Co-founded by multi-instrumentalist Adam Theis, Jazz Mafia is an eclectic artist collective of forward-thinking and accomplished players from the worlds of electro, hip-hop, world, classical, and jazz. Active since 2000, the collective is a prolific staple of the quintessential San Francisco sound, uniting creative and accomplished Bay Area instrumentalists, vocalists, MCs, composers, and arrangers.

Since its founding, Jazz Mafia quickly garnered a reputation for its collaborative and risk-taking spirit. Over the years, they have worked with an eclectic and acclaimed list of collaborators that includes Roy Ayers, Lyrics Born, Zion-I, Rebelution, Latyrx, Galactic, Ledesi, Blackalicious, and Jackie Greene to name a few. Recently, the collective performed sold out residencies at the SFJAZZ Center and served as the house band in The Soiled Dove – its large-scale cirque-inspired collaboration with The Vau de Vire Society.

The collective recently collaborated with the Oakland Symphony at Paramount Theatre of the Arts, as well as with GRAMMY-winning composer Mason Bates and his Mercury Soul project at the Kennedy Center in DC. Jazz Mafia also curates musical experiences for Stanford University, Oakland Art & Soul Festival, and many other presenters.

Adam Theis:
Adam Theis is an Oakland-based multi-instrumentalist, producer, bandleader and composer who plays trombone, trumpet, tuba, bass, keyboards – and anything else he can get his hands on. His commitment to bringing high quality, creative, independent, and diverse music to the Bay Area and beyond lies at the center of the Jazz Mafia movement. As Jazz Mafia’s director, Adam has assembled over 100 different live projects over the past 20 years and led/co-led dozens of acclaimed bands. He is also the Director of SFJAZZ’s Monday Night Band, Director of the Truckee Jazz Camp, and winner of the Gerbode-Hewlett Foundation’s “Emerging Composer” Grant.