Joshua Redman, David Sánchez; photo credit: Daniela Murillo, Gabrielle Cavassa
Joshua Redman Quartet
David Sánchez; photo credit: Daniela Murillo
Gabrielle Cavassa
The Athenaeum is pleased to announce this three-concert series featuring internationally acclaimed jazz artists. The series opens with two concerts commemorating the 30th year of Athenaeum Jazz at Scripps Research, in the acoustically-pristine Scripps auditorium, located at 10620 John Jay Hopkins Drive just north of the UCSD campus.
Seating is limited—so, order soon!
For tickets and information, click below or call (858) 454-5872.
Join us for an exciting fall series commemorating the 30th year of Athenaeum Jazz at the Scripps Research Auditorium. In the fall of 1996, the Athenaeum opened the hall with the first three public performances ever in this venue, featuring jazz legends Jimmy Smith and James Moody, and the TanaReid quintet with Mark Turner. We mark this special occasion of 30 years of jazz with a lineup featuring new and old friends of the Athenaeum’s jazz program.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 7:30 PM—Joshua Redman Quartet
The series opens on Tuesday, November 3, with an Athenaeum debut by one of the great saxophonists of our time, Joshua Redman, bringing his own quartet to San Diego for the first time in 15 years. The band features pianist Paul Cornish (whose trio appeared at the Athenaeum in January 2026), bassist Philip Norris, and drummer Nazir Ebo. Redman’s public career was launched in 1991 with his win of the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition. His early apprenticeships included gigs with Charlie Haden, Elvin Jones, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, McCoy Tyner, Clark Terry, Milt Jackson, and his father, Dewey Redman, to name just a few. And his youthful associations with Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, and Brian Blade continue to this day. His 10 albums as leader have won him international critical acclaim, including his latest, “Words Fall Short” (2025). With a career now spanning over three decades, Joshua Redman is a vital force in contemporary jazz. A bridge between tradition and innovation, performance and mentorship, intellect and emotion. His music continues to invite listeners into a world where every note tells a story, and every beat becomes a shared moment of human connection.
Sunday, November 15, 2026, 7:30 PM— David Sánchez “Tambó”
The series continues Sunday, November 15, with another of today’s landmark saxophonists, David Sánchez, in his latest quintet project, “Tambó.” GRAMMY® award-winner Sánchez is recognized around the world as one of the finest saxophonists of his generation. His most recent Athenaeum performance was with the all-star SFJAZZ Collective. His mastery of the instrument is undeniable and his sound unmistakable. Jazz critic Howard Reich wrote, "Technically, tonally and creatively, he seems to have it all… Sánchez merges jazz syntax with the musical dialects of the Caribbean and Latin America.” For his latest project, “Tambó,” he combines the African musical roots of his native Puerto Rico with the music of San Basilio de Palenque in Colombia, the oldest free Black community in the Americas, dating to 1603. As Sanchez describes it, “As I listened to the variations in the drum patterns of Palenque, I recognized echoes of the bomba in Loíza, Puerto Rico… Whether one is in Cuba, Honduras, New Orleans, Puerto Rico, or Colombia, there is a very similar everyday rhythm that makes you feel at home.”
Thursday, December 3, 2026, 7:30 PM— Gabrielle Cavassa
The series concludes on Thursday, December 3, with an Athenaeum debut by rising jazz vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa. A singer and composer, Cavassa recently signed to Blue Note Records. She was ushered into the spotlight through her collaboration with renowned saxophonist Joshua Redman on his critically acclaimed 2023 record ‘where are we’. In a five-star album review by Downbeat, Cavassa was hailed as “a young singer with a deep, rich, and fragile voice…a star in the making.” Born in Escondido of Italian descent, Cavassa began “obsessively listening” to records from a young age. She received a B.A. in Music from San Francisco State University but credits the Bay Area music scene for her “real education”. She moved to New Orleans in 2017, where she continued her education in local clubs. In 2021, she was crowned a winner of the prestigious Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. From 2023-2025, Cavassa toured extensively around the world with the Joshua Redman Group. Stereophile wrote, “Her voice gets under your skin. It is idiosyncratic, but it is trustworthy in its clarity and almost physical in its intimacy… her intuitive interpretations and riveting voice make you sit very still in your chair.”
The concert will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library (1008 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA 92037). There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. Priority seating will be given to Donor level members and above.
Ticket Confirmation Notice:
Your reservation is not complete until you receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your tickets have not been reserved. Please check your inbox and spam/junk folder or contact us at info@ljathenaeum.org or (858) 454-5872 to ensure your booking is finalized.
Ticket Cancellation & Refund Policy
All ticket sales for Athenaeum Music & Arts Library events are final. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the scheduled event start time are not eligible for a refund, regardless of the reason for cancellation.
Guests who are unable to attend may:
Transfer their ticket to another individual, or
Request that the ticket price be converted into a tax-deductible charitable contribution to the Athenaeum, provided no goods or services (e.g., meal, entertainment) were received.
For cancellations made more than 48 hours prior to an event, please contact Anira Abreu, Program and Administrative Associate, to discuss options: aabreu@ljathenaeum.org
We appreciate your understanding and support. Ticket proceeds help sustain the Athenaeum's cultural programming and enable us to present exceptional performances, lectures, and events throughout the year.
Thank you!