The Oakland Black Expo 2003 is this weekend at the Oakland Convention Center.
Ledisi is definitely on the move this summer. She is playing with Me’Shell NdegéOcello at the Great American Music Hall in SF on Friday, 07/11 and Saturday, 07/12. She will be playing with Rachelle Ferrell at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. on Friday, 07/25 and with the Yellowjackets at the San Jose Jazz Festival on Saturday, 08/09. She will also be teaching another vocal seminar on Saturday, 08/16 at The Jazzschool in Berkeley. I got my CD’s signed and took photos with her when she was at Rasputin Music in Berkeley last Saturday. She was so much fun.
Pianist Geoffrey Keezer will be playing at The Jazzschool tonight. He will be playing songs from his new release, Sublime: Honoring the Music of Hank Jones. I saw him earlier this year with Christian McBride and he is a great improvisationist. Saxophonist Dave Ellis will be playing at The Jazzschool on Sunday afternoon. The Berkeley native will be playing songs from his new release, State of Mind.
Does anyone know if there is going to be a North Beach Jazz Festival this year? Their website is down and I have not seen any listings for the event.
Pete Escovedo and his Orchestra will be at Yoshi’s this weekend. He’s Sheila E’s dad. Upcoming shows include Joey DeFrancesco with Dr. Lonnie Liston Smith, Mulgrew Miller Trio, Kenny Burrell Quintet, Bob James Quartet, Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Gato Barbieri, Greg Osby Four, Roy Hargrove & The RH Factor, SoVoSó, and Oscar Peterson. If they keep this up, I will just have to sign my paycheck over or get a job there.
The Jazz Institute of Chicago has finally posted schedule for the Chicago Jazz Festival 2003 which runs from August 28-31. Highlights of the festival include the Branford Marsalis Quartet and “The Message Lives: A Tribute to Art Blakey” featuring: The Jazz Messenger Alumni All-Stars: Terence Blanchard, Curtis Fuller, Bobby Watson, Branford Marsalis, Cedar Walton, Peter Washington and Winard Harper. The McCoy Tyner Big Band will be closing the festival.
Vocalist Clairdee will be making her only Bay Area performance this summer, Sunday, July 27, at the Jazzschool in Berkeley. This special concert is dedicated to the incomparable Nat “King” Cole, who led one of the most influential jazz trios in history and went on to become one of America’s most beloved song stylists. Seating is limited, so please call ahead for your tickets at 510-845-5373.