Two male musicians perform under a blue tent; one plays an acoustic guitar, and the other holds a percussion instrument.

A man with a beard is joyfully playing hand drums while sitting on a gray concrete block in an outdoor space, wearing a black jacket and gray sweater.

A young man in a green beanie and black hoodie plays a percussion instrument outdoors, seated on a wooden stool surrounded by plants.

Jazz on the Plaz(a) with Lyons, Cubanos and Yumberos

Date and Time

Wednesday, Sep 9, 2026 12pm - 2pm

Location

Details

Jazz Mafia is a wrecking crew of musicians, composers, and producers whose music, media, and curated experiences elevate the community.

Mechanics Monument Plaza is proud to be home to a variety of Jazz Mafia combos every Wednesday from 12-2 PM, transforming this iconic downtown space into a vibrant lunchtime retreat. Grab your lunch, take a seat, and soak up the sounds of the Bay Area’s best jazz artists. It’s guaranteed to brighten your day!

Featured Artist: Lyons, Cubanos and Yumberos

Kai Lyons, a San Francisco native from the Excelsior District, is an accomplished musician who leads this group on the tres Cuban guitar alongside Cy Thompson, Tobiah Gaster, and Einar Leliebre “Tito”. Classically and jazz-trained at institutions including the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, William Paterson University, and San Francisco State University, Kai has studied under renowned masters across guitar and jazz disciplines. His extensive freelance career includes international musical research across the Caribbean, South America, and Ghana, as well as performances with members of Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters and the San Francisco Ballet.

This event is free and open to the public; no RSVP required.

Jazz on the Plaz(a) is produced by the Downtown SF Partnership with support from Jazz Mafia.