Adam Theis and Jazz Mafia take a completely new look at this legendary 1950s album from a 2024 perspective. The music strikes a precarious balance between the old and new - Birth of the Cool’s intricate Chamber/Jazz arrangements are reconstructed and placed in various musical vehicles developed over the past 70 years since the album’s release: Soul Jazz, 70s Fusion, Hip-Hop, Afro-Cuban and even Electronic are also interwoven into the lens of this new perspective. Players in this 6 piece ensemble switch between styles, tempos, feels, genre and even instruments at dizzying speeds, creating a truly unique modern Jazz performance and tribute to a true masterpiece.

“As an organization governed by a radically embracing ethos, the Jazz Mafia is the antithesis of a criminal enterprise. A trombonist, bassist, arranger, composer and inveterate band-builder, Theis seeks to welcome all comers stylistically and demographically, while the band makes the most of whatever it has to offer. It’s a conspiracy of generosity.”— Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News

Adam Theis - bandleader, trombone

John Palowitch - Alto Sax

Tommy Occhiuto - tenor/bari sax

Colin Hogan - keys

Joshua Thurston Milgrom - upright bass

Henry Plumb - drums

Tickets at Birth of the Cool: Jazz Mafia