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.
Louisiana born-and-raised living legend Jules Broussard has been blowing away Bay Area audiences with his double-saxophone serenades and soulful solos for over 60 years. He’s been stage and studio mates with everyone from Alice Coltrane to Van Morrisson to Carlos Santana – it’s often joked that in his 88 years, there’s really no one Jules...
Louisiana born-and-raised living legend Jules Broussard has been blowing away Bay Area audiences with his double-saxophone serenades and soulful solos for over 60 years. He’s been stage and studio mates with everyone from Alice Coltrane to Van Morrisson to Carlos Santana – it’s often joked that in his 88 years, there’s really no one Jules...
“Dave Brubeck was not only a ground-breaking jazz pianist, composer and bandleader, but was also an outspoken advocate for civil rights and international diplomacy at many critical moments in American history.Join us for an afternoon of music and conversation with pianist Simon Rowe, former Executive Director of the Brubeck Institute and founder of Keys Jazz...
“Dave Brubeck was not only a ground-breaking jazz pianist, composer and bandleader, but was also an outspoken advocate for civil rights and international diplomacy at many critical moments in American history.Join us for an afternoon of music and conversation with pianist Simon Rowe, former Executive Director of the Brubeck Institute and founder of Keys Jazz...
Keys jazz bistro presents, Ray Obiedo’s Latin Jazz Ensemble featuring Phil Hawkins on Steel Pans and Trumpeter Erik Jekabson, with Murray Low-piano, Dan Feiszli-bass, Jon Bendich-percussion, Colin Douglas-drums.
Keys jazz bistro presents, Ray Obiedo’s Latin Jazz Ensemble featuring Phil Hawkins on Steel Pans and Trumpeter Erik Jekabson, with Murray Low-piano, Dan Feiszli-bass, Jon Bendich-percussion, Colin Douglas-drums.
Tiffany Austin is a vocalist, composer, educator, and Berkeley Law Juris Doctor. She has performed with luminaries such as Pharoah Sanders, Roy Ayers, John Handy, Cyrus Chestnut, and Doug Carn. Her soulful delivery and musical storytelling has brought her to stages at Birdland and Dizzy’s Den in NYC, Walt Disney Concert Hall in her native...
A staple of the Bay Area scene since 2013, Atta Kid is an all-star crew that reaches into the swampy lilt of New Orleans and the razor-sharp precision of the East Bay at the same time. Led by Daniel Casares (sax and vocals)and Max Cowan (B-3, keyboards and vocals), Atta Kid will take you on...
Based out of San Francisco, California The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra, was founded in 2007, by guitarist/songwriter Anthony Paule. Inspired by authentic Soul and Blues recordings of the ‘60s and ‘70s, this dramatic horn driven extravagant act took shape. Known for having great, authentic singers, APSO invites newest member, the incomparable vocalist Willy Jordan into...
Howard Wiley presents a celebration of soul-jazz, funk, gospel, and R&B steeped in West Coast flavor, combining Wiley’s hard-driving originals with a funkified selection of classics. Wiley has been a standout on the Bay Area music scene since he was a teenager in the mid-1990s, and he’s taken on the mantle of mentor, sage, and...
Howard Wiley presents a celebration of soul-jazz, funk, gospel, and R&B steeped in West Coast flavor, combining Wiley’s hard-driving originals with a funkified selection of classics. Wiley has been a standout on the Bay Area music scene since he was a teenager in the mid-1990s, and he’s taken on the mantle of mentor, sage, and...
Saxophonist Patrick Wolff Patrick Wolff is a jazz saxophone and clarinet player with a long history in the jazz scenes of New York City and San Francisco. His playing has been characterized by a focus on lyricism and an embrace of the whole lineage of jazz styles. Drummer Matt WIlson is widely recognized as one...
