The Mario Guarneri Jazz Quartet, which has established a dedicated following for its innovative interpretations of jazz classics and originals, features some of the most creative musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area. The musical performances of this group reflect their wide diversity and vast experience. They are passionate about communicating their love of jazz to others, and project through their music the essence of this American art form.
The members of the group have performed and recorded with a wide variety of artists, including Ahmad Jamal, Jimmy Smith, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, Mose Allison, John Heard, George Duke, Donald Byrd, George Cables, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders and Roger Kellaway.

Every Tuesday, Bay Area bassist extraordinaire Chris Amberger brings a friend or two to entertain us, carrying on Dave Bernstein's tradition. Chris has toured the world, playing in a variety of styles and venues, from symphony orchestras, to movie and commercial credits, to small group jazz. He’s worked with a who’s who collection of musicians, including Cal Tjader, Art Blakey, George Shearing, Richie Havens, Bobby McFerrin, Nancy Wilson, Maria Muldar, Jimmy Witherspoon, Dexter Gordon, Charles Lloyd, Roland Kirk, Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Stitt, Donald Byrd, Barney Kessell, to name just a few.
“Superb” –John Wasserman.
“A most resonant timbre like a brilliant beacon light in the night”—Phillip Elwood.

Craig Ventresco and Merideth Axelrod
Acoustic guitarist Craig Ventresco's style is a unique combination of Ragtime, rural Blues, early Jazz guitar and traditional String Band influences. His playing is at once fiery, melodic and inventive. Ventresco has concentrated on early 20th century vaudeville, ragtime, and popular songs as recorded on obscure 78s and cylinders from the dawn of the recorded music era. He features music written by Eubie Blake, Scott Joplin, Big Bill Broonzy, James Scott, Lucky Roberts, and a Ventresco original as well. His playing was featured on the soundtrack album for the film "Crumb."

Sharman Duran
Among San Francisco's premier jazz vocalists, Sharman Duran stands out as a talented musician who values both the lyric and the melodic attributes of a song. Her style is fresh, intelligent, languid, and playful all at once. Her delivery conveys full-bodied emotional content with impeccable phrasing. The rich chordal voicings of her piano playing lend tasteful and elegant support to her singing.