Rhonda Sauce is the kind of artist who reminds you why jazz matters. Hailing from Oakland, California, Rhonda has become one of the Bay Area’s most versatile and compelling jazz vocalists. She “has the special voice, firmly rooted in the jazz greats while still oozing her special unique style” (Dr. Kim Nalley). With a voice that is both timeless and unmistakably personal, Rhonda brings clarity, warmth, and fearless intention to every performance.

An accomplished arranger, composer, lyricist, multi-instrumentalist, and captivating performer, she brings infectious enthusiasm to every note she sings and every phrase she shapes. As a Bay Area artist, Rhonda has collaborated with luminaries including Lenny Williams, Jeff Chambers, Tammy Hall, Chris Amberger, and Kim Nalley.

As a composer and lyricist, Rhonda creates original music that draws from jazz, blues, Brazilian music, soul, and folk traditions. Her songs blend sharp storytelling, emotional depth, and a playful sense of curiosity. Her recent project, This Must Be the Place, premiered to a sold-out audience at the San Francisco International Arts Festival, showcasing her evolving voice as a songwriter and bandleader.

Her music has graced the stages of iconic Bay Area venues including Freight & Salvage, Yoshi’s Oakland, and SFJAZZ, as well as historic festivals such as the Concord Jazz Festival, KCSM Jazz on the Hill, and the Fillmore Jazz Festival. An alumna of NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater’s Woodshed Network Residency, Rhonda is not merely a custodian of tradition; she is a composer and performer forging a sound that honors jazz’s rich history while carrying it forward with unmistakable purpose.