Hi, jazz fans and friends,
PAJA will present its next concert on the early evening of Sunday, October 4, 2026, featuring Akira Tana and Friends. It is only about seven weeks in the future, at the Social Hall of the First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, located at 1985 Louis Road at the corner of Embarcadero Road. Those of you who previously attended events there will recall that this comfortable venue has excellent acoustics and very ample parking. The doors open at 6:00 PM; the opening set by a youth ensemble will be from approximately 6:30-6:55, and Akira Tana & Friends will perform from approximately 7:20-8:50. The church does not permit food or beverages inside the Hall, and it will be after dinner time; accordingly, we will not offer snacks and water for sale, but there are water fountains and restrooms on the premises. This exceptional quintet is making a very rare appearance in the USA, and it may well be the only chance our audience members have to hear them! The ensemble includes internationally renowned drummer and leader Akira Tana, a long-time friend of PAJA who has performed many times in our concerts, 3 of his musician friends visiting from Osaka, Japan: Hammond B3 organist Atsuko Hashimoto, guitarist Yutaka Hashimoto, and tenor saxophonist Hideki Kawamura, and local vocalist Jackie Ryan, another PAJA favorite. They will perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival the week before they perform for PAJA, and the Japanese musicians will return home after our concert. They will play tunes from their recent album released in Japan, “Loving Burt Bacharach”, on which this very band appeared, as well as other tunes.
Tickets are $45 for adults, $35 for PAJA members who may purchase two tickets at the members’ price, and $15 for students. Tickets may be ordered by mail by sending–no later than September 28–your check made payable to the Palo Alto Jazz Alliance and a self-addressed, stamped return envelope to Palo Alto Jazz Alliance, P. O. Box 60397, Palo Alto, CA 94306, where it will be received by PAJA’s Treasurer, Tyler Cobbett; or ordered online on PAJA’s website, or at the door, cash or check only, if tickets remain available.
As Herb Wong, our founder and first leader, often said, “You do NOT want to miss hearing these wonderful musicians!”
Harvey Mittler, acting PAJA Chair and still Event Chair