Former Location –
Basin Street West was a famous Jazz club which gradually migrated towards rock before it finally closed in 1973.
Jack Yanoof opened the Basin Street West as a jazz club in 1964. The first performers were Latin jazz pianists. Comedians also performed at the club. Lenny Bruce’s only surviving filmed recording of his nightclub routines was his gig at Basin Street West a few months before his death in 1966.
By 1967, Yanoof was booking rock acts like Jefferson Airplane and soul acts such as Otis Redding. Ike & Tina Turner recorded a live album there in 1969. The album peaked at No. 142 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 19 on the R&B albums chart.
After Basin Street West closed in 1973, it was replaced by a Korean restaurant and now appears to be an empty building.
Notable Performances at Basin Street West Include:
Ray Charles on June 9, 1971
Sly & the Family Stone on January 17, 1969
The Fifth Dimension from July 12-21, 1968
Little Richard from October 27- November 4, 1967
Sam & Dave on July 11 and 16, 1967
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles on May 25 and June 3, 1967
Four Tops on May 11 and May 20, 1967
Jefferson Airplane from January 13 to January 22, 1967
Notable Recordings Made At Basin Street West:
In Person by Ike & Tina Turner & The Ikettes
Dancing In The Street by Ramsey Lewis
Basin Street West
401 Broadway
San Francisco CA 94133
Basin Street West closed in honor of Dr. MLK on the weekend after his assassination. Does anyone know who were the scheduled performers that weekend?
I remember seeing Martha and the Mandela’s I believe it was a 1968.
Vandellas.
Just been listening to an old cassette with Woody Herman live at Basin St West . Never knew where it was . Its a great album for those of us who like Big Bands.
PS. I live in the UK
Check out Tears of Joy by Don Ellis if you like big band. I was on the band at that time. Fun times.
I know BB King played there sometime in 1970. Would love to find a live recording of that show.
I saw Miles Davis there. Also, Kenny Rogers & the First Edition.
It was a great little venue. Very intimate.
Basin Street West was also important because they were brave enough to book Lenny Bruce (club owners had been arrested in the past due to Bruce’s show). Bruce did his penultimate show at BSW before his death due to a morphine overdose.
I saw the Ike & Tina Turner Revue at Basin Street West in the Fall of 1968. Ike had a 10-piece band (The Kings of Rhythm) and four Ikettes as background singers to Tina. It was truly an event to see and hear.
I also had the pleasure of seeing The Ike and Tina Revue at that time. What made it extra special was the fact that Tina came down to our table and proceeded to take me on stage with her while singing a song. (I just can’t remember what the song was)..
Saw I & TT there the first week of December 1970. We sat at a table next to the stage, and got Ikette sweat on us! I was on leave while My wife and I were on our honeymoon… I flew out to SE Asia on Dec. 9, 1970. Also saw Tower of Power over the bridge in Oakland.. Pretty amazing groups
I saw this same performance in December 1970 my first year in the Bay Area. It was an intimate performance spacey and the best musical performance I’ve ever seen.The energy in the room was incredible. There were two acts and the Ikeettes and Tina both sweated through their dresses in the first act and had to change their dresses. I just saw her life story musical in London and it was a great experience As welll.
I also saw that show when I was stationed at Letterman Army MEDCEN. Very intimate setting compared to later concerts when Ike and Tina got “bigger”.
I think it was Ike and the Iketts at that time.
You are correct. That was a long time ago, but it was a show that I will never forget!
from Norwich England – – – Hi – I still consider I was very lucky to see Otis perform at B.S.W. in August or September of 67 while I was working on the cruise ship Orsova ,bound for Australia. a wonderful night as Otis was my favourite then, and still is.
I believe he wrote Dock of the bay during the week he was playing San Francisco ! – so sad that only a few weeks later we were to lose him in Wisconsin !!
later the same night at the Jazz workshop I believe I saw Muddy Waters playing in a small band there
R.I.P. Great Man – never forgotten !!!!!!
My Father Arthur Nirack, owned Basin Street West! Seeing all the Motown acts and Jazz greats made for a charmed childhood!! North Beach in the 60’s was an amazing time!!!! Thanks for the memories!! ❤
Laureen, sorry to see that your sister Toni passed away. For a few years of your life, your pseudo-sister Sharon Rosamond, has also recently passed away. Unfortunately, cancer took her in Banning, CA. Her celebration will be on April 7. I know she loved you gals.
I saw the Righteous Brothers in 1970.
I heard Jimmy Smith play there may 1st 1968.
As a young man on ORIANA cruise ship, went with friends, saw the Duke, spoke with Sam Woodyard-drummer after the show. Had a great Steak for a breakfast show around 2AM l believe. Around 50 years ago, but What A Night..love this ity.
I was lucky enough to see Otis during his week at
B.S.W and still consider this as one of my most memorable nights.made even more poignant as we lost Him not too many weeks later, I was working on world cruise ships at the time and if ever there was a right place right time this must have been it – Thanks Otis and R.I.P great man !!!!!
I am another lucky person to have seen Otis at BSW. I turned 21 in 66 and I think that was the year it could have been 67. I fell so lucky to have been there that night. He was soooo good. So much better than seeing someone at a huge concert …no comparison.
My brother took me to see Stan Kenton at the Basin Street West in the mid 60’s. Was one of the greatest performance’s I ever saw. I’m not going to say concert because Basin was a true night club where you can see top headliners in an intimate setting. The acoustics were the best and the crowd was knowledgeable and sophisticated and true fans. Kenton was the best of the big bands in my opinion he had genius arrangements lush sounds and those Bones would just pierce through your heart, true soul.
It reminded me of what Las Vegas would have been like in it’s hay day. I can still see it with my minds eye when I look inward to this day.
Duke Ellington
Saw him there on 1968.
I saw one of the best concerts in my life there; Junior Walker & the Allstar’s. They blew the roof off the place, it was absolutely phenomenal!!!
I saw BB King perform at BSW in 1970 as well. It was in the summer, June I believe. It was my first trip to SF; I was 17 and my GF and I wanted to see a show in the City. He was at BSW, the Thrill Is Gone, had been released that year, and he was at the top of his game. Great show!
I lived for a while in the hotel above Basin Street West, on Broadway in S.F. It was the 60’s, an amazing time. Living there and working at a bar down the street, gave me access to meeting some of the greatest jazz musicians of the time including MJQ who lived in the hotel too. We partied together as most of the jazz people did in the hotel back then. Cool memories.
I attended a breakfast concert at BSW during the summer of 1965 or 66 at 4-5 am with Anita O’day and a jazz quartet. She was awesome. Many musicians in attendance came in from their previous evening gigs. Does anyone remember this performance? Ken
Wow!
I believe it was the summer of 1965 or 66 when I heard Anita O’day sing at BSW with a quartet at a breakfast show 4-5 am. Many musicians came in from their earlier gigs. She was awesome. Anyone out there remember this performance? Ken W.
Heard the Dave Brubeck quartet there in 1966 and a few nights later heard Barney Kessel and got to talk with him afterwards. A great memory and thrill to this day.
Saw Buddy Rich Big Band in ‘68. Art Pepper was in it. Stayed for the breakfast show and TONY Bennet sauntered in from a bigger club across the street (?). Buddy coaxed TONY to do a number. He did I’M JUST A LUCKY SO AND SO. That’s how I felt. Louie Belson was in the audience. Great club.
I saw The Delfonics perform there when I was in high school. I had a great time, even though I couldn’t get a drink!
Spring Break 1971!! I got two see two Delfonic performances back to back! Great venue!!
I was a dancer at that time on broadway and I remember hearing littlerichard would be at basin st. I was at peppermint tree up the street so I RAN all the way to see his show !! S. The drummer came on first. Joined by the rest of Richards. Band and the momentum. Built to the point where one lady all dressed in her mink furs was up on the table just dancing away! Not sure if band was still called the UPSETTERS. Then or not but it was a great night!! I sat with Janis Joplin who also came to see him perform. I was a bit late getting. Back to my dance job but it was worth it!!
I saw The Temptations at Basin Street West in summer, 1967. An amazing show-David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks with an unbelievable $3.00 cover charge. A really fantastic performance. I wonder if there’s any footage?
I saw Richard Pryor there, twice, Drifters, Coasters, Ike and the Ikettes, Delfonics. Nate the Great was a regular in the audience.
Jack Yanoff was a good friend in those days. Saw some great performances at Basin Street. . Passing of Tina Turner brought back some of those memories. Jack and I played basketball at Jewish Community Center and I was one of partners in Pierce Street Annex then. A fabulous time to remember. Great performers and friends.