I’m Michael Gold, a Berkeley-based jazz saxophonist. I play in some great groups—trios, quartets, quintets, and big bands—with a bunch of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most creative and talented musicians. I’d love to share our music with you.
- Hire us for a party, reception, festival, concert—any sort of event.
- Enjoy tunes on my Watch & Listen page. Or click this player for music right now: Blues For Bill
- Get gig alerts by email so you can come hear us live.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
- December 1, Club 1220 (Walnut Creek), 5 to 7:30 pm, with Dave Schroeder (guitar), Dan Callaway (bass), Andrew Benzie (drums), Michael Gill (keyboard), Bruce Reingold (trumpet), Michael Gold (sax).
- December 7, Bernal Heights Library (SF) Winter Open House, 2 to 4 pm, Bernal Jazz Quintet: Jim Zimmerman (vibes), Michael Gold (sax), Derek James (trombone), Chuck Bennett (bass), Evan Williams (drums).
- March 8, 2025, Bird & Beckett (SF), 7:30 to 9:30 pm, The Deep End: Gerald Beckett (flute), Michael Gold (sax), Ari Caprow (guitar), Ken Lenga (bass), Evan Williams (drums).
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Although live music is making a comeback, the pandemic still has prevented many of my regular music venues from resuming their programs. Below are a couple of modest substitutes for live music, virtual combo performances I put together after too many months of isolation from my playmates and our supportive listeners. I hope you enjoy these, as well as this site’s other sound clips and videos. And of course I hope to see you at one of our (still too scarce) in-person performances.
VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES
This is Dave Brubeck’s Upstage Rumba arranged for virtual big band by me and Paul Mindrup. I’m playing soprano, alto, and tenor saxes while Paul holds forth on piano, synthesized marimba and bass, plus a plethora of percussion.
Here’s an arrangement for virtual sax quartet of that great standard Alone Together.
PAST PERFORMANCES OF NOTE
2024
- November 3, Warehouse416, The Deep End + 1: Ari Caprow (guitar), Gerald Beckett (flute), Michael Gold (sax), Derek James (trombone), Ken Lenga (bass), Evan Williams (drums).
- October 20, Club 1220, with Derek Barber (guitar), Dan Callaway (bass), Andrew Benzie (drums), Joe Finetti (trombone), Michael Gold (sax).
- June 8, Bernal Heights Library Summer Stride Kickoff (SF), Bernal Jazz Quintet: Jim Zimmerman (vibes), Michael Gold (sax), Derek James (trombone), Chuck Bennett (bass), Evan Williams (drums).
- March 10, Club 1220, with Dave Schroeder on guitar, Dan Callaway on bass, Andrew Benzie on drums, Michael Gill on keyboard, Michael Gold on sax.
2023
- September 1, Club 1220, with Dave Schroeder on guitar, Dan Callaway on bass, Andrew Benzie on drums, Michael Gill on keyboard, Michael Gold on sax.
- December 2, Bernal Heights Library (SF), Winter Open House (SF), Bernal Jazz Quintet: Jim Zimmerman (vibes), Michael Gold (sax), Derek James (trombone), Chuck Bennett (bass), Evan Williams (drums).
- June 21, Bernal Heights Library (SF), Summer Solstice Celebration: Bernal Jazz Quintet with Jim Zimmerman on vibes, Derek James on trombone, Chuck Bennett on bass, Evan Williams on drums, Charlie Keagle on sax (subbing for Michael Gold).
- March 5, 307 Cortland (SF), Deep End Quintet with flutist Beckett, guitarist Ari Caprow, bassist Ken Lenga, drummer Evan Williams, Michael Gold on tenor and soprano.
- January 28, Bird & Beckett (SF), Gerald Beckett Quintet.
2022
- December 11, Club 1220, Dave Schroeder Quartet
- December 10, Bernal Heights Library Winter Open House (SF), Bernal Jazz Quartet
- May 7, Bird and Beckett (SF), Deep End Quintet
- April 21, Ula Restaurant, Michael Gold Quartet
- March 6, 307 Cortland Avenue, Bernal Jazz Quintet
2020
- March 5, Zingari Ristorante, Michael Gold Trio
- February 29, Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio, Spencer Caton Quartet
- February 28, Atlas Cafe, Ad Lib Ensemble
- February 27, Zingari Ristorante, Michael Gold Trio
- February 12, Bernal Heights Library, Bernal Jazz Quintet
- February 4, Harmonic Brewing, Michael Gold Quartet
- January 17, Bird & Beckett, Scott Foster’s Living Room Ensemble
2019
- November 22, Artís Cafe, Ari Caprow Trio
- November 19, Harmonic Brewing, Michael Gold Trio
- November 16, Artís Cafe, Ari Caprow Trio
- November 1, Oddists Open Studio, Gary Zellerbach Quartet
- November 13, Bernal Heights Library, Bernal Jazz Quintet
- October 15, Harmonic Brewing, Michael Gold Trio
- October 25, Atlas Cafe, Ad Lib Ensemble
- July 14, 19 Broadway (Fairfax), West Side Jazz Club
- July 6, Revolution Cafe, Michael Gold Quartet
- Jan. 9, Bernal Heights Library Winter Party, Bernal Jazz Quintet
2018
- Dec. 6, Inclusions Gallery (Bernal Holiday Stroll Party), Michael Gold Quartet
- Nov. 3, 215 Main (Point Arena), Kawela Bay Quintet
- Oct. 26, Studio Nocturne Open Studio reception, Michael Gold Quartet
- Oct. 16, Terroir Wine Bar, Gary Zellerbach trio
- Oct. 12, Oddists Open Studio, Gary Zellerbach Quartet
- Oct. 5, MendoViné (Gualala), Chris Doering Duo
- Aug. 5, Ocean Ale House, Gerald Beckett Quintet
- July 8, Revolution Cafe, Gerald Beckett’s Jazz Revolution
- April 21, 215 Main, Kawela Bay 5tet (Whale ‘n Jazz Festival)
- April 6, Atlas Cafe, Paul Sanwald Quartet
- Nov. 5, Mariposa Studio, Bernal Jazz Quintet
- Oct. 3, Chez Marius, Tom Lander Trio
- Oct. 1, Old Bus Tavern, Michael Gold Trio
- Sept. 30, 215 Main (Point Arena), Kawela Bay 5tet
- Sept. 29, Atlas Cafe, Geller/Gold Quartet
- Aug. 26, Bird & Beckett, Bernal Jazz Quintet
- Feb. 6, Small Wonder Bar/Cafe (Oakland), Rebecca Yarbrough & Sharp6
2017
- Dec. 7, Revolution Cafe, Rebecca Yarbrough & Sharp6
- Nov. 20, Mariposa Studio, Bernal Jazz Quintet (watch Caravan video)
- Nov. 5, Kawika’s Ocean Beach Deli, Rebecca Yarbrough & Sharp6 (watch All or Nothing at All video)
- Sept. 21, Angelica’s, Redwood City, Emma Callister Walmsley Quintet
- Aug. 14, Lake Merritt Dance Center Ball Room, Oakland, Class Act Big Band
- July 24, Doc’s Lab, SFJAZZ Monday Night Band
- June15, La Cappella Musicale, Urbino, Italy
- May 16, SFJAZZ, SFJAZZ Monday Night Band
- April 23, Cadillac Hotel, SFJAZZ Monday Night Band Combo
- March 20, Cubic Space at Mariposa Studio, Zimmerman-Gold Duo
- Nov. 14, 2015, Cafe Bastille 25th Anniversary Party
- March 8, 2015, Chez Hanny, Bernal Jazz Quartet