Dear Friends,  

It’s George and Jeannie, and we’re excited to invite you to a special night we’re calling “King & Lady Sassy”, a name inspired by the two jazz vocalist legends who have shaped our life and our love for music: Nat King Cole and Sarah Vaughan.  

We met this summer at Stanford Jazz Institute, and from the first note we sang together, we knew we had something special. 

Since then, we’ve been dreaming of sharing the joy and stories of jazz with you.  

So, mark your calendars and join us in a cozy, intimate setting where the music will flow like a conversation among friends. 

We’ll be breathing new life into the jazz standards we all know and love, sharing stories, and creating new memories together.  

And your presence will make the joy of jazz dance in the air, where every heartbeat brings us closer.  

Let’s create something beautiful together.  

With love and tunes,  

George & Jeannie  

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ABOUT THE HOUSE BAND  

🎸 Tomoko Funaki, Bass Tomoko Funaki, a faculty member at the Stanford Jazz Institute, was born into a musical family in Japan. After starting her musical journey with violin and flute, she found her passion for jazz bass after moving to San Francisco. Since then, she has studied with jazz luminaries like Ray Drummond and Rufus Reid and regularly performs with the Hard Bop Collective. Tomoko brings her deep understanding of jazz and dynamic performance skills to both the stage and the classroom.  

🎹 Keith Saunders, Piano Keith Saunders is a distinguished jazz pianist and faculty member at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. His journey began in Los Angeles, where he studied under legends Charlie Shoemake and Horace Silver. Over his career, Keith has performed with renowned artists like Eddie Harris and Roy McCurdy. After leading the acclaimed NY HardBop Quintet in New York, he now resides in the Bay Area, performing with top musicians while sharing his expertise with students at SFCM.  

🥁 Tony Johnson, Drums A native Australian, Tony Johnson has been a vital figure in the San Francisco jazz scene for over six decades. His illustrious career includes performing with greats like Earl “Fatha” Hines, Peggy Lee, and Claude Williamson, as well as an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Known for his mastery of swing and bebop, Tony continues to energize the Bay Area jazz community, performing regularly at iconic venues across the city.