay Area legends and international touring artists. Regular favorites include vocalists like Clairdee and Lavay Smith, along with the house Simon Rowe Organ Trio.
Dinner and a Show: Keys offers a casual but seasonal menu and full dinner service in the listening room, allowing guests to dine without interrupting the nuances of the performance. Signature cocktails and a curated wine list are designed to complement the sophisticated, mid-century atmosphere.
Legacy & Community: The bistro is home to Jazz in the Neighborhood, an organization advocating for fair wages for musicians. This commitment to the craft is palpable, making every show feel like a contribution to the thriving future of the art form.
The Ritual of the Set
Performance schedules typically run Wednesday through Saturday with sets at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM (plus a late-night 10:30 PM Hammond B3 set on Saturdays), and Sunday shows at 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. The “Will-Call” style check-in and first-come, first-served seating policy encourage a relaxed, communal experience where fans are invited to arrive early, grab a drink at the historic bar, and prepare for a night of deep musical immersion.
Love-Centric. Soul-Crafted. Groove-Infused. AgapeSoul fuses soul, funk, jazz, and R&B into a sound that’s undeniably soulful and deeply uplifting. Led by bassist and visionary Darryl Anders, the band delivers tight rhythms, rich harmonies, and infectious feel-good energy. Fronted by powerhouse vocalists Fred Ross and Sonya Distel, and anchored by an electrifying rhythm section—Anders on bass,...
NYC/LA organist, Brian Charette, has established himself as a leading voice in modern jazz. Charette is a Hammond U.S.A, Hammond Europe, I.K Multimedia, and Casio endorsed, Cellar Live recording artist. Last year, Brian was #2 on the 2024 Downbeat Critic’s Poll for organ and #6 for keyboards. For this concert at Keys, Charette plays with...
NYC/LA organist, Brian Charette, has established himself as a leading voice in modern jazz. Charette is a Hammond U.S.A, Hammond Europe, I.K Multimedia, and Casio endorsed, Cellar Live recording artist. Last year, Brian was #2 on the 2024 Downbeat Critic’s Poll for organ and #6 for keyboards. For this concert at Keys, Charette plays with...
Dillon Vado is a multi-instrumentalist/producer who makes music that is honest and inspired. Dillon’s vibraphone trio plays a spacious alchemy of music inspired by Brazilian composers like Guinga and Milton Nascimento, and funk-infused music like Lonnie Smith and John Scofield, all while being informed by the spiritual and liberation seeking stances of Ornette and Charlie...
“I’m Hip!”- A Tribute to the Hep-Cat Singer/Songwriters of Jazz: Matt Dennis, Bobby Troup, Dave Frishberg, and Bob Dorough They wrote the hippest songs of the times ( like “Route 66”, “Angel Eyes”, and that satirical anthem of the genre,“I’m Hip!”,) recorded by the era’s greatest stars, including Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday....
“I’m Hip!”- A Tribute to the Hep-Cat Singer/Songwriters of Jazz: Matt Dennis, Bobby Troup, Dave Frishberg, and Bob Dorough They wrote the hippest songs of the times ( like “Route 66”, “Angel Eyes”, and that satirical anthem of the genre,“I’m Hip!”,) recorded by the era’s greatest stars, including Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday....
Keeping folks up past 10 pm in SF is no easy feat, but Key’s owner Simon Rowe has been showcasing the best of the Bay Area’s organ trios in his late night Saturday sets. His ‘Transcendent Trio’, formed for a “Jazz on the Patio” residency during the pandemic will feature the dynamic Kai Lyons- guitar,...
Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of “Ritmo y Voz”, where the deep-rooted traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz meet the power of dynamic vocals. This high-energy performance features an all-star lineup, including guitarist Kai Lyons, percussion master Ernesto, bassist Mazar, and the incomparable Einar Leliebre Nuñez, whose fiery rhythms and soaring voice bring the soul of...
Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of “Ritmo y Voz”, where the deep-rooted traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz meet the power of dynamic vocals. This high-energy performance features an all-star lineup, including guitarist Kai Lyons, percussion master Ernesto, bassist Mazar, and the incomparable Einar Leliebre Nuñez, whose fiery rhythms and soaring voice bring the soul of...
Keys favorite Kenny Washington always brings concert thrills and spills to Keys. Don’t miss out on one of our very own world class bay area artists!Kenny Washington has thrilled audiences across the globe with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and inventive scatting. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington appeared in 2013 with...
Bay Area multi-instrumentalist Smith Dobson continues the Horns of SF series at Keys Jazz Bistro on the saxophone, with his long-running quartet, featuring Keith Saunders on piano, Eric Markowitz on bass, and Tony Johnson on drums. The quartet, which held court every Tuesday for nearly a decade at the now defunct Club Deluxe, will be...
Bay Area multi-instrumentalist Smith Dobson continues the Horns of SF series at Keys Jazz Bistro on the saxophone, with his long-running quartet, featuring Keith Saunders on piano, Eric Markowitz on bass, and Tony Johnson on drums. The quartet, which held court every Tuesday for nearly a decade at the now defunct Club Deluxe, will be...
