Kay Kostopoulos and George Brooks

Vocalist Kay Kostopoulos and saxophonist George Brooks met during a New Year's Day benefit concert at The Back Room. Inspired by the joy of that spontaneous event they are collaborating on an evening of eclectic music with an incredible rhythm section featuring John R. Burr on piano, Mark Williams on bass, and Jeremy Steinkoler on drums. This will be Kay and George’s first concert together on The Back Room stage and will feature standards, ballads and original music. AND worth noting…it is also the re-union of Brooks and John R., who played piano on Lasting Impression, Brooks’ debut release for Zakir Hussain’s Moment! Records.

A prolific recording artist and frequent performer at The Back Room, Kay Kostopoulos draws from her acting background and Mediterranean heritage to establish a unique sound in jazz. Kay has performed for The Napa Valley, Vallejo, and Sonoma Jazz Societies, as well as The Venetian Room, Fillmore Jazz Festival, Union Street and Sausalito Art Festivals. Kay also regularly appears in festivals and clubs in New York City including Bryant Park, Pangea, Mezzrow, and the iconic 54 Below.

"The lovely Ms. Kostopoulos, whose ageless Mediterranean beauty perfectly complements a show incorporating Greek goddesses, set the mood with an excellent rendition of Dizzy Gillespie’s 'A Night in Tunisia.' The star makes extensive use of sensuality in her performance, often with the aid of Turkish finger cymbals, called zills. Kay Kostopolous is a fine performer who will leave you enchanted and informed. New York is lucky to have her.” - Andrew Poretz, Theater Pizzazz , NY

George Brooks is an award-winning saxophonist and composer, acclaimed for successfully bridging the worlds of jazz and Indian classical music. He is the founder of seminal Indian fusion groups Summit with Zakir Hussain, Bombay Jazz with Ronu Majumdar and Larry Coryell, Raga Bop Trio with Steve Smith and Prasanna, Kirwani Quartet with Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Elements with Kala Ramnath and Gwyneth Wentink.

Brooks has collaborated extensively with American composer Terry Riley and has performed with genre defining artists Etta James, Anthony Braxton, Jaki Byard, Talvin Singh, Kronos Quartet, The Temptations, Michael McClure and Ray Manzarek. Brooks has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious concert venues including the Queen Elisabeth and Barbican Halls in London, the Concertgebouw in the Netherlands and the Esplanade in Singapore as well as SF Jazz, Yoshi's, Stanford Jazz Festival and major festivals throughout India. He was a featured soloist on John McLaughlin’s 2008 Grammy-nominated Floating Point CD.

"The music on this recording has blown me away. Brooks plays the saxophone with a tone, rhythmic concept and harmonic concept that sounds totally new to my ears. The result is one of the most exciting saxophone records I have ever heard." - Saxophone Journal

“Bristling with east meets west polytonality and rhythmic intrigue and tinged with a Trane-like spirituality... Blowing gorgeous tones and fluidly unravelling complex ideas...(Brooks) succeeds to a startling and almost rapturous degree." - SF Bay Guardian

Tickets are $25 general admission. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show.

Doors open one half hour before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door.

The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.

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Please note: Although masks are no longer required, we strongly encourage their use to keep everyone safe in our intimate space.

Host or Publisher Sam Rudin