***ForImmediateRelease:Monday,March13,2017***
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28 ANNUALSANJOSEJAZZSUMMERFEST2017
Friday,August11–Sunday,August13
PlazadeCésarChavezPark,DowntownSanJose,Calif.
EventInfo:summerfest.sanjosejazz.org
ChrisBotti;GeorgeClintonandParliamentFunkadelic;MaceoParker;TheWhispers;
AngéliqueKidjo’sCeliaCruzTributewithPedritoMartinez;Dr.LonnieSmithTrio;
JazzByFivewithJavonJackson,GeorgeCables,RandyBrecker,EddieGomez&JimmyCobb;
SanFranciscoStringTriowithMimiFox,MadsTollingandJeffDenson;CyrilleAimée;
TheSeshen;PacificMamboOrchestra;DannyGreenTrio;CarmenLundy;SashaMasakowski;
EmilioSollaQuartet;DmitriMathenyJazzNoir;TiaBrazda;GregoryPage;KavitaShah;RayObiedo;
TommyIgoeGrooveConspiracy;BrianAndresAfroCubanCartel;SomoselSon
andadditionalartiststobeannounced!
SanJose,Calif.--SiliconValley’spremierannualmusicevent,SanJoseJazzSummerFest2017returnsforits28thfestivalseason
fromFriday,August11throughSunday,August13inandaroundPlazadeCésarChavezParkindowntownSanJose,Calif.A
showcaseforjazz,blues,funk,R&B,salsaandrelatedgenres,SJZSummerFestisalsonationallyrecognizedasoneofthebiggest
Latinfestivalsinthecountry.Astandoutsummerdestinationformusiclovers,concert-goersandfamiliesalike,thethree-dayevent
features120+performanceson10stages,attractingtensofthousandsofvisitorstodowntownthroughouttheweekend.
Three-daypassesandsingleticketsareonsaleatEarlyBirdpricesnowthroughApril24.Fourdistinctlevelsofaccessareofferedto
bestexperienceSJZSummerFest.VIP,PriorityandAllStageslevelsallowaccesstoalloutdoorstagesplusfourindoorvenues:the
beautifulHammerTheatre,intimateCafeStritchandJadeLeafLounge,plusiconicClubRegentattheFairmontSanJose,offering
manyofthefestival'spremierworld-classjazzandglobalartistsindoorsinair-conditioned,acoustically-richenvironments.General
Admission(GA)givesbasicaccesstoalloutdoorstagesonly.Three-daypasses:GA:$45earlybirdthroughApril23,$60advance
April24–July31,$70gate;AllStages(includesallindoorvenues):$70earlybirdthroughApril23;$90advanceApril24–July31,$100
gate;PriorityAccess(skip-the-lineprivilegesandmore):$140earlybirdthroughApril23,$160advanceApril24–July31,$170gate;
VIP(exclusivemainstageseating,complimentaryfoodandwine,garageparking):$285earlybirdthroughApril23,$325advance
April24–July31,$345gate.Singledaytickets,rangingfromaslowas$15to$150foraVIPexperienceadvance,April24–July31;see
websiteforbenefitsandpricing.AllticketpriceswillincreasetoGatePriceonAugust1.
Fornearlythreedecades,SanJoseJazzhasembraceditssteadfastcommitmenttopresentingtoday’smostdistinguishedactsfrom
aroundtheworldandhomegrownBayAreatalentatoneofNorthAmerica’sforemostfestivals:GRAMMY®Award-winningartists,
thehottestsalsaandLatinbands,classicjazzpioneers,worldmusicstars,toplocalemergingmusicians,andgenre-bustinghip-hop,
R&B,andsoulartists.
The28thAnnualSanJoseJazzSummerFest2017featuresanacclaimedlineup,andtodaySanJoseJazzannouncesitsinitialroundof
confirmedartistsincludingMainStageheadliners:ChrisBotti;GeorgeClintonandParliamentFunkadelic;MaceoParker;The
Whispers;AngéliqueKidjo’sCeliaCruzTributewithPedritoMartinez;Dr.LonnieSmithTrio;JazzByFivewithJavonJackson,
GeorgeCables,RandyBrecker,EddieGomez&JimmyCobb;SanFranciscoStringTriowithMimiFox,MadsTollingandJeff
Denson;CyrilleAimée;TheSeshen;PacificMamboOrchestra;DannyGreenTrio;CarmenLundy;SashaMasakowski;EmilioSolla
Quartet;DmitriMathenyJazzNoir;TiaBrazda;GregoryPage;KavitaShah;RayObiedo;TommyIgoeGrooveConspiracy;Brian
AndresAfroCubanCartel;SomoselSon;andadditionalartiststobeannounced!
NotonlywillSJZSummerFest2017transformdowntownSanJoseintoanexplosivehubofjazz,it’llbethenation’sepicenterof
Latinjazz,drawingonbothamixofinternationallyrenownedLatinartistsandtopBayAreasalsabands,co-curatedbyMisterLatin
Jazz.The2017SalsaStageincludesfeaturedsetsbyPacificMamboOrchestra,BrianAndresAfroCubanCartel,SomoselSon,and
manyotheractstobeannouncedinthecomingweeks.
BrendanRawson,executivedirectorofSanJoseJazz,commentsaboutthisyear’sSummerFest:“SummerFest2017isgearingupto
beanincredibleweekendcelebrationofjazzinallitsformsaswellasjazz'sinfluenceonsomanycontemporarystylesofmusic
includingR&B,Latin,electronic,worldandfunkon10differentstages.InadditiontotheoutdoorPlazaParksettingforourMain
StageandtheshadySanFernandoandPoststreetsforourSalsaandBlues/BigEasystages,wealsohaveacoupleofexcellentnew
indoorvenuesinvolvedthisyearincludingthenewlyrevitalizedHammerTheatre.We’realsoexcitedtowelcomebacktheJazzWeek
Summitconference(Aug10-11)onthefrontendofSummerFestthatwillbringbroadcasters,artists,agentsandlabel
representativestogetherfortwodaysofindustrymeetingsbeforetheFestkicksoff.”
BruceLabadie,oneofthefounders,istheArtisticandFestivalDirector,andwiththehelpoflocally-basedco-curatorsprogramsthe
artistsfortheSanJoseJazzSummerFest.
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HighlightsofConfirmedArtists@28 AnnualSanJoseJazzSummerFest2017
AmongtheveryfewAmericantrumpeterswho’vegarneredthestatusofbecominga“householdname,”ChrisBottiwona
GRAMMY®Awardforhislatestalbum,Impressions.WinningtheGRAMMY®for“BestPopInstrumentalAlbum,”Impressions
featuresBottiwithspecialguestartistsAndreaBocelli,VinceGill,HerbieHancock,MarkKnopfler,andothersinawarm,intimate
celebrationofmelodicballadry.Bottiisoneoftheworld’slargestsellingjazzinstrumentalists;hehashadfouralbumsreachtheNo.
1positionontheBillboardjazzalbumschart.
FromrevolutionizingR&Bduringthe‘70swiththreeplatinumalbumsandover40R&BhitstoperformingonKendrickLamar’s2016
GRAMMY®-winningalbumToPimpAButterfly,GeorgeClintonhasremainedaconstantmusicalicon.HehasreceivedanMTVMusic
VideoAward,aGospelMusicAssociationDoveAwardandhasbeenrecognizedbyBMI,theNAACPImageAwards,andMotown
AlumniAssociationforlifetimeachievement.Clinton’sParliamentFunkadelicwasinductedintotheRockandRollHallofFamein
1997.
It’snearlyimpossibletoseparatewhichcamefirst,MaceoParkerorthefunkashe'splayedwitheachandeveryleaderoffunk,
includingJamesBrown,GeorgeClintonandPrince.He’scollaboratedwithRayCharles,AniDifranco,JamesTaylor,DeLaSoul,Dave
MatthewsBandandtheRedHotChiliPeppers.In2012,MaceoParkerwaspresentedwithLesVictoiresduJazzinParis:Lifetime
AchievementAwardforhiscontributiontomusicandwithanIconAwardattheNorthSeaJazzFestivalinRotterdam.
AsoneofR&B’smostbelovedvocalgroups,TheWhispersproducedastringofhitsthroughoutthe‘70sand‘80s.Theirbiggesthit,
“AndTheBeatGoesOn”wasfeaturedontheirmostsuccessfulalbum,TheWhispers,whichwentdoubleplatinum.TheWhispers’
1987release,JustGetsBetterWithTime,wentplatinumandfeaturedR&BnumberonehitandUSTop10popentry,“RockSteady.”
TheWhisperswereinductedintotheVocalGroupHallofFamein2003andwerepresentedwiththeprestigiousGovernorsAward
bytheSanFranciscoChapteroftheGRAMMY®Awardsin2005.
GRAMMY®Award-winningsingerAngéliqueKidjoisadefinitive21stcenturyworldartistwho’scometoworldacclaimthroughher
recordedcatalogueandcollaborationswiththelikesofJohnLegend,LionelLoueke,andDianneReeves.AtSummerFest2017,Kidjo
alongsideLatinjazzpercussionistphenomPedritoMartinezpaytributetotheQueenofSalsa,CeliaCruz.TheBBCincludedKidjoin
itslistoftheAfricancontinent’s50mosticonicfigures,andshe’sthefirstwomantobelistedamong"The40MostPowerful
CelebritiesInAfrica"byForbesmagazine.
Withacareerspanningoverfivedecades,Dr.LonnieSmithisanunparalleledartistwhostandsasthepreeminentHammondB-3
organistinjazztoday.Attheageof73,he’sstillgrowingasanartist,aswitnessedbyhisremarkablenewBlueNoteRecordsalbum,
appropriatelytitledEvolution.TheNewYorkTimesrecentlywrotethatSmith“reallyseemstobeuptosomethingbiggerthanmusic,
andolder,anddeeper.”
ThequintetJazzByFiveismadeupofestablishedjazzmusiciansJavonJackson,GeorgeCables,RandyBrecker,EddieGomez,and
JimmyCobb.TenorsaxophonistJavonJacksonhasbeenahighlysoughtoutcomposer,liveperformerandjazzeducatorsince
comingintointernationalprominencethroughhisworkwiththelegendaryArtBlakey.Asamajorvoiceinmodernjazz,George
CableshasperformedandrecordedwithmanyjazzgreatsincludingJoeHenderson,RoyHaynes,DizzyGillespie,BobbyHutcherson
andmore.JazztrumpeterandcomposerRandyBreckerhashelpedshapethesoundofjazz,R&Bandrockformorethanfour
decadesandhismusichasgracedhundredsofalbumsbyawiderangeofartistssuchasJamesTaylor,BruceSpringsteen,Frank
Sinatra,SteelyDanandFrankZappa.Legendarybassistandtwo-timeGRAMMY®Award-winningEddieGomezhasperformedand
recordedwithartistsinallgenresincludingArtGarfunkel,JenniferHolliday,McCoyTyner,andNancyWilson.Jazzdrummerand
elderstatesmanofallofMilesDavis’bands,JimmyCobbhascollaboratedwithanarrayofmusiciansandisanactiveperformerin
NewYorkCity,Japan,China,Netherlands,France,Germany,ItalyandSouthAfricawithhisgroupJimmyCobb’sMob.
Two-timeGRAMMY®winnerviolinistMadsTolling,six-timeDownBeatMagazineInternationalCriticsPollWinnerguitaristMimi
Fox,andinternationallyacclaimedbassistandcomposerJeffDenson,haveforgedtheirmusicaltalentsinanewgroup,theSan
FranciscoStringTrio.Anall-acousticensembledefyingcategorization,theSanFranciscoStringTrioprovidesitsaudienceswitha
poignantandcompellingmusicalexperience.Together,thesesingularartistshavedevelopedTheSgt.PepperProjecttocelebrate
the50thanniversaryofthereleaseofthegroundbreakingBeatlesalbum.
French-DominicanvocalistandactressCyrilleAiméeandwinneroftheMontreuxJazzFestival'sVocalCompetition,theSarah
VaughnInternationalJazzVocalCompetitionandfinalistintheTheloniousMonkVocalCompetition,sheis—inthewordsofWill
FriedwaldofTheWallStreetJournal—"oneofthemostpromisingjazzsingersofhergeneration.”TheNewYorkTimes referredto
Aimée'smajorlabelrelease,It'saGoodDay,as"abravuraturn,presentedwithasmile." Featuringoriginalsaswellascoversof
classics,thebandistheresultofAimee’suniquemusicalvision:bass,drumsandthreeguitars(Brazilian,gypsyandjazz).
TheSanFranciscoBayArea-basedsix-piece,TheSeshen,releasedtheirdebutstudioalbum,Flames&Figures,in2016.They’ve
garneredtheattentionfromOkayPlayer,TheFader,andEarMilk.TheSeshenremainsinhighdemandandhasperformedalongside
HiatusKaiyote,tUnE-yArDs,Thundercat,andPetiteNoir.
TheGRAMMY®Awardwinning20-piecebandhailingfromSanFrancisco,PacificMamboOrchestra(PMO)isknownforleadingthe
rebirthoftheLatinBigBandsound.Bandmembersandcontributorsbringforthdecadesofcollectiveexperienceplayingwitha
varietyofmusicalgreats,fromDizzyGillespie,CarlosSantana,HerbieHancockandTitoPuente,toArtGarfunkel,BloodSweatand
Tears,JerryGarciaandMariahCarey.
Canadian-bornTiaBrazdahasasparkingpresenceonthejazzsceneinCanadaandbeyondthroughperformancesinmajor
internationalcitiesandatnotablefestivalsincludingBestival,TorontoInternationalJazzandVancouverInternationalJazz.Herdebut
album,Bandshell,debutedat#1ontheiTunesJazzChartinCanada,wasranked#5byJazzFM91inTorontoontheirlistofTop10
Canadianjazzalbumsof2015,anditrankedat#24ontheCMJnationaljazzradiochartintheU.S.
PianistandcomposerDannyGreen’smusicengageslistenerswithevocativemelodiesandinfectiousrhythms.Hailedas“oneofthe
importantup-and-comersonthescenetoday”byAllAboutJazz,GreenhailsoutoftheSanDiegoareaandhe’sperformedatThe
BlueWhale,TheBlueNote(NYC),TEDxUCSDandKSDSJazz88.3OceanBeachJazzFestival.
Highlyregardedforherinnovativemusicianshipandsongwriting,jazzsingerCarmenLundyhasreceivednoteworthypraisesfrom
TheNewYorkTimes,VillageVoice,LosAngelesTimesandWashingtonPost.Asacomposer,Lundy'smusichasbeenrecordedby
artistsKennyBarron,ErnieWattsandStraightAhead(withReginaCarter),amongothers.Onher2009release,Solamente,Lundy
arranged,produced,recorded,mixedandplayedeveryinstrumentontheentirealbum.
ListedasoneofVanityFair’stopjazzmusiciansintheworld,SashaMasakowski’smusicisplayful,charismaticandasspontaneous
asherpersonality.Shehasearnedareputationinternationallyasafearlessimproviserworkingoftenalongsideotherprogressive
musicianssuchasJasonLindner,ZachDanziger,CliffHinesandAuroraNealand.ShehasperformedattheNewOrleansJazzand
HeritageFestivalconsecutivelyforfiveyearsandhastouredacrosstheUnitedStates,Asia,EuropeandCentralAmerica.
GRAMMY®Award-nominatedArgentinabornandNYbasedpianistandcomposerEmilioSolla’sfirstbandAperturawaspraisedby
AstorPiazzollaas“oneofthemostinterestingsoundsintheBuenosAiresscenesince1986.”Sollahasarrangedforandperformed
withPaquitoD’Rivera,ArturoO’Farrill,EdmarCastañeda,PabloAslanandCristinaPato.Inadditiontotouringworldwidewithhis
Barcelonabasedquartet,EmilioSolla&Afines,heiscurrentlyafacultymemberattheBrooklynConservatoryofMusicandhasgiven
clinicsinJazzCompositionatEmoryUniversity,GotemburgMusicSchool(Sweden),andJazz&PopConservatory(Helsinki,Finland).
AllAboutJazznotestheDmitriMathenyGroupas,“anall-starjazzbandfeaturingsomeofthemostaccomplishedmusiciansinthe
westernUnitedStates.”MathenybecametheprotégéofthelegendaryArtFarmer,anditwasFarmerwhoencouragedhimto
devotehimselfexclusivelytothe“BigHorn.”MathenyhastouredextensivelythroughouttheUnitedStates,EuropeandAsiaandhas
performedwithTheTemptations,MarthaReeves,TheFourTops,FrankieAvalonandtheO’Jays.
SongwriterandproducerGregoryPagewasbornintoafamilyofmusiciansinLondon,England.Pagehasworkedwithaneclectic
arrayofartistssuchasJasonMraz,JohnDoe,Jewel,TomBrosseauandmore.HehasearnedlovefromaudiencesfromCaliforniato
theSouthernHemisphereandthroughoutEurope.MrazpraisesPagebysaying,“He’stherealdeal,araregift.”
PraisedbyNPRforher“amazingdexterityformusicallanguages,”nativeNewYorkerofIndianoriginKavitaShahisfluentinSpanish,
PortugueseandFrench.Sheincorporatesherin-depthknowledgeofdiverseculturaltraditionsintoherjazz-basedrepertoire,
placingseeminglydissimilarsongs,instruments,andartistsindialoguewithoneanother.SheisamemberoftheSteveNewcomb
Orchestra,andhascollaboratedwithLionelLoueke,Wilson,GregOsby,PeterEldridge,YacoubaSissokoandothers.
ContemporaryjazzguitaristRayObiedohassteadilyemergedasastandoutBayAreatalent.Hehasplayedwithmanyofthejazz
community’smostcelebratedmusicians,includinglegendaryjazzorganistJohnny“Hammond”Smith,trombonistJulianPriester,
AztecafeaturingPete&SheilaEscovedoandFourplays’HarveyMason,andperformedonaworldtourwithjazzsuperstarHerbie
Hancock.
ThesonofacclaimedbigbanddrummerSonnyIgoe,TommyIgoehasworkedwithanimpressiverangeofartistsincludingDave
Grusin,ArtGarfunkel,theNewYorkVoices,StanleyJordanandmore.Hismostrecentproject,TommyIgoeGrooveConspiracy,
boastsmanyoftheBayArea’sfinestinstrumentalists,includingPacificMamboOrchestraleaderSteffenKuehn,TowerofPower’s
tenorsaxophonistTomPolitzer,andDoobieBrothers’altosaxophonistMarcRusso.Thegroup’sself-titleddebutfeaturesguest
artistsRandyBrecker,CarlosSantana’sKarlPerazzo,andSnarkyPuppy’sMichaelLeague.
BrianAndreshassharedthestagewithRockandRollHallofFamersLittleAnthonyandtheImperials,TonyAwardwinning
BroadwaystarFaithPrince,Leroy“Sugar”BonnerfromTheOhioPlayers,bluesgreatsSamMyersandLonnyMack,andtelevision
andmoviestarWoodyHarrelson.HisinterestinLatinmusicandculturebroughthimtotheBayArea.Notonlydoesheperformwith
Dr.Loco’sbandsTheRockin’JalapeñoBandandLosTiburonesDelNorte,butin2007hesteppedintoanewroleasbandleaderfor
theAfroCubanCartel.
Sinceit’sinceptionin2013byPeruvianpercussionist,singer,composeranddancerBraulioBarrera,SomoselSonisquickly
becomingoneoftheBayArea’shottestsalsaorchestras.Asaself-taughtpercussionistanddrummer,Barrerahascomposedjingles
forvariousPeruviancommercials,touredwithCeciliaBarraza’sensemblethroughEurope,CostaRicaandtheU.S.,andperformed
withvariousPeruviandancecompaniesandsalsabandsincludingChinoEspinoza,TabacoEronandtheGRAMMY®Award-winning
PacificMamboOrchestra.HisworkcanalsobeheardontheMotorcycleDiariessoundtrackandinthe2007NBCfilm,Cane.
Getreadyforanelectrifyinglineupofacclaimedartistsappearingatthe28thSanJoseJazzSummerFest2017!Additionalartistswill
beannouncedinthecomingweeks.
28thAnnualSanJoseJazzSummerFest2017
When:August11-13,2017
Where:PlazadeCésarChavezPark,SanJose,CA
Admission:summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/buy-now
Moreinfo:summerfest.sanjosejazz.org;408.288.7557
SummerFest2017ArtistLineup
Friday,August11–Sunday,August13
ChrisBotti;GeorgeClintonandParliamentFunkadelic;MaceoParker;TheWhispers;AngéliqueKidjo’sCeliaCruzTributewith
PedritoMartinez;Dr.LonnieSmithTrio;JazzByFivewithJavonJackson,GeorgeCables,RandyBrecker,EddieGomez&Jimmy
Cobb;SanFranciscoStringTriowithMimiFox,MadsTollingandJeffDenson;CyrilleAimée;TheSeshen;PacificMambo
Orchestra;DannyGreenTrio;CarmenLundy;SashaMasakowski;EmilioSollaQuartet;DmitriMathenyJazzNoir;TiaBrazda;
GregoryPage;KavitaShah,RayObiedo,TommyIgoeGrooveConspiracy,BrianAndresAfroCubanCartel;SomoselSon;andmany
otherssoontobeannounced.
Artistinterviewsareavailableuponrequest.
TicketInformation
3-DayPassAdultVIP($285earlybird;$325advance;$345gate)
IncludesReservedMainStageSeatingSat&Sun,FreeFood&BeveragesinExclusiveVIPPavilion,PriorityAccesstoAllIndoorFest
Venues,ComplimentaryGarageParkingDuringFestivalHours
3-DayPassAdultPRIORITYACCESS($140earlybird;$160advance;$170gate)
SkiptheLineatAllIndoorFestVenues,$20inBeverageTickets
3-DayPassAdultALLSTAGES($70earlybird;$90advance;$100gate)
AccesstoALLIndoor&OutdoorFestVenues
3-DayPassAdultGENERALADMISSION(GA)($45earlybird;$60advance;$70gate)
3-DayPassChild($15)
Admissionforonechildaged5-12,withaccesstostagesandhospitalityareasatSJZSummerFestaccordingtotheaccesslevelofan
accompanyingadult.Thislow-pricedticketisdesignedtoallowfamiliestoaffordablyenjoytheFestandisnotdiscountedfromthe
GatePrice.
SingleTickets($15–$140advance,April24–July31;$20–$150beginningAugust1)
Friday,August11:VIP$65advance,April24–July31,$75beginningAugust1;GA$15advance,$20beginningAugust1.
Saturday&Sunday,August12-13:VIP$140advance,April24–July31,$150beginningAugust1;PriorityAccess$65advance,$75
beginningAugust1;AllStages$35advance,$40beginningAugust1;GA$20advance,$25beginningAugust1.
https://summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/buy-now
AboutSanJoseJazz
Foundedin1986,SanJoseJazzisapublicbenefitcorporationcelebratingjazzasadynamic,evolvingartformandisproducerofthe
annualSanJoseJazzSummerFestandWinterFest.Withitssingularmusicprogrammingandinnovativeeducationalofferings,San
JoseJazzpreservesthejazztraditionwhileactivelysupportingthenextgenerationofperformerswithinthegenreandbeyond.For
moreinformation,pleasevisitsanjosejazz.org.
MediaContacts:
JesseP.Cutler,JPCutlerMedia,510.338.0881,[email protected]
MarinaHarrison,JPCutlerMedia,650.947.9296,[email protected]
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