Bruce Labadie, Festival Director, chose our tune of the month! He tells us about his music crush, Ruthie Foster, how he discovered her and how she is such a powerful perfomer.

 
              "I was travelling to Austin to attend the South By Southwest Music Festival in the late 1990's and stopped by to visit an agent, Nancy Fly. She gave me a cd of a solo artists she had just started representing, and after listening to her I grew to like what I heard.

Geoff Roach, San Jose Jazz Executive Director,  picks our tune of the month! He presents the track, explains why he chose it and why, in a general way, it represents the San Jose Jazz Festival.

 

May 27-August 22, 2010
1320/1330 Fillmore Street, San Francisco

The Jazz Heritage Center (JHC), San Francisco's only permanent complex dedicated to jazz art and jazz history, is pleased to host an exhibit of the fine art work of Michael Rios. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, May 27 from 6:30-9 pm with the artist.

Michael V. Rios is a native of Oakland, California and graduate of the San Francisco Academy of Art College. Rios began as an illustrator for the San Francisco men's clothier, Roos Atkins and then became a partner in the commercial art and graphics studio, Winston, Rios & Brown.

Modesto Briseno Quintet at the Three Flames - Tuesday, May 11, 2010
7:30-10:30
1547 Meridian Ave.
San Jose, Ca. 95125 408-269-3133

Come have a good time and listen to 'Real Music' played with 'Real Instruments'.

For more information call, 408-515-7397

Concert and Lecture with John Santos at Stanford

Latin Jazz: Music of the Americas - Percussionist John Santos in Concert with the Stanford Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble

Monday, May 24, 2010, 8:00 PM
Campbell Recital Hall, Braun Music Center, Stanford University

$10 general / $9 senior / $5 student / Free for Stanford students w/ SUID
Ticket Info: Door or call Stanford Ticket Office 650.725.2787
Website: http://latinjazz.stanford.edu

Jazz For Life Concert

A Great Way to Party with a Purpose

May 7^th 6:00pm - 9:00pm - Club Regent - Fairmont San Jose

Sunday, May 23, 2010, 2:00 PM, Canada College, Main Theatre, 4200 Farm Hill Boulevard (near US 280 exit), Redwood City.

Remembering Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker and the "Revolutionary" Pianoless Quartet, GARY SMULYAN, baritone sax and RON STOUT, trumpet with Michael Zisman, bass and Akira Tana, drums. 

Opening set by Menlo-Atherton High Jazz Ensemble. 

Tickets $30 adults, $25 Palo Alto Jazz Alliance members, and $10 students.

Information:  Harvey Mittler (650) 345-9543, email harvey.mittler@myastound.net.

The Lee Pardini Trio is set to play at San Jose Jazz Showcase this Saturday, April 24th at City Lights Theater and at Left Coast Live in June. They are known as one of the hottest bands in the San Jose area, unique in both sound and the way they approach the jazz genre. Inspired by the diversity in San Jose, the Trio tries to bring something new to every performance. They will be showcasing music of the legendary singer Chaka Khan this Saturday, so be sure to catch them this Saturday!

 

Thanks to South Bay Live Wally Schnalle's 4tet comes to San Jose's Theatre On San Pedro Square. This is his A-team featuring Jeff Massanari on guitar, Dann Zinn on sax and Jason Muscat on bass. This tight working group covered the West Coast from LA to Seattle last year. They will be previewing the material from their upcoming new CD.And after recently completing the recording process they're ready to let loose at this exceptional venue with Wally's latest compositions.

April is Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM)!

 

In honor of it, we've asked a few typical Silicon Valley jazz fans to answer the question: "What is Jazz?" You can see their responses on YouTube:

CLICK HERE!

 

Just as there are many ideas about how to define jazz, there are many ways to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month.