August 7, 2015
By: Gabriela Hill
A legendary drummer and founding member of the 1960s funk group The Meters, Zigaboo Modeliste is considered one of the most creative and critically acclaimed drummers in music. Studied by aspiring drummers, beloved by funk and rock devotees alike, and revered by musicians the world over, Modeliste has written over 400 songs individually and as part of The Meters, with his music found across 36 national and international albums. While some music lovers may know …
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August 7, 2015
By: Gabriela Hill
Imagine locking yourself in a room with the friends you grew up with for 16 hours a day, every day, over the course of an entire month so each of you can contribute to one another’s work. Jazz saxophonist, composer, producer, and bandleader Kamasi Washington did just that in December 2011, when he and a number of his close musician friends cleared their schedules to focus solely on creating and capturing their own music rather than …
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July 30, 2014
By: Brandon E. Roos
In addition to the great local artists and organization we spotlight during Summer Fest weekend, our Fest also gives you the chance to see some of the best musical talent from around the globe. Here’s a quick run-down of some of the acts who are arriving from the Caribbean, Asia, Australia and beyond. Fans of salsa and Latin jazz have numerous chances take in authentic Caribbean talent at Summer Fest 25. Saturday Salsa Stage closers …
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July 23, 2014
By: Brandon E. Roos
After a Winter Fest 2013 performance in José James’s band that found him making up for lost time on stage (more on that below), Kris Bowers steps forward to showcase material from his recent debut, Heroes + Misfits, at Summer Fest 2014 when he closes our Jazz Beyond Stage Fri Aug 8. Thanks to technology, we asked Bowers a few questions via Skype while he was on tour with James in Finland. He let us …
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July 16, 2014
By: Brandon E. Roos
During the second weekend of August, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest turns downtown San Jose into a vibrant celebration of live music. You’ll hear jazz, salsa, R&B, swing, New Orleans and much more on 12 stages over three days. With performances stretching from morning to late night, why not turn your experience into an extended stay? Whether you’re arriving from out of town, out of state or just outside the neighborhood, there are plenty of …
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July 15, 2014
By: Brandon E. Roos
At Summer Fest 25, several artists are paying tribute to musicians who played a key part in inspiring them. Paying one’s musical respects is a hallmark of jazz, where mentorship plays a key role in preserving the art form’s legacy. Artists being honored include contemporary greats, giants of the idiom, and recently lost legends. Below, we run down the five tribute performances happening at this year’s Summer Fest. Ben Flocks Plays the Music of Sonny …
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August 8, 2013
By: Laura G. Thorne, Ten Ton Troll
Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot – these four saxophonists have each had extraordinary careers, their resumes impressively gilded with gold and platinum-selling CD’s and numerous awards. An ingenious concept then for all four stars to come together on Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart and has become the feel-good smooth jazz release of the season. For its identity, the Summer Horns project …
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August 8, 2013
By: Laura G. Thorne (Ten Ton Troll)
Dr Lonnie Smith is not a medical doctor, but his music has been found to be good for one’s health. A bona fide star on his signature instrument, the Hammond B-3 organ, Smith’s performances are filled with joie de vivre and energy – Dr. Lonnie loves to play! – and he’s been playing for a remarkable 50 years and counting. From upstate New York, Dr Lonnie was born into a musical family and manifested a …
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August 6, 2013
By: Brandon E. Roos (Interview by Massimo Chisessi)
Pink Martini is an apt group to describe our time. Though their music can evoke an infectious nostalgia that touches upon 40’s cinema, classical music and the 1950’s Latin music explosion, their musical diversity is indicative of the global perspective that is the norm in our ultra-connected world. Similarly, the group’s many cultural touchstones can providing glimpses into a number of cultures within a single set – perfect to accommodate our shortened attention spans. In …
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July 30, 2013
By: Laura G. Thorne, Ten Ton Troll
To fully understand the identity & music of Arturo O’Farrill is to understand the story of America: a coming together of many cultures, producing a unique & altogether fascinating result. It is a product that is in some ways wholly contemporary, but yet draws upon decades – if not centuries – of tradition, all of which are expressed on many levels, whether in the depths of yearning for some long-ago past or in the excitement …
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