Oakland-based saxophonist, composer, and educator Kazemde George brings a deep musical perspective shaped by jazz, hip-hop, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Brazilian, and African-American musical traditions. Raised in Berkeley by Caribbean parents, Kazemde developed his musical voice through improvisation, composition, electronic music, and extensive study. His work reflects a commitment to exploring the musical traditions of the African Diaspora and connecting those traditions to contemporary music.

Fresh II Def, an original theatrical music production created by George Williams (GROC), son of Ruth Williams, whose legacy continues to inspire generations of artists through the theater that bears her name. Celebrating the pioneers who transformed hip-hop forever, Fresh II Def pays tribute to legends including Sugarhill Gang, Whodini, LL Cool J, MC Lyte, […]

Thomas Pridgen is an internationally recognized American drummer whose explosive technique, musical versatility, and powerful improvisational voice have made him one of the most distinctive drummers of his generation. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Pridgen began playing drums at a remarkably young age. He was performing in church as a child and, at just nine years old, won the Guitar Center Drum-Off. At ten, he became the youngest recipient of a Zildjian endorsement at the time. His early development was shaped by the Bay Area's rich gospel, jazz, R&B, and improvisational music traditions.

The series culminates in a special performance led by Giulio Xavier Cetto, bringing together musicians from across the Bay Area and beyond for an evening built around collaboration, improvisation, and musical exchange. This final performance brings together the artists and ideas explored throughout the Bayview Sessions, creating a unique live experience where the music can move freely between jazz, Latin and Caribbean influences, hip-hop, funk, and contemporary improvisation.

Minneapolis-born, Los Angeles-based pianist and composer Javier Santiago brings together jazz, hip-hop, beat-making, composition, and contemporary musical language. An alumnus of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA and the Brubeck Institute Fellowship Program, Santiago has performed with artists including Herbie Hancock, Terrace Martin, Louis Cole, Alex Isley, Jonathan Kreisberg, Braxton Cook, Kassa Overall, and Yosvany Terry. For this session, Santiago will be joined by Michael Isaac Mitchell on drums, Kazemde George on saxophone, and Giulio Xavier Cetto on bass for a powerful quartet exploring the intersection of jazz, rhythm, improvisation, and modern production.