Thursday Jazz @ Mercury Cafe
Schedule for the home of the Fuck The Supreme Court! jam session and Nick's favorite composers
Here is what is planned for live music at Mercury Cafe.
All shows are from 6-9PM, and there is no cover.
I started playing regularly at the Mercury jam session from the Summer of 2021, when it was led by Danny Brown and the Noise All-Stars. He asked me to take it over in Spring 2022 when he moved on to more lucrative gigs. I kept the format of hiring a rotating cast of characters in the rhythm section for the house band.
Mercury’s owner Nick also has a network of creative and political people to whom he also offers the space, and he asked me to curate the Thursday evening calendar to help coordinate this community.
July 2025
A mix of original bands and jam sessions.
7/3 Closed
Staff are traveling and you probably have other obligations, too.
7/10 TBD
Sharman Duran Duo
7/17 Alt Jazz Ark Corpus Z Quartet
We’ve been working on some challenging originals and hope to share them with you.
Also adding trumpeter Miles Spearman to the mix
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Miles Spearman - trumpet
Benjamin Paul - piano
Carl Herder - bass
Theo Auclair - drums
7/24 Children of Lucy
Danceable original compositions by Dr. Clock A.C. Lewis and arrangements from around the world
Dr. Clock - drums
Elaine Alt - alto saxophone
Rick Brown - trombone
Mar Stevens - percussion
Noah Mogor - bass
David El - guitar
7/31 Fuck The Supreme Court! Jam session
Bring yer axe and sit in with the house band.
Hosted by pianist Trey Pernell, who has played here before with Ruben Verghese’s group from the CMC. Trey will be performing an hour of solo piano, then will be joined by a bass player for the jam session.
June 2025
A mix of original bands and jam sessions.
6/5 Fuck The Supreme Court! Jam session
Bring yer axe and sit in with the house band. Hosted by
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Carl Herder - bass
Cedric - drums
6/12 Children Of Lucy
Danceable original compositions by Dr. Clock A.C. Lewis and arrangements from around the world
Dr. Clock - drums
Elaine Alt - alto saxophone
Rick Brown - trombone
Mar Stevens - percussion
Noah Mogor - bass
David El - guitar
6/19 Sharman Duran Duo
Standard and original jazz
6/26 Fuck The Supreme Court! Jam session
Bring yer axe and sit in with the house band. Hosted by
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Charles Thomas - bass
drums TBD
May 2025
Featuring several original bands this month.
We still have one jam session left in March, and several of the bands are approachable for those who want to sit in.
5/1 SF Ballet & CMC Septet Doubleheader
First, the SF Ballet young patron organization is hosting a pre-game for the encore performance of Frankenstein.
Followed by a Jazz septet from the CMC led by Ruben Verghese, featuring Angela, Brian, Jonah, Steven, Aaron and Trey.
5/8 Alt Jazz Ark Corpus Z Quartet
Workshopping original Jazz with some twists
Elaine Alt - alto saxophone
Benjamin Paul - piano
Carl Herder - bass
Cecil - drums
5/15 Sharman Duran Duo
Standard and original jazz
5/22 Fuck The Supreme Court! Jam session
Bring yer axe and sit in with the house band. Hosted by
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Carl Herder - bass
drums TBD
5/29 Fuck The Supreme Court! Jam session
Bring yer axe and sit in with the house band. Hosted by
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Rob Bassinette - bass
Josh Shultheiss - drums
April 2025
Featuring several original bands this month.
We still have one jam session left in March, and several of the bands are approachable for those who want to sit in.
4/3 Sharman Duran Duo
Standard and original jazz
4/10 Children Of Lucy
Danceable original compositions by Dr. Clock A.C. Lewis and arrangements from around the world
Dr. Clock - drums
Elaine Alt - alto saxophone
Justin Croderman - trombone
Mar Stevens - percussion
Noah Mogor - bass
Zach Zokko - guitar
4/17 Alt Jazz Ark Corpus Z Quartet
A modified formation continuing to pursue original music
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Benjamin Paul - piano
Carl Herder - bass
Théo Auclair - drums
4/24 Mihaly Shimmering Leaves
Original music compositional and improvisational
Dave Mihaly - drums, piano and guitar
Jeff Hobbs - violin and saxophone
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Sonya Trejo - drums
Michael Cavaseno - guitar
March 2025
Looking forward to Dave, Sharman, and some new blood at the jam session.
3/6 Fuck The Supreme Court! Jam session
Bring yer axe and sit in with the house band. Hosted by
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Charles Thomas - bass
DrClock aka A.C. Lewis - drums
3/13 Fuck The Supreme Court! Jam session
Bring yer axe and sit in with the house band. We may play some originals as well. Hosted by
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Carl Herder - bass
Théo Auclair - drums
3/20 Sharman Duran Trio
Standard and original jazz
3/27 Fuck The Supreme Court! Jam session
Bring yer axe and sit in with the house band. Hosted by
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Kris Brown - bass
DrClock AC Lewis - drums
February 2025
Looking forward to Dave, Sharman, and some new blood at the jam session.
2/6 Fuck The Supreme Court! Jam session
Bring yer axe and sit in with the house band. Hosted by
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Charles Thomas - bass
Théo Auclair - drums
2/13 Mihaly Shimmering Leaves Band
Original music compositional and improvisational
Michael Cavaseno - guitar
David Boyce - soprano and tenor saxophone, drums
Jeff Hobbs - alto sax, cornet, violin
Dave Mihaly - drums, piano, guitar, voice
2/20 Sharman Duran Trio
Standard and original jazz
2/27 Fuck The Supreme Court! Jam session
Bring yer axe and sit in with the house band. Hosted by
Elaine Alt - saxophone
Caroline Chung - bass
Josh Shultheiss - drums
This is the same week as my birthday and the release of my first CD in a dozen years, by the Alt Jazz Ark Corpus X Quartet, called Forgotten Aspect.