Jorma Kaukonen Continues 85th Birthday Celebration In San Francisco With Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks & More

Founding Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kaukonen continued a series of shows celebrating his upcoming 85th birthday. with a performance on Friday at The Masonic in San Francisco. Special guests, Tedeschi Trucks Band’s Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, were among the musicians participating in the celebratory event.

Before the concert started, photographer Jay Blakesberg presented Kaukonen with a proclamation from the City Of San Francisco declaring December 5, 2025, “Jorma Kaukonen Day.” Kaukonen moved to California in the mid-1960s and, as a co-founding member of Jefferson Airplane, was a key figure in the Bay Area psychedelic rock scene. Kaukonen was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame with Jefferson Airplane in 1996.

Along with Tedeschi and Trucks, Kaukonen was also joined on The Masonic stage by his brother, Peter Kaukonen. Longtime collaborators John Hurlbut, and Bruce Cockburn. Bassist Sam Grisman was also brought into the mix.

Kaukonen, who was born on December 23, was supported by Hot Tuna drummer Justin Guip and harmonica player Ross Garren. Kaukonen’s longtime Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna cohort, bassist Jack Casady, performed after sitting out Jorma’s recent birthday show at Carnegie Hall.

Tedeschi was brought out to play electric guitar and sing “Uncle Sam Blues.” After that mid-set appearance, Tedeschi returned for the final songs of the main set, with Trucks joining on acoustic guitar. The couple contributed to blues favorites “Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning” and “Trouble In Mind.” The collaboration continued with Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” and ended with Jefferson Airplane’s “Good Shepherd.”

Kaukonen will wrap the celebratory run on December 13 in Denver with Carlos Nakai, Will Clipman and David Hidalgo. Watch videos from the celebratory night in San Francisco below: