SFJAZZ, the all-encompassing institution responsible for cultivating and presenting jazz music in numerous capacities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, has announced the inaugural line up for the soon-to-open SFJAZZ Center in Hayes Valley. A Grand Opening is scheduled for January 21, 2013, while the Center’s official musical Opening Night will occur on January 23rd, and feature performances by McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding and many others – not to mention Bill Cosby as Master of Ceremonies. Tickets for all Season One events will be made available to SFJAZZ members early this month. For all the info on membership, check it out here.

Located on the corner of Franklin and Fell St., the SFJAZZ Center aims to be a national attraction in the world of jazz; not only for performances, but education, community involvement, and more. Their website explains:

The dream of building a cultural institution for the 21st century, a vital, dynamic space devoted to the creation and advancement of this music, has become a reality…The SFJAZZ Center is being built specifically for jazz music and audiences alike. It will be the first concert hall of its type in the western United States: a freestanding performance venue with flexible seating and staging for artists of every stature.

Depending on event, the Center can hold between 350 and 700 audience members, and will also feature an 80-seat ensemble room as well rehearsal space and a digital learning lab. The first season will run through June 2, 2013, and can be viewed in full here.