San Jose Jazz winter series - 9 'special' Sunday shows at the Improv

By Richard Scheinin

When Geoff Roach began mulling over possibilities for this year's Winter Jazz Series in downtown San Jose, he found himself thinking about jazz clubs versus jazz concerts. Fans always enjoy heading to a club - Yoshi's in Oakland or San Francisco, the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, among others - to see a top band refining its repertoire and concept before moving on to the next club.

The Joe Ferrari Big Band and Combo has two exciting events this month, and they hope you'll be able to join them for some Holiday Fun and Cheer at one or both of the following:

December 21st - Open Rehearsal, 7:30 - 9:30. Get together with friends and family at the Sunnyvale Moose Family Center, 905 Kifer Rd., Sunnyvale, for two hours of big band music for your dancing and listening pleasure. There will be snacks and a no-host bar.

December 31st - New Year's Eve Party - 6:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. Don your party clothes, and come on down to the Sunnyvale Moose Family Center New Year's Eve Party, 905 Kifer Rd., Sunnyvale. It's the best deal in town at ONLY $35.00/Person. Doors open at 6:00 for cocktails, dinner will be served at 7:00, and then get ready to dance the night away to the music of The Joe Ferrari Combo, playing all your favorite swing-era standards and even a little early rock favorites. Then, help countdown to the midnight hour to ring in 2010! Champagne and party favors will be supplied. For more information, call 408-735-1377.

"I have been remarkably fortunate in life.  Growing up in a suburban middle class family, I got a great education in public schools and graduated from a state university with a valuable engineering degree.  I have been employed at good companies, run a successful consulting business, and co-founded a very successful ventured-funded startup.  A long while ago, I began to think about how I could pay back some of this good fortune I have had.

If you love modern jazz piano, then you simply cannot miss Piano Summit III: The Richness and Beauty of Modern Jazz Piano. Saturday, December 5th, the Palo Alto Jazz Alliance, Palo Alto Adult School, and KCSM FM 91.1 present an evening of enthralling music at Woodside Priory School Rothrock Performance Hall, located at 302 Portola Road in Portola Valley.