Have Saxophone, Will Play

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.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
  • March 14, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, Furthermore Wines, Healdsburg: with the Carl Rosenblum Quartet.
VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES

Here are a couple of virtual combo performances I put together during the pandemic after too many months of isolation from my playmates and our supportive listeners. First 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.

And check out at these sound clips and videos of live performances.

PAST PERFORMANCES OF NOTE
2026
  • February 15, Club 1220, Walnut Creek: Phil Lockwood (guitar), Michael Gill (keyboard), Dan Callaway (bass), Andrew Benzie (drums), Bruce Reingold (trumpet), Michael Gold (sax).
  • February 1, Pond Farm Brewery, San Rafael: Neil Sachs (drums), Brodie Vivio (piano), Nicole Brown (bass), Kelsey Howard (trombone), Michael Gold (sax).
2025
  • December 13, Bernal Heights Library (SF) Winter Open House, Bernal Jazz Quintet: Jim Zimmerman (vibes), Michael Gold (sax), Derek James (trombone), Chuck Bennett (bass), Evan Williams (drums).
  • December 12, Jupiter, Neil Sachs Quartet: Neil (drums), Brodie Vivio (piano), Nicole Brown (bass), Michael Gold (sax).
  • October 26, The Back Room, the Deep End Sextet: Gerald Beckett (flute), Michael Gold (sax), Derek James (trombone), Ari Caprow (guitar), Ken Lenga (bass), David Strong (drums).
  • September 7, Lewiston Avenue Block Party, Berkeley: Katherine Westine (keyboard), Dan Callaway (bass), Cedric Jensen (drums), Phil Lockwood (guitar), Bruce Reingold (trumpet), Michael Gold (sax).
  • September 6, Pond Farm Brewery: Neil Sachs (drums), Wade Larsen (piano), John Anderson (bass), Michael Gold (sax).
  • August 17, Club 1220: Dave Schroeder (guitar), Bruce Reingold (trumpet), Michael Gill (keyboard), Dan Callaway (bass), Andrew Benzie (drums), Michael Gold (sax).
  • July 4, Florio/Auburn Street Block Party, Berkeley: Katherine Westine (keyboard), Dan Callaway (bass), Cedric Jensen (drums), Bruce Reingold (trumpet), Michael Gold (sax).
  • June 27, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn: Gary Zellerbach (guitar), Pierre Archain (bass), Michael Gold (sax).
  • April 11, A Capella Bar & Restaurant, with Gary Zellerbach (guitar) and Noah Schenker (bass).
  • April 6, Wyldflowr Arts, The Deep End Sextet: Gerald Beckett (flute), Michael Gold (sax), Derek James (trombone), Ari Caprow (guitar), Ken Lenga (bass), David Strong (drums).
  • March 29, A Capella Bar & Restaurant, with Derek Barber (guitar) and Noah Schenker (bass).
  • March 16, Club 1220, with Bruce Reingold (trumpet), Michael Gill (keyboard), Dan Callaway (bass), Phil Lockwood (guitar), Andrew Benzie (drums), Michael Gold (sax).
  • March 15, Bird & Beckett, The Deep End: Gerald Beckett (flute), Michael Gold (sax), Ari Caprow (guitar), Ken Lenga (bass), Evan Williams (drums).
  • February 16, Club 1220, with Dave Schroeder (guitar), Jim Hoadley (bass), Andrew Benzie (drums), Bruce Reingold (trumpet), Michael Gold (sax).
2024
  • December 7, Bernal Heights Library Winter Open House, Bernal Jazz Quintet: Jim Zimmerman (vibes), Michael Gold (sax), Derek James (trombone), Chuck Bennett (bass), Evan Williams (drums).
  • December 1, Club 1220, with Dave Schroeder (guitar), Dan Callaway (bass), Andrew Benzie (drums), Michael Gill (keyboard), Bruce Reingold (trumpet), Michael Gold (sax).
  • 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, 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, 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, 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, Gerald Beckett Quintet.
2022
2020
2019
2018
2017