Name: ALPHABET SOUP - 30TH ANNIVERSARY
Start: 2026-09-14T20:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-09-15T00:00:00-07:00
Location: Ivy Room

ivy room presentsMONDAY SEPT 14TH—<h2>ALPHABET SOUP</h2>30TH ANNIVERSARYperforming two full sets—Doors 7:00pm / Show 8:00pmAdvance Tickets Available—IVY ROOM860 San Pablo Ave, Albany • 21+— For a special, one night only, Alphabet Soup will feature all original members: Dred Scott - keys | Kenny Brooks - saxophone / Jay Lane, drums / Victor Little, bass and original MC's, CB (Chris Burger) and Michael Blake | with special guests. UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza doesn’t figure prominently into the advent of the Bay Area’s hip-hop scene. But it was the initial proving ground for Alphabet Soup, one of the first groups to build live instrumental performances around rappers. In the first half of the ’90s, the Bay Area nurtured a burgeoning acid jazz scene, a creative cauldron fueled by vinylphiles rediscovering 1960s organ-driven jazz funk. One of its key players, Alphabet Soup, ushered hip-hop into realms where it had never before tread — including the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival.-Andrew Gilbert <h2>ALPHABET SOUP</h2>—The brainchild of impressario, Gary Jones, Alphabet Soup launched in 1991 with saxophonist Kenny Brooks, pianist Dred Scott, rapper Chris Burger and drummer Jay Lane. The group was at the center of the Bay Area’s roiling ’90s scene, even winning best urban contemporary album at the BAMMIE (Bay Area Music) Awards for their 1995 debut, Layin’ Low In The Cut. Alphabet Soup is the Bay Area's own underground supergroup who immediately became one of San Francisco's most popular bands. Because of their unique hip-hop/jazz crossover appeal, Alphabet Soup gained a tight local following witnessed during their famous runs in major S.F. clubs like the Up &amp; Down Club, Elbo Room, Café du Nord, Justice League and Bruno's. Alphabet Soup has toured the West Coast with The Roots, and appeared on bills alongside De la Soul, Digable Planets, US3, KRS One and Nina Hagen. In addition to the core band which included bassist Sam Biggers and lead bassist, Wilbur Krebs, Alphabet Soup had a deep bench of local musicians, emcees and DJs. They are also known to play host to the visitations of many modern jazz greats like bassists Les Claypool and Kai Eckhardt; horn players like Joshua Roseman and Larry Schneider; drummers like Brain, Zigaboo Modeliste, Mike Clark, Eddie Marshall, Steve Smith and David Garibaldi. Soup's own drummer, Jay Lane won "Drummer of the Year" at the 2002 California Music Awards. Les Claypool was so impressed upon hearing Alphabet Soup that he set up Soup's first live recording "Layin Low in the Cut" on his Prawn Song label. In 1996 Soup won the Bammie for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Each of the band's talented members have also forged impressive careers apart from the Soup. Alphabet Soup was the first group to bring rappers to the Monterey Jazz Festival. Their appearances at Monterey, SF Jazz Festival and Yoshi’s jazz club showcased their unique blend of jazz and hip hop, their trademark sound.