It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
No, not just because it is sunny outside (for the moment.)
No, not just because I have a birthday soon.
No, not just because you just got paid.
Our first 3-day summer holiday weekend of the year is here which also means it is the beginning of summer jazz festival season.
May 2 – September 26
Santana Row Summer Jazz Series
Santana Row is pleased to announce the return of its Tuesday night Summer Jazz Series. Every Tuesday evening, May through September from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in Park Valencia, the Summer Jazz Series at Santana Row will feature a variety of jazz musicians provided by the San Jose Jazz Society.
May 25 – 28
Somona Jazz Festival
Performers include B. B. King, Herbie Hancock, Steve Miller Band, John Handy, Natalie Cole, Dianne Reeves, and Rickie Lee Jones.
June 1 – 11
Healdsburg Jazz Festival
Performers include Marc Cary, The Heath Brothers, Mark Murphy, and McCoy Tyner.
June 8 – 11
ReNew Orleans Jazz Festival – Berkeley Public Library
Performers include Tammy Hall Quartet featuring Helena Jack, Charles Hamilton Jazz Ensemble, and Orquesta La Moderna Tradicon.
June 8 – October 11
SFJAZZ Summerfest
SFJAZZ Summerfest is the organization’s annual series of free outdoor concerts, featuring over 25 events from June through October in parks and commercial centers throughout the Bay Area.
From the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto to the bucolic park-like setting of Levi’s Plaza near the waterfront, SFJAZZ presents an array of fascinating local and national jazz acts. You’ll see up-and-comers, established artists and everything in between, all the while enjoying beautiful weather and free music!
June 10 – 11
36th Annual Live Oak Park Fair
An arts and crafts showcase featuring 125 of the region’s top artists and craftspeople in Berkeley’s lovely Live Oak Park. Artists offer one-of-akind handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, clothing, paintings, photography, toys, art glass and more. Children’s entertainment, live music by the nonprofit Jazzschool and delicious food & drink make it a perfect day for the whole family.
June 18 – August 20
Stern Grove Festival
Concerts every Sunday. Performers include Aimee Mann, San Francisco Symphony, Rebirth Brass Band, Mavis Staples, and Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
June 24 – August 5
Stanford Jazz Festival
Over the three-plus decades of presenting the Stanford Jazz Festival, we’ve found that there is a special energy to our concerts. Most of the performers are also faculty for our educational programs, which coincide with the festival. From veteran statesmen to emerging talents and local standouts, these artists work closely together – collaborating, teaching, interacting, jamming. These artists encourage and befriend each other, while inspiring and being inspired by our enthusiastic students aged 12 to 80.
July 1 – 2
Fillmore Jazz Festival – San Francisco
Performers include Mitch Marcus, Sony Holland, Marcus Shelby, Pyeng Threadgill, Howard Wiley, Kim Nalley and Will Bernard.
July 3 & September 4
KKSF 103.7 Concerts on the Coast at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
July 3
Rendezvous All Stars features Wayman Tisdale, Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, and Brian Simpson
September 4
Summer Storm features Norman Brown, Patti Austin, Paul Taylor, and Alex Bugnon
July 6 – 20
Broadway Plaza Summer Jazz Series
Performers include Richard Smith, Gregg Karukas and Nick Colionne. Broadway Plaza’s Summer Jazz Series will take place in the Stanford’s Parking Lot from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. For more information call 925-933-6589.
July 12 – August 30
Oakland City Center Summer Sounds 2006
Hot music from noon to 1pm every Wednesday in the Oakland City Center. Performers include Natasha Miller, Lil’ Wolf and The Hellcats, Sistahs in the Pit, and Mo’ Rockin’ Project.
July 19 – September 30
Jazz on the Plazz: Los Gatos Summer Jazz 2006 Series
Performers include Mary Stallings, Mose Allison, Rita Coolidge, Jamie Davis, Houston Person, and Pete Escovedo. Unless otherwise noted, all performances will take place from 6:30 to 8:30p.m. at the Los Gatos Town Plaza, located at the intersection of West Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Los Gatos. Come out and enjoy!
July 26-30
North Beach Jazz Festival
Founder and producer Alistair Monroe created the North Beach Jazz Festival in 1995 as a vehicle for celebrating the legendary jazz history of San Francisco, and for introducing jazz of all types to a new generation of listeners. Since then, the festival has become one of the nation’s most up-and-coming musical gatherings, and has hosted top talent such as Carlos Santana, Pharoah Sanders, Carl Craig, Bill Summers, Roy Ayers, Ray Obiedo, Pete Escovedo, Kermit Ruffins and Poncho Sanchez. Although the festival has grown significantly since its debut eight years ago – last year’s festival hosted over 75,000 people.
July 29
Berkeley Jazz Festival
Performers include Chaka Khan, Will Downing, George Duke & Stanley Clarke, Norman Brown, Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, and Pieces of a Dream.
August 17-20
San Jose Jazz Festival
The Festival will pay respect to the genre’s deep roots in New Orleans with a full line-up of superstars, including the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Sonny Landreth, and more. The Festival will take place on nine stages, each dedicated to a flavor of jazz: Blues, Latin, Salsa, Big Band, Youth and Straight Ahead.
August 19
JVC Jazz Festival Concord
Performers include Boney James, Guitars & Saxes featuring Gerald Albright, Richard Elliott, Peter White, & Jeff Golub. Fourplay featuring Bob James, Nathan East, Larry Carlton, Harvey Mason and also appearing will be Najee and LaToya London
August 26 – 27
Vallejo Jazz Festival
Performers include Frank Jackson, Mary Stallings, Mo’ Rockin Project, Montclair Women’s Big Band, Larry Vuckovich Quartet, and CSUS Latin Jazz Ensemble
September 2 – 4
Art and Soul Oakland Festival
Northern California’s most accessible festival with direct access from BART and free parking for thousands of cars. Enjoy three sensational days of music, food, fun and art in beautiful downtown Oakland. Live rock, blues, jazz, gospel and more on five concert stages. Exciting national and local acts blended with cultural diverse art, poetry, music and food. Children of all ages revel in the festive Family Fun Zone.
September 9 -10
Jazz on the River/Russian River Jazz Festival
The festival celebrates 30 years of jazz on the Russian River this year. Performers include Etta James, KEM, Clairdee, Bobby Hutcherson, Clark/Duke Project, and The Original Superstars of Jazz Fusion featuring Roy Ayers, Jean Carne, Wayne Henderson, Bobbi Humphrey, Ronnie Laws, Jon Lucien & Lonnie Liston Smith.
September 15-17
49th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival
This will be my fifth year attending the festival and I look forward to it every year. The lineup this year is amazing. Performers includes Dave Brubeck, Bonnie Raitt, Eldar, Kurt Elling, Dianne Reeves, Oscar Peterson, The Yellowjackets, Roy Hargrove, Robert Glasper, Chris Botti, Babatunde Lea, and many, many more.
It is definitely going to be a great and very musical summer. Enjoy your music.
Updated: 07/10/06
