Bay Area Jazz & Arts Inc

The Sound Room is the home of Bay Area Jazz and Arts, Inc (BAJA), a nonprofit organization focused on music and art, with an emphasis on jazz performance. 

It has now been almost 30 years since we first started presenting music. Initially it was in our house but over the years we formed a non-profit and moved to Downtown Oakland in 2012. At that time businesses were sparse and it was a brave move to take on a lease in the relatively empty commercial area. Since then we have been listed in DownBeat magazine as one of the best places to hear Jazz in the world, have been featured in the New York Times, 36 Hours in Oakland, as well as in the Wall Street Journal article One of a Kind Experiences in Oakland.

We use our door proceeds to pay the band, tune the piano, and keep our sound system up and running. Our food and drink proceeds are used to pay  rent, utilities and licensing fees. Most of the labor is donated by dedicated music fans to create a sustainable music venue. As such, the Sound Room is able to continue running as a break-even business.

Covid has created substantial hardships for our organization. Being closed for 17 months and having to relocate in the middle of the pandemic has been difficult. As we navigate evolving Covid guidelines, we continue to need your support.