Before a show, after a show or between Winter Fest shows, Mama Kin is the perfect place to have some delicious food, a great artisanal cocktail and a great "hang." We've worked with Mama Kin and Jazz in the Neighborhood to provide great music each Thursday (Free) and Friday (just $10) during Winter Fest.  Tonight's band is Huney Knuckles with Jazz Aid Fund artists Kevin Wong on keys, Skylar Tang on trumpet and Brian Sheu on guitar; Tony Peebles on sax, and Darian Gray on drums. The band is on 6–9pm and is followed by a Tony Peebles-led jazz jam until 12:15am. You might even see some Ukrainian artists taking the stage, including Borys Mohylevsky on alto sax.

Formerly the Black Star Pirates, the Huney Knuckles are a four-piece instrumental powerhouse serving up soulful compositions, jaw dropping improvisations, and insanely funky jams. The group combines the left hand keyboard bass wizardry of Kevin Wong with the indomitable pocket of drummer Darian Gray, drummer for Booker T. Jones. This performance will feature teen trumpet sensation Skylar Tang.

Founded in early 2021, the Huney Knuckles were birthed during the quarantine at Black Star Pirate BBQ, when Kevin and Darian teamed up with Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Tony Peebles, virtuoso guitarist Brian Sheu & the one and only Kelyn Crapp to bring the joy of live music back to one of the first places in town to host socially distanced outdoor live music. 

Kevin Wong is widely regarded as one of the best keyboard bass players this side of the Mississippi, pulling off mind bending solos with his right hand while seamlessly holding it down with his left.  With an ear as sharp as a hawk, Kevin brings an unprecedented level of energy and musicality to the bandstand that speaks well beyond his youthful appearance and soft spoken demeanor. 

Drummer Darian Gray‘s precise, deep-pocket style has made him a first-call session and touring pro — not just in his home state of California, but across North America and beyond. Supporting such luminaries as Booker T. Jones (of Booker T and the MGs), Ledisi, and Goapele, Darian has appeared on The Jay Leno Show and Live With Kelly and Michael. Darian has toured internationally with artists like Anthony Hamilton and Lyrics Born, and tours with Grammy winner Fantastic Negrito have taken him to Australia, Japan, South America, and dozens of European countries.

Band members also include SJZ Jazz Aid Fund recipient Brian Sheu, a founding member of the Super Soul Bros and The iLLiance, and saxophonist Tony Peebles, a founding member of Grammy Award-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra.

The SoFA entertainment district’s newest venue, Mama Kin offers the perfect trifecta of food, drinks & live entertainment in the former Cafe Stritch space, a storied location for live jazz. Enjoy a full bar and cuisine that's a fusion of American classics and modern Mexican culinary flourishes. Leave boring behind with a selection of offerings that rises to the level of Mama Kin’s diverse musical performances in San Jose’s most interesting business district, where creativity and social life thrive.