Ring in the Holidays with the “West Coast Cool” of Octobop, opened by our San Jose Jazz High School All Stars. These free concerts coincide with the SoFA District’s South First Friday Artwalk, with galleries and museums open until 9pm.

Formed in 1999, Octobop balances influences from post-bop artists like Gerry Mulligan, Miles Davis, Shorty Rogers, Bud Shank and Howard Rumsey to other special musicians like Jelly Roll Morton and the Allman Brothers. Add to that mix some movie and TV music and you will never know what you get at an Octobop gig.

As an octet, Octobop has enough structure to create interesting nuances and colors in the music. Yet it is small enough to provide lots of blowing room for everyone in the group. Writers and arrangers as well as players, the members of Octobop create music you are unlikely to hear anywhere else.

The evening’s opener is SJZ’s audition-based jazz ensemble the High School All Stars, playing repertoire certain to get you into the Holiday spirit.