Bankhead Presents Program | October 2026
Sponsored in part by
Dona Crawford
Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves
Celebrate John Coltrane
FRI OCT 2 @ 8 PM
September 2026 marks the centennial of John Coltrane’s birth. To honor the enduring legacy of one of jazz’s most transcendent voices, the Branford Marsalis Quartet and Dianne Reeves will release a tribute album which revisits Coltrane’s seminal 1963 collaboration with Johnny Hartman (coming in the Fall of 2026 on Blue Note Records), to be followed by a worldwide tour.
Branford Marsalis Quartet
Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. The NEA Jazz master, three-time Grammy Award winner, and Tony and EMMY Award nominee is equally at home performing concertos with symphony orchestras and sitting in with members of the Grateful Dead, but the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet. After more than three decades of existence with minimal personnel changes, this celebrated ensemble is revered for its uncompromising interpretation of a kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics. After receiving Grammy nominations on its last two albums, Upward Spiral and The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul, the Quartet made its Blue Note Records debut in 2025 with the release of Belonging, a full album interpretation of Keith Jarrett’s 1974 ECM album of the same name.
Dianne Reeves
Five-time Grammy-winner Dianne Reeves is the world’s pre-eminent jazz vocalist. As a result of her virtuosity, improvisational prowess and unique jazz and R&B stylings, Reeves received the Grammy for “Best Jazz Vocal Performance” for three consecutive recordings — a Grammy first in any vocal category. Reeves was featured in George Clooney’s award winning film Goodnight and Good Luck, for which she received a Grammy. Her most recent release, Beautiful Life, features Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper, Lalah Hathaway, and Esperanza Spalding. Produced by Terri Lyne Carrington, Beautiful Life also won a Grammy. Reeves has received honorary doctorates from DePaul University, the Berklee College of Music and The Juilliard School, and like Branford, she was designated a Jazz Master by The National Endowment for the Arts — the highest honor the United States bestows on jazz artists. Apart from a duo recording with Romero Lubambo slated for early 2026, her collaboration with the Branford Marsalis Quartet will be Reeves’ first album in twelve years.
Sponsored in part by
Comedian Gabriel Rutledge:
Don’t Read the Comments
SAT OCT 17 @ 8 PM
A past winner of both the Seattle International Comedy Competition and The Laughing Skull Comedy Festival in Atlanta, Gabriel has made numerous television appearances including Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, Nickelodeon’s Nickmom Night Out, Laughs on FOX, and Inside Joke streaming on Amazon Prime Video. His Dry Bar Comedy special “A Third of the Room,” as well as his YouTube special “Nectarine,” have garnered millions of views online.
He is also the author of the book Happiness Isn’t Funny: True Stories of a Road Comic.
Sponsored in part by
Al Jardine and The Pet Sounds Band
SAT OCT 24 @ 8 PM
Al Jardine, founding member of The Beach Boys, is currently touring with The Pet Sounds Band, whose talented and seasoned members were handpicked by Brian Wilson. The show includes many Beach Boys’ hits (“California Girls,” ”Help Me Rhonda,” “I Get Around,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Sloop John B,” “Surfin’ USA,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun”), plus songs from the critically acclaimed Love You album and other rarities from the 70’s. The Pet Sounds Band includes Al’s son Matt Jardine, who has received rave reviews for his youthful Brian Wilson-like vocals on classics like “Good Vibrations,” “God Only Knows,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” and “Surf’s Up” from The Beach Boy’s legendary unreleased masterpiece SMiLE!
A little bit of history—after Al’s family moved to Hawthorne, California, in the mid-50’s, he met Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson along with Mike Love, to form the band in 1961. Al played guitar, arranged and produced many songs and sang lead on the No. 1 hit “Help Me, Rhonda.” In 1988, Al was inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Beach Boys and in 2001, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy. In 2005, Al released Sloop John B: A Pirate’s Tale, a fun-filled adventure children’s book based on the classic folk song (and Beach Boys hit) of the same name.
Al released his first studio album, A Postcard from California, in 2010, which was recently re-released to a worldwide audience from Universal Music and also a new 4-track EP in 2025 called Islands In The Sun, which includes guest appearances from Neil Young and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
In 2026, Al Jardine and The Pet Sounds Band perform the classic hits and rarities in a tribute to the late Brian Wilson—it’s a show that promises to keep the good vibes and beautiful harmonies of The Beach Boys’ timeless music alive for many more years!
LVA Sponsor
LVA Sponsor
LVA Sponsor
Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno
Día de Los Muertos
SUN OCT 25 @ 3 PM
Founded in 1967 by Carlos Moreno Samaniego, the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano has achieved recognition both in the United States and in Mexico. In 1980, the Mexican consulate in San Francisco named the company the official ambassador for ongoing cultural activities with Mexico. It has held that distinction for over twenty years during which time it regularly conducts tours in Mexican cities such as Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Aguascalientes, and Durango.
Drawing on the artistic variety of Mexico’s different regions, the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano has a dance repertory of 120 pieces. Many of these are presented in their traditional form while others have been restaged to include artistic elements from more contemporary choreography. In this way, the indigenous rhythms of Tarascan Indian dances from central Mexico stand in sharp contrast to the Spanish military; and courtship dances from that region. Similarly the African influences that characterize dances from the Gulf of Mexico are juxtaposed by Mexican polkas that mark the influence of eastern European from the north. In her review of the company, Jennifer Fisher, the celebrated dance critic for the Los Angeles Times, noted that the Ballet “has much appeal. They are tightly rehearsed and (their) choreography is inventive.”
The Ballet Folklorico Mexicano maintains an active performance agenda. The company’s yearly “Navidad en Mexico” show at Chabot College in Hayward is a highlight for the entire Bay Area Community. The troupe also tours regularly in the western and southwestern United States.
Sponsored in part by
CLUB BANKHEAD
Jazz Chanteuse Laura Anglade
FRI OCT 30 @ 8 PM
Brooklyn based Jazz chanteuse Laura Anglade is originally from the village of Brousse-le-Château in the south of France, though she grew up in the US and spent several years living in Canada. Laura’s performances are a reflection of her roots: rich in simplicity, an appreciation for the past, and finding wonder in ordinary moments. Laura brings clarity and depth to interpretations shaped by the legendary voices of Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Horn, Carmen McRae, Michel Legrand, and Barbra Streisand, among others. Her 2022 release “Venez Donc Chez Moi” earned a Juno nomination, and in 2023 she was awarded the Prix Opus for Jazz Concert of the Year.
An international touring artist, Laura has headlined jazz festivals across the US, Canada, Mexico, UK and Europe, captivating audiences through her innate storytelling. Her conversational style bridges the gap between singer and listener, making each performance intimate and personal. Her artistry has brought her to renowned stages including Paris L’ Olympia, London’s Royal Festival Hall, New York’s Town Hall, and a regular at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. She has also toured in support of acclaimed artists like Melody Gardot and Gregory Porter.
Laura’s third album, “Get Out of Town” (Nettwerk Music Group), was released on May 23, 2025 to tremendous praise and she has seen her audience grow exponentially. Laura was featured on Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show Me Music” series, where she performed her version of the beloved Rodgers & Hart standard, “Manhattan.” She continues to tour, having performed in January 2026 at Winter Jazz Fest in New York City.
UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery at the Bankhead Theater
Yesterday Once More: Scenes from the Past
Thru October 10, 2026
UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery: Thursdays — Saturdays, 12 pm — 5 pm*
FREE & OPEN to the Public
Thru October 10, 2026
City of Pleasanton’s Harrington Gallery: Wednesdays — Fridays, 10 am — 5 pm; Saturdays, 10 am — 3 pm
FREE & OPEN to the Public
*PLEASE NOTE: The Art Gallery is CLOSED Sundays through Wednesdays, as well as on Saturdays when matinee performances take place at The Bankhead.
Step into the echoes of yesterday in Yesterday Once More: Scenes from the Past, a collaborative exhibition presented by the UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery at the Bankhead Theater and the City of Pleasanton’s Harrington Gallery.
This evocative group exhibition invites artists and audiences alike to journey beyond the present, exploring memories, nostalgia, and the stories that shape who we are. Through compelling imagery and reflections on bygone moments, the featured works examine the connection between personal history and collective memory, celebrating the beauty, emotion, and complexity of the past.
Whether inspired by cherished recollections, historical moments, or imagined memories, Yesterday Once More offers a thoughtful and visually engaging experience that encourages visitors to reflect on the people, places, and moments that continue to resonate long after they have passed. Learn More …
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