Gunhild Carling at Biscuits & Blues

Gunhild Carling’s performance at Biscuits & Blues in San Francisco was a terrific night out for fans of traditional jazz—from Dixieland and swing to big-band classics—and for anyone who appreciates musicians as entertaining to watch as they are to hear.

The Swedish-born multi-instrumentalist, singer, and entertainer, often dubbed the Queen of Swing, brings together dazzling musicianship, vintage jazz, playful humor, and theatrical showmanship. Her performances are a joyful celebration of an earlier jazz era, but never feel like a museum piece. With Carling, you can expect virtuoso playing, unexpected musical detours, and plenty of surprises.

We parked our Tesla Model Y at the Mason/O’Farrell Garage (325 Mason Street), which was both convenient and inexpensive. With a Biscuits & Blues ticket, you get discounted rates of $10 for up to three hours or $16 for up to five hours of covered parking. Just remember to show your ticket to qualify for the discount.

Since we arrived early, around 4:30 p.m., we stopped at One65 Patisserie, our favorite spot in the area, for coffee and pastries. We shared a pain aux raisins and a tartelette. I ordered a cappuccino, while Inna enjoyed freshly brewed mint tea.

At 5:15 p.m., we walked over to Biscuits & Blues, showed our tickets, and sat in the second row, just a few feet from the stage. We ordered a bottle of Pellegrino, fried chicken, and hot tea. Unfortunately, the tea never arrived, yet it appeared on our bill alongside a beer I hadn’t ordered. Sorting out the incorrect charges with the waitress took some time after the show.

The performance began right on schedule at 5:33 p.m., as the musicians took the stage. Aside from Carling and her Swedish husband, the band members were local musicians from Oakland, Pacifica, and elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The following band members were introduced during the performance. Some spellings in this list are unconfirmed.

Gunhild Carling: Leader, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist
Johan Blomé: Banjo player and Gunhild's husband
Luke Gurley: Musician from Oakland
Sophie Powers: Trombone player and vocalist from Pacifica
Eric Kong: pianist from San Jose
Ryan Callaway: Multi-instrumentalist from Oakland, typically playing clarinet and bass saxophone
Bo Bradford: Drummer from north of San Francisco

I thoroughly enjoyed the show, although the sound level was uncomfortably loud. Inna and I both resorted to using our AirPods’ noise-reduction feature to make the volume more tolerable—and to protect our hearing.

Despite the billing hiccup and the excessive volume, it was a memorable evening. We hope to catch Carling again when she returns to San Francisco for several performances in November and December.

Sunday, October 25, 2026
Biscuits & Blues
401 Mason Street, San Francisco

Early show: 5:30 PM; doors at 4:15 PM
Late show: 7:30 PM; doors at 7:15 PM

Dinner and drinks: Full menu and bar service during the show.

Parking: The venue advertises discounted parking at Mason/O'Farrell Garage, 325 Mason Street: $10 for up to 3 hours or $16 for up to 5 hours with your ticket.

What makes her special?

Surprisingly, Carling played one of my favorite New Orleans-style jazz standards — Everybody Loves My Baby — as her second song in the setlist.

Here is a short video clip of her performance of "Bei mir bist du schön" (originally a Yiddish song). It accurately captures the energy Carling brings on stage.

Background from a different performance

Steven Roby’s All About Jazz review describes Carling’s musical comedy, tap dancing and multi-instrumental showmanship at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab on May 24, 2026. That review concerns an earlier concert, rather than our October 25 visit to Biscuits & Blues.

My favorite songs included the following:

Everybody Loves My Baby (12:44)
Bei Mir Bistu Shein (21:31)
Back to New Orleans (44:11)
I Ain't Got Nobody (57:15)
Bourbon Street Parade (1:16:19)

Roby’s earlier SFJAZZ review also describes an “Ice Cream” finale and a musical procession into the lobby. Those details are background from that performance, rather than independently verified details of this Biscuits & Blues show.