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Chuck Lenatti

I was born in San Francisco and I'm currently living on the coastside in Pacifica.

About Me

I grew up in San Francisco and I've essentially lived in the Bay Area for my entire life. I'm married and have a daughter who currently lives in Japan. After a career in journalism as an editor and writer, mostly for technology publications, I'm now retired.

A couple of years ago I discovered an adult jazz education class at the nearby College of San Mateo. Learning more about the history of the music rejuvenated my love and appreciation for jazz, and I've led a couple of classes in which I took a deep dive into the career of Ahmad Jamal, whom I hadn't followed nearly enough during his lifetime.

Now that I'm retired, I hope to employ my researching, writing and editing skills to achieve a better understanding of the music and the artists and share what I discover with other jazz lovers.

My Jazz Story

I was first exposed to jazz in San Francisco's legendary but quirky Keystone Korner on Columbus Ave. in North Beach during the 1970s and early '80s. Without knowing much about jazz, I absorbed a lot watching masters such as Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Bill Evans, George Cables, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Cedar Walton, The Timeless All-stars and many more. Economically, it was a rough time to own a jazz club in San Francisco, and Todd Barkan sold it in 1983, but those lingering memories inspired me on a lifelong journey in music. I saw Bill Evans outside the door smoking a cigarette and he looked so frail. Once on the piano, however, he was transcendent.

My Favorite Local Jazz Venues & Festivals

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