A native of Dallas, Hall began her life with the piano at age four, honing her skills in the church and later in studies at Oakland’s Mills College before setting out on a professional career that would find her warm and intuitive mix of jazz, classical, and gospel approaches in great demand.

An intensive period of club performances and band building while living in Belgium for two years helped prepare Hall for her life as a collaborator and leader, and upon her return, she built a career in collaboration with a roster of major artists including Mary Wilson, Kim Nalley, Marcus Shelby, Houston Person, David “Fathead” Newman, Pamela Rose, Queen Esther Marrow, Ernestine Anderson, Barbara Dane, Holly Near, and Regina Carter, among dozens of others. She was a featured guest on NPR’s Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland, and is a dedicated educator, working extensively with SFJAZZ’s education department as well as the SFUSD, Stanford Jazz Workshop, the Musically Minded Academy, and more.

Tammy L. Hall began her musical journey in Dallas, playing piano and organ at church as early as age 7, raised by her grandparents and inspired by a family rich in musical influence. She relocated to California in 1979, attended Mills College, and later honed her improvisational skills during a two-year stint in Brussels, performing at prestigious festivals alongside saxophonist Noah Howard.

Since the late 1980s, Hall has become a central figure in the Bay Area jazz scene—accompanying legends like Etta Jones, Kim Nalley, Linda Tillery, and many others—while also leading her own ensembles and teaching at institutions like SFJAZZ, Stanford Jazz Workshop, and more.

Her discography includes albums like Blue Soul (2012) and Heart Flow (recent), exhibiting deep improvisational expression and heartfelt beauty. She describes her artistic goal as delivering what she calls the “Royal Blue” sound—a sense of profound, immersive beauty.

Tammy Hall presents this tribute concert the the late and great Shirley Horn. Shirley Horn (1934 – 2005) was an extraordinary American jazz singer and pianist, revered for her intimate, unhurried style and the deep emotional honesty she brought to every performance. Known for her achingly slow tempos and nuanced phrasing, she could make a ballad feel like a whispered confession. Her restrained touch at the piano perfectly framed her smoky, tender vocals.

Tammy L. Hall began her musical journey in Dallas, playing piano and organ at church as early as age 7, raised by her grandparents and inspired by a family rich in musical influence. She relocated to California in 1979, attended Mills College, and later honed her improvisational skills during a two-year stint in Brussels, performing at prestigious festivals alongside saxophonist Noah Howard.

Since the late 1980s, Hall has become a central figure in the Bay Area jazz scene—accompanying legends like Etta Jones, Kim Nalley, Linda Tillery, and many others—while also leading her own ensembles and teaching at institutions like SFJAZZ, Stanford Jazz Workshop, and more.

Her discography includes albums like Blue Soul (2012) and Heart Flow (recent), exhibiting deep improvisational expression and heartfelt beauty. She describes her artistic goal as delivering what she calls the “Royal Blue” sound—a sense of profound, immersive beauty.

Live music featuring special guests each week along with curated media playlists and Q&A make Discover Jazz the Bay Area’s favorite Thursday evening hang!

For over seven decades, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. defied the limitations of artistic label and category, lending his genius as a producer, composer, arranger and visionary to the worlds of jazz, pop music, television, film and so much more. In this series we celebrate the many milestones of Q’s illustrious career.

These monthly open jam sessions provide a space for all Bay Area musicians to come together and perform in an inclusive, multi-generational setting. Each session features a musical director and curated repertoire. We invite musicians of all levels and ages to sign up, and each session is free and open to the public – no reservations or tickets needed to attend!

For this exclusive night, a pair of Bay Area jazz luminaries team for a heartfelt tribute to vocalist and NEA Jazz Master Al Jarreau, singer Nicolas Bearde and pianist Tammy L. Hall.

For this exclusive night, a pair of Bay Area jazz luminaries team for a heartfelt tribute to vocalist and NEA Jazz Master Al Jarreau, singer Nicolas Bearde and pianist Tammy L. Hall.