2023 Lineup / Saturday Aug 13

Narrated by Morgan Freeman, this visually-stunning film is a cross-country adventure through the musical heritage of America and the cultural cities where America’s music was born. Watch it on the largest IMAX dome screen in the West, inside inside the Tech Interactive.

The SOJ Big Band was formed almost 20 years ago in the south San Francisco Bay Area to play big band arrangements of gospel and swing, Latin, R&B and jazz tunes.

Get hands-on with music creation, even if you’ve never played an instrument! Marcos Zambrano, Music Coordinator for SJZ’s Progressions education program, will perform with the Tech’s Reactable exhibit, speak about his experience with the Music Technology Group in Barcelona, and incorporate his violin into an interactive performance and Q&A session.

Hear the stories behind some of Summer Fest’s most enduring shots. Fest photographer Robert Birnbach takes some time out of his busy Fest schedule to speak with radio host Greg Bridges about his journey to professional photography. This event will take place inside the Tech Interactive’s New Venture Hall.

The Serenaders band was originally formed in 1983 and has been active in various forms ever since. Although the band has always highlighted jazz standards from the proverbial Great American Songbook, it has evolved to include big band and swing versions of contemporary jazz and popular music.

Alabama Mike is a hard-driving blues singer who will remind you of the early original blues legends, you may have heard on the Chess, Duke, Trumpet and Galaxy Record labels, and even maybe some Elmore James, Buddy Guy, Little Junior Parker, Little Johnny Taylor, and BB King (in his early years).

Get hands-on with music creation, even if you’ve never played an instrument! Marcos Zambrano, Music Coordinator for SJZ’s Progressions education program, will perform with the Tech’s Reactable exhibit, speak about his experience with the Music Technology Group in Barcelona, and incorporate his violin into an interactive performance and Q&A session.

Michael Webster’s quartet project brings together bassist Ryan Trujillo, drummer Daniel Williams and pianist Jonathan Franaszek to present a sound distilled from Bay Area roots.

This all-star performance is a convergence of New Orleans cultural heavyweights. Crescent City musical veterans the New Orleans Suspects, alongside a guest appearance from vocalist Erica Falls, set the musical tone for a vibrant set.

Influenced by Koko Taylor, Aretha Franklin, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, native Texan Diunna Greenleaf combines intricate patches of jazz, gospel and heartfelt soul to create her own “kind” version of the blues.

Synchronicity is a classical jazz ensemble of alumni from various Bay Area big bands, in the tradition of Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones and Oliver Nelson.

The Monterey Jazz Festival Regional All-Star Vocal ensemble features the top voice students from across Monterey County, who all come together to participate in an advanced choir.

Learn more about one of Summer Fest’s Main Stage artists before she takes the stage! Cuban rapper and urban music artist Telmary Díaz shares her personal and musical story with music critic, reporter, and author Betto Arcos. This event will take place inside the Tech Interactive’s New Venture Hall.

Fused with the contemporary rhythms of modern Latin music – Salsa, Bachata, Timba, Cha Cha Cha, Bolero, and Latin Jazz – Son Habana crafts a distinct sound that serves as a new identity for Cuban music.

The Monterey Jazz Festival Regional All-Star Band features the top music students from across Monterey County, who all come together to participate in middle and high school big bands.

For 60 years, South Africa’s five-time Grammy Award winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo has warmed the hearts of audiences worldwide with uplifting vocal harmonies, signature dance moves and charming onstage banter, all while singing a message of peace, love and harmony.

Prior to their performance on the Latin Tropical Stage, Juan Moreno & Junior Guzmán of Clave Dura speak on their musical experience with Betto Arcos, Summer Fest’s Latin Tropical Stage curator. This event will take place inside the Tech Interactive’s New Venture Hall.

When The New Orleans Suspects and the Golden Comanche unite, they’re known as Tribal Gold. A convergence in the works for a decade, their pairing is meant to highlight New Orleans culture, music and the Mardi Gras Indian heritage.

Top Shelf Big Band brings the swinging sounds of live jazz and ballroom dancing to life. Enjoy vintage jazz and standards made famous by groups like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller and Les Brown with this 17-piece orchestra.

R&B powerhouse singer/songwriter Leela James first burst onto the scene with her 2006 debut album A Change is Gonna Come, introducing audiences to her soaring sultry vocal dexterity. She quickly garnered nominations for Outstanding New Artist at the NAACP Image Awards and Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist at the 2008 Soul Train Music Awards.

Crafting a fusion of salsa, Cumbia, merengue and bachata, Clave Dura brings together the collective talent of multiple musicians to deliver the authentic sounds of Puerto Rico and Colombia.

Louisiana native Curley Taylor has been around music all of his life.  Born into a musical family, drums were Curley’s first instrument.  Curley began his professional career at age 16 by playing drums in his father’s band, Jude Taylor and the Burning Flames, a band deep in Louisiana Blues, Soul and Zydeco.

Footnotes Jazz Band is a San Francisco Bay Area big band that showcases the music of various contemporary and classic jazz composers including Ellington, Thad Jones and Gordon Goodwin to name a few.

Led by percussionist Carlitos Medrano, Sabor De Mi Cuba fuses Medrano’s Afro-Cuban roots with a world music flourish. Since 2012, the group has been a vehicle for his own compositions and arrangements.

Some people might say that after notching ten number one singles, 13 GRAMMY Award nominations, a New York Times best-selling memoir and ongoing sold-out, coast-to-coast arena tours, Charlie Wilson has proven his point. But he isn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon.

Navy Band Southwest is one of the Navy’s finest and oldest continuing musical organizations. Now with over 90 years of support to the San Diego community, the band serves as the musical ambassador for the Commander, Navy Region Southwest.

Inspired by bands and individuals such as Ray Barretto, Tito Puente, Willie Rosario, Eddie Palmieri and many others, Orquesta Taino has developed into one of the most solid, hard-hitting salsa bands in the Bay Area.