"Look for a massive funk attack on Friday the 13th to get things started: George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic turning the throngs in Cesar Chavez Park into one nation under a groove"... Richard Scheinin writes about the 21st AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival's lineup in the Mercury News.

 

               "The AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival is coming back for a 21st year, offering a weekend's worth of music Aug. 13-15 on ten downtown stages.

Piano News from Japan
 
"Yamaha and Kawai have recalled 20,000 pianos due to a problem with the pedal sticking, causing pianists to play faster than they normally would, resulting in a dangerous number of accidentals.

The sticky pedal also makes it harder for pianists to come to a full stop at the end of a piece, making it extremely risky for audiences. 

Although there have been a tremendous number of accidentals, fortunately it has so far caused no deafs.

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.

 

Announcing Third Annual Silicon Valley Composer Showcase, March 14, 2010

Calling all local composers! Here is a chance to get your music heard. At our 2010 Winter Series, the Full Spectrum Jazz big band will play compositions by local composers. For the last two years, this competition produced some of the most exciting music heard at the series.

 

You're Invited to hear the

College of San Mateo Monday Night Big Band

Oak City Bar and Grill
1029 El Camino Real, Menlo Park

http://www.oakcitybarandgrill.com 

May 28, 2009 

By Andrew Gilbert, for the Mercury News

"Like many young guitarists, Hristo Vitchev nursed rock star dreams, but on his winding musical journey he found himself seduced by jazz's enigmatic harmonies and crystalline textures.

JAZZ HERITAGE CENTER TO UNVEIL GROUNDBREAKING EXHIBIT
***
JAM SESSIONS: AMERICA'S JAZZ AMBASSADORS EMBRACE THE WORLD
MAKES ONLY WEST COAST SHOWING
***
Performances by the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet, from the University of Pacific in Stockton, panels and celebration to kick off exhibit on May 17
Title: Jazz Ambassadors Up Close!

 

Where: The Jazz Heritage Center's Lush Life Gallery, at 1320 Fillmore Street, is pleased to announce the opening of it's latest art exhibit experience.

VOCALIST JENNIFER BARNES TO HEADLINE 28TH ANNUAL PATNOE JAZZ FESTIVAL

De Anza College's 28th Annual Herb Patnoe Memorial Jazz Festival will feature one of the rising young stars on the jazz horizon, vocalist Jennifer Barnes. The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15 at De Anza College's brand new Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Cupertino.

Miss Barnes will appear with will share the stage with De Anza's award-winning "Vocal Flight," directed by Michelle Hawkins, the Eight O'Clock "Daddios" Jazz Ensemble, directed by Steve Tyler, and her own jazz trio.

Referring to her debut CD recording, "You Taught My Heart," legendary jazz bassist Rufus Reid says, "Jennifer Barnes integrates rich vocal quality, clarity of pitch and emotion with an additional pivotal skill that sets her apart from other great singers; she sings improvisations that are melodically and rhythmically interesting from the point of view of a jazz instrumentalist."

The Full Spectrum Jazz Big Band will be providing a free concert this coming Thursday, May 07th, 2009.

We'll be serving up contemporary & Latin infused charts as well as some traditional works. We'll also have Duane Lawrence joining us for some vocal arrangements.

Come on down and enjoy the concert!

Thursday, May 07th, 2009.
7:30 - 10:00 PM

The final West Valley College jazz concert of the school year, featuring the WVC Jazz Band, Gus Kambeitz director, performing works by Don Ellis, Sammy Nestico, Monk and more!

WVC JAZZ Choir, Robert Cornejo, director Zawinul, Gershwin and more

Saturday, May 9th
WVC Theater - 8pm
$10

As always there are sure to be some surprises and some excellent music to be heard!