Among the world’s most common and popular instruments, the humble guitar is associated with all kinds of music. Here are the best picks, both classical and non, among the strummers and pickers performing in San Francisco this fall.
Harvey Mandel With The Snake Crew at Biscuits & Blues
Back when rock ’n’ roll had the blues and was making good use of them, Chicago’s Harvey Mandel showed Jerry Garcia and Elvin Bishop how to reap joy and virtuosity from flying fretboard work and controlled electronic feedback. Mandel also hung with black blues-masters like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Buddy Guy, and he’s now playing lead for Canned Heat.
Sept. 25, 8 and 10 p.m, Biscuits & Blues, San Francisco, $20, (415) 292-BLUES [2583]. (Jeff Kaliss)
Dennis Kamakahi at the Freight & Salvage
A Hawaiian of Tahitian royal lineage and a master of the islands’ signature guitar style, called kī hō alu (or slack key), Dennis Kamakahi, with some help from Dancing Cat Records founder George Winston, is eager to be heard on the mainland. His entrancing approach involves open tunings, overtones, and such decorations as hammering on and sliding between frets. He helps headline the Berkeley Hawaiian Music Festival at Freight & Salvage.
Oct. 21, 8 p.m., Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, Berkeley, $34.50, (510) 644-2020. (Jeff Kaliss)
John Scofield Jazz Quartet at Yoshi’s-Oakland
His popularity in the jazz world is partly a tribute to John Scofield’s integration of elements from outside the genre, including rock, R&B, funk, and even gospel. He evolved from early gigs with Chet Baker, Charles Mingus, and Miles Davis to leading his own groups, with quick-moving, imaginative excursions on the fretboard and an infectious sense of fun.
Oct. 21–22, 8 and 10 p.m.; Oct. 23, 5 and 7 p.m.; Yoshi’s Jazz Club, Oakland, $18–$24, (510) 238-9200. (Jeff Kaliss)
Xuefei Yang, San Francisco Performances and Omni Foundation
The first Chinese classical guitarist to launch an international career, Xuefei Yang was so accomplished as a teen that John Williams gave two of his own Smallman guitars to the Beijing Conservatory so she would have excellent instruments to play. Now in her 30s and a ravishing interpreter of traditional guitar repertoire, she has also made brilliant arrangements of Chinese music and has collaborated with many contemporary composers to create works on Chinese themes.
Oct. 29, 8 p.m., Herbst Theatre, San Francisco, $30–$45, (415) 398-6449. (Scott Cmiel)
Isaac Bustos, South Bay Guitar Society
At age 11 Isaac Bustos began playing popular Latin American music on the guitar. After graduating with top honors in performance from the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica in Nicaragua, he continued his studies in the U.S. Bustos has since begun an extensive performance career and is quickly becoming recognized as one of the top young guitarists of his generation.
Nov. 12, 8 p.m., Le Petit Trianon, San José, $15–$30, (408) 292-0704. (Scott Cmiel)
Minette, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble
The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble presents Minette, an arrangement for two guitars of an opera by Hans Werner Henze constructed on the principles of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations and based on a short story by Balzac about vegetarian cats that form the Royal Society for the Protection of Rats. Guitarists should be eager to support such adventurous programming. Henze is one of the finest contemporary composers for the guitar; Left Coast’s Michael Goldberg is an outstanding musician with a flair for unusual repertoire; and guest artist Marc Teicholz is an internationally acclaimed Bay Area favorite. Left Coast’s typically eclectic program will also include wonderful piano quartets by Johannes Brahms and Ross Bauer.
Dec. 1, 8 p.m., Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley; Dec. 5, 8 p.m., Dennis Gallagher Arts Pavilion, SanFrancisco, $25, (415) 642-8054. (Scott Cmiel)
Eduardo Fernandez, San Francisco Performances and the Omni Foundation
Since the New York Times praised his 1977 U.S. debut, saying, “Rarely has this reviewer heard a more impressive debut recital on any instrument,” Eduardo Fernandez has been a North American favorite. The Uruguayan six-string virtuoso masterfully interprets music from Bach to contemporary guitar.
Dec. 10, 8 p.m., Marines Memorial Theater, $30–$45, (415) 398-6449. (Scott Cmiel)