As previous reported, Jackie Greene and Friends headlined the
40th annual Blue Bear School of Music Benefit at San Francisco’s Bimbo’s 365 Club on Thursday night. Blue Bear School of Music’s nonprofit mission is to provide superior music education to aspiring musicians of all ages and skill levels within a supportive and encouraging community in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Greene offered a full two-set performance that featured originals like “So Hard to Find My Way,” “Shaken,” “Don’t Let The Devil” and “Tell Me Mama,” among others. The Blue Bear School of Music Youth Band also joined Greene for an inspired rendition of the Grateful Dead’s “Franklin’s Tower.” In addition, ALO’s Dan Lebowitz (lap steel) and Steve Adams (bass) sat in with Greene during his set for for an extended jam as well as Jimmy Cliff’s “Harder They Come.” Lebowitz then joined Greene at the end of the night for a medley that included a mash-up of “Heard It Through the Grapevine”, “Another Brick In The Wall Part II,” “Shakedown Street” and a tease of “Truckin.”

Though the night was a success for the non-profit organization, Blue Bear’s newest rock band program fell just short of its funding goal. The Mira Loma Elementary Rock Band Ensemble program can still reach its goal by donating to the organization here).

Greene is currently working on a new studio album. For updates on his new project, please visit his Facebook page.