Charles McNeal's powerful and passionate virtuosity can be attested to by all who have heard or played with him. His impressive list of Jazz and R&B collaborators include national names such as McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, & Boz Scaggs, and local heroes Lavay Smith, Brenda Boykin, and - on our stage - Faye Carol.
Is Charles the finest saxophonist in all of NorCal? Well, that is a subjective judgement. But the fact remains, if you ask any musician who has ever crossed his path, "hey, what do you think of Charles McNeal?" you will get a string of superlatives, delivered with head-shaking wonderment.
Sam Rudin is, of course, the owner/creator of The Back Room. He is also a top-notch pianist whose versatility encompasses the whole range of 20th century music. He can evoke the spirit of Fats Waller, Oscar Peterson, Mose Allison, and Jerry Lee Lewis - sometimes all at the same time. He is also a compelling vocalist whose rough-hewn voice conveys both drama and humor.
Sam is a fearless, jump-off-the-cliff improviser, and he is very excited that his high energy performance style will be more than met by this world-class saxophonist.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show.
Doors open 30 minutes before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door.
The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.
To join our mailing list, please click here.
Please refrain from using your phone during performances, and if you use your camera or video, please disable the flash.
Although masks are no longer required, we strongly encourage their use to keep everyone safe in our intimate space.
Thank you for your support!