“Jazz Mafia is one of the best things that’s ever happened to the Oakland Symphony”

“Jazz Mafia’s trademark mix ’n’ mash of funk, hip-hop and jazz embraces the genre-crossing tradition of great Bay Area bands like Tower of Power and Santana.”

“As an organization governed by a radically embracing ethos, the Jazz Mafia is the antithesis of a criminal enterprise. A trombonist, bassist, arranger, composer and inveterate band-builder, Theis seeks to welcome all comers stylistically and demographically, while the band makes the most of whatever it has to offer. It’s a conspiracy of generosity.”

“With nearly a dozen different bands under its musical umbrella, Jazz Mafia units have encompassed styles ranging from hip-hop, jazz, and R&B to classical, rock, and electronic.”

“You can expect the shows to ignore the lines between jazz, rap, funk, soul, reggae, electronica... If you’ve followed the Bay Area music scene at all, you’re likely to have seen or heard at least a few of the Jazz Mafia groups led by Adam Theis during the last two decades.”

“Performing with the Jazz Mafia is always great. Great musicians, great sensibilities, great performances. As deep music aficionados, we always end up performing rarer pieces—songs I almost never do live. It makes the performances special and singular.”

“Theis and his Jazz Mafia collective... aren’t the first to find the sweet spot between HIP-HOP, CLASSICAL, JAZZ AND ELECTRONIC, but they may be the first to do it so earnestly and so elegantly.”