Charles Unger has been a band leader and innovator of new music and sounds in the San Francisco Bay Area since the 1970s, starting with the Magic Colors Band.  He plays R&B, Jazz and World Beat. His repertoire includes jazz standards, smooth jazz and originals.  He formed the first Charles Unger Experience out of the talented Bay Area music scene of the late 1960s when the blend that became Funk transformed many styles to follow.  That left Charles with a lasting desire to "Take It To The Top."

Countless jam sessions over the years provided him with a wealth of many artist and musician friends of various disciplines and hundreds of songs that influence the way he approaches life and people.  Charles has worked and toured with many of the Bay Area's top performing artists and musicians, literally learning on the spot what works and what doesn't.  He has played and opened for major artists, such as Pete Escovedo, Stix Hooper, Louis Madison, Maxine Howard and Richard Howell.

Charles plays Alto, Tenor and Soprano saxophones.  That has allowed him to continuously expand his knowledge of different music from around the world, including African and Middle Eastern genres. But having said that... Charles is most adept at his love of Jazz and R&B.   Most notably, for his appreciation and understanding of all the Jazz Masters from John Coltrane to Coleman Hawkins, Grover Washington, Kenny Garrett, Lester and Charlie Parker to Diz and Miles Davis.

Tours and recordings in Europe and the Far East have given Charles a deeper understanding of how Jazz music is truly a universal language and can be used to communicate and speak to many cultures around the world.  A universal language that be can used to breakdown many barriers that separate us.

Charles currently plays at three venues in San Francisco: Every Wednesday and Friday evenings at Les Joulin Jazz Bistro, 44 Ellis Street, every Sunday evening at Rasselas, 1470 Fillmore Street and first Saturday evening each month at the Sheba Lounge, O'Farrell and Fillmore. For more information, please visit the Events section.

To review the complete bio for Charles Unger along with quotes and a review of Mr. 2 AM, please refer to: Charles-Unger-Experience-Bio-Quotes-Review.pdf

The New Fillmore, May 1, 2011:  ‘A great player who loves what he’s doing’

MUSIC |  Anthony Torres

I first heard Charles Unger play when I stepped into the Sheba Piano Lounge on the way home from Yoshi’s one night. As I walked in, I was immediately struck by the intonation of the tenor sax and the ease with which Unger and his band, The Experience, moved through Carlos Santana’s “Europa.” Since then I have seen them at both Sheba and Rasselas. Every time, it’s been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Continue reading at The New Fillmore.


Bert Brown, sound engineer at the White Horse, Black Mountain, NC, where Charles played in July and December 2010:

"As a listener, I love it when I can see the passion in the music, even with my eyes closed. Few players can emote through their instrument as well as Charles."

"As a musician, I crave the experience of watching players who care enough and dare enough to make each song a special event. Charles and his band never fail to add extra value to every piece."

"As a sound engineer, I appreciate any musician who loves the music enough to let go of the technical details. Charles always trusts me to give my best effort to making the show appealing to the eyes and ears of the listener. This is the sign of a real pro."


Eric Smith, Beyond Chron, Edgetone Records
Charles Unger has performed for numerous years at Les Joulins Jazz Bistro on Ellis, and the Rasselas Jazz Club on Fillmore, to the delight of regulars, tourists, purists and jazz aficionados alike.  Continue reading...