SFJAZZ Center Announces Season One Lineup, Prepares For Opening (PHOTOS)

PHOTOS: SFJAZZ Announces Season One Lineup, Prepares For Grand Opening
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SFJAZZ founder Randall Kline announced the Season One lineup for the company's new center last week, exciting jazz fans for the grand opening in January 2013.

"After 30 years of presenting music in a variety of rented venues throughout the Bay, it is with great joy that we announce our first season in our new home, the SFJAZZ Center," wrote Kline in a release.

After raising $55 million from donors, the 30-year-old organization broke ground on a revolutionary new center last year. The concert hall will open its doors on the corner of Franklin and Fell Streets next Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 21, 2013).

The 35,000-square-foot center will accomodate up to 700 seated guests and will offer a state-of-the-art listening experience thanks to acoustician Sam Berkow and award-winning architect Mark Cavagnero.

"The Center is the first free-standing building for jazz in the country, designed, from concept to concert hall, to create an enhanced setting for creating and experiencing what the esteemed jazz writer Whitney Balliett calls 'the sound of surprise,'" said Kline.

Check out the full Season One lineup on the SFJAZZ website, and see a few special highlights in our slideshow below:

SFJAZZ Season One Lineup Highlight
Tony Bennett(01 of09)
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(credit:AP)
Bela Fleck(02 of09)
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(credit:AP)
Esperanza Spalding(03 of09)
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(credit:AP)
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers(04 of09)
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(credit:Facebook)
Bill Cosby (05 of09)
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Legendary comedian Bill Cosby will act as Master of Ceremonies at the Grand Opening Celebration. (credit:AP)
Dave Holland(06 of09)
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(credit:AP)
Zakir Hussain(07 of09)
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(credit:AP)
Regina Carter(08 of09)
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(credit:AP)
Dianne Reeves(09 of09)
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(credit:AP)

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