Jeff Kaliss

Jeff Kaliss has featured and reviewed classical, jazz, rock, and world musics and other entertainment for the San Francisco Chronicle and a host of other regional, national, international, and web-based publications. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, is a published poet, and is the author of I Want to Take You Higher: The Life and Times of Sly & the Family Stone (Backbeat Books) and numerous textbook and encyclopedia entries, album liner notes, and festival program notes.

Articles By This Author

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Artist Spotlight

Music Is for Everyone With Ben Simon and the SF Chamber Orchestra

Jeff Kaliss - February 10, 2020

SFCO’s music director believes that classical music is seriously fun, and he plans to share the joy in a series of upcoming concerts.

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Artist Spotlight

Myra Melford on Jazz’s Cutting Edge and Improvisation

Jeff Kaliss - February 3, 2020

The jazz pianist and composer curates Cal Performances’ Jazz Platform series.

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Feature

Conductor Jessica Bejarano Makes Her Own Magic Happen

Jeff Kaliss - February 1, 2020

She wanted to conduct her own orchestra, so she built the San Francisco Philharmonic, which debuts Feb. 3.

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Review

Marc Bamuthi Joseph Raises Big Questions With The Just and the Blind

Jeff Kaliss - January 20, 2020

The multimedia presentation at SFJAZZ explores issues of race, prejudice, and parenting.

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Review

Ringing in the New Year With Dumpstaphunk and Maceo Parker

Jeff Kaliss - January 4, 2020

Funk reigns supreme in celebrations at the Great American Music Hall and SFJAZZ.

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Artist Spotlight

Tim Higgins and the SF Symphony Brass Do It Their Way

Jeff Kaliss - December 10, 2019

The SFS principal trombonist talks getting great tone, mixing a perfect cocktail, and the Holiday Brass show at Davies on Dec. 15.

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Artist Spotlight

Valérie Sainte-Agathe Keeps the SF Girls Chorus Sounding Fresh and Looking Forward

Jeff Kaliss - December 2, 2019

The visionary music director talks about the upcoming SFGC holiday concert.

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Artist Spotlight

Composer Kurt Erickson Finds Fertile Ground in a Veteran’s Poem

Jeff Kaliss - November 4, 2019

His setting of Brian Turner’s “Here, Bullet” is catching on with performance groups around the globe via an innovative commission model.

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Review

Zenobia Powell Perry’s Tawawa House Gets a Welcome Revival

Jeff Kaliss - October 22, 2019

The rarely performed opera is set in a hostel along the underground railroad.

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Preview

Adam Schoenberg Puts Percussion in the Foreground With the SF Symphony

Jeff Kaliss - October 6, 2019

SFS principal percussionist Jacob Nissly will be front and center for the premiere of a new concerto.