San Jose Jazz Summer Fest Lineup

This event needs absolutely no promotion, but below is the lineup for Summer Fest 2024. You have every genre of Jazz you can imagine across multiple stages all throughout the weekend in Downtown San Jose.

For tickets and more information, head over to the San Jose Jazz website.

San Jose Jazz's Summer Fest 2023 Guide

SJ Today has a handy guide for anyone interested in attending Summer Fest this weekend. Running from August 11-13th, it's the largest Jazz event in San Jose and is one of the largest and best Jazz festivals in the US. It features over 100 performances across eight different stages and supplemental events that will let you party all night long.

To see a great summary of the event, head over here.

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2021

One of Downtown San Jose's largest events is back this week. San Jose Jazz's Summer Fest runs Friday to Sunday with multiple stages and options for every budget (including $5 streaming passes for one of the stages). The main stage will be centered in Plaza de Cesar Chavez but various events and the overall atmosphere will encompass large portions of Downtown San Jose. It will be a fun weekend to be in the area even if you are not attending the full event.

The full blurb is below and you can access the full roster and tickets over here.

Celebrate the Rebirth of “Live” at San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, August 13–15. One of the first significant live music events in the Bay Area in 2021, the Fest reclaims its place as "one of the world's great urban jazz festivals" (DownBeat Magazine) with a more compact footprint centered on the Sobrato Organization Main Stage in the Plaza de César Chavez. We'll bring you six stages with the same great vibe and a mix of international stars, emerging artists and local gems playing jazz, blues, R&B, New Orleans, Latin and more, including Grammy / Emmy / Academy Award winning artist Common, Latin jazz legend Pete Escovedo, fast-rising soul singer Judith Hill, funk powerhouse Morris Day and The Time, Latin urban party starter Ozomatli, Blue Note recording artist Kandace Springs and 70+ more.

Celebrating its 31st festival year in 2021, Summer Fest is an eclectic musical celebration that inspires family reunions, gathers old friends and brings music to every corner of downtown San Jose. Tickets and info at summerfest.sanjosejazz.org. 

San Jose Jazz Winter Fest: Feb 14-29

Winter Fest 2020 kicks off Valentine's Day and features jazz, blues, Latin jazz, New Orleans, and other genres in intimate venues across San Jose. Performances will take place at Cafe Stritch, the Hammer Theatre, Hedley Club, San Jose Museum of Art, the Poor House Bistro, and Art Boutiki.

For a full list of musicians and to get tickets, head over here.

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2017: Aug 11-13

This weekend, San Jose Jazz brings its annual Summer Fest back to downtown San Jose. This is probably the biggest live music event in the city, and a large section of the downtown core is closed off to cars. Over the course of the weekend, over 100 acts will perform at 12 indoor and outdoor stages.

In addition to various sub-genres of jazz at each stage, there will also be dance lessons, food/drink, and local vendors throughout the area. Some people like to travel from stage to stage, while others find their favorite area and relax for the day. Whatever your style is, if you are at all into live music I highly recommend checking this out! See how it went last year in the summary video below.

In the last couple of years I've learned a few tips for attendees:

• Bring a chair if you can! It is so much easier to just set up wherever you feel like it, and stay for as long as you want.
• Don't forget that your ticket gets you a wristband, which allows you to leave the festival and return as you please. This makes it much easier to visit a nearby bar, restaurant, or cafe if you're looking for something outside of the festival.
• As with any festival, try to map out where you want to be for specific performances. It can take some time to walk between stages. For indoor stages, capacity is limited so punctuality is especially important.
• Jazz Beyond After Dark usually has slightly more experimental music, and is one of my favorite parts of the festival. If you get the chance, check it out on Fri and Sat nights.
• Wear sunscreen!

For more information, see the promotional video or visit the website at https://summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/.

-Lawrence Lui

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest - Aug 7-9th

The 26th annual Summer Fest this August features over 100 performers on 12 different stages. You have every incarnation of Jazz imaginable as well as R&D, Blues, and Salsa. It is one of the largest and most renowned Jazz festivals anywhere and is a must-attend event for Bay Area music lovers!

New this year is special programming for the South First Area (SoFA). On Friday night there will be new indoor and outdoor stages in the district, providing an extra-lively South First Friday. Speaking of lively, there will be all sorts of late night parties. They have done 24-hour Jazz marathons in previous years, and I'll look forward to seeing what they have planned this year.

For all of the details, head over to The San Jose Jazz Summer Fest website. Tickets are already available for purchase over here.

Second Annual RAHSAANATHON: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk @ Cafe Stritch from Aug 5-10

San Jose, CA – San Jose’s Cafe Stritch is proud to present a celebration of the life and music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk from Tuesday, August 5 through Sunday, August 10.

To begin the festivities on August 5 and 6, Rahsaan biographer and multi-instrumentalist John Kruth and Rahsaan’s collaborator Betty Neals will be featured. They will join New York baritone saxophonist Claire Daly performing material from Daly’s recent Rahsaan tribute album “Rah!Rah!” with local masters Akira Tana on drums and John Wiitala on bass.

The RAHSAANATHON’S main event is three nights with trombonist Steve Turre & The Eulipion All Stars, featuring James Carter.  This ensemble will be reprising their three-night stand from last year---this time with renowned James Carter on reeds and flute. The group will be performing Turre’s arrangements of Kirk’s music August 7 (Rahsaan’s Birthday), August 8 and August 9.

Poet Betty Neals, who co-wrote “Theme for the Eulipions”, the house anthem of Cafe Stritch, will perform the song live with the band. The band includes: Charles McNeal (alto sax), Matt Clark (piano), Marcus Shelby (upright bass), Darrell Green (drums), and Terrie Odabi (vocals).

A very special edition of the Cafe Stritch Weekly Eulipions Jazz Jam will close out the week with bandleader Peppe Merolla (drums) being joined by the great Jeremy Pelt (trumpet) along with Matt Clark (piano) and Michael Zisman (upright bass). The night will include the band performing songs from Rahsaan’s The Return of the 5,000 Lb. Man as well as originals. Because this is the Sunday of the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, the jam might include other world-class players in town for the festival.

For a schedule and more information please visit www.cafestritch.com . Tickets for all events are available at www.brownpapertickets.com

Cafe Stritch is located at 374 South First Street, San Jose, CA   408 280 6161

Schedule of Performers
Entertainment Schedule August 5 – August 10

Tuesday August 5
RAHSAANATHON from 8:30PM to 12:30AM
Claire Daly and Rah! Rah!

Wednesday August 6
RAHSAANATHON from 8:30PM to 12:30AM
Claire Daly and Rah! Rah!

Thursday August 7
RAHSAANATHON from 8:30PM to 12:30AM
Steve Turre & The Eulipion All Stars featuring James Carter

Friday August 8
RAHSAANATHON from 8:30PM to 12:30AM
Steve Turre & The Eulipion All Stars featuring James Carter

Saturday August 9
San Jose Jazz Summer Fest Stage from 12:00PM to 7:00PM
12:00PM to 1:30PM  Noel Jewkes Quartet
2:00PM to 3:30PM  Michael O'Neal Quintet with Kenny Washington
4:00PM to 5:30PM  Ben Flocks Trio: The Music of Sonny Rollins
6:00PM to 7:00PM  Tim Lin

RAHSAANATHON from 8:30PM to 12:30AM
Steve Turre & The Eulipion All Stars featuring James Carter

Sunday August 10
San Jose Jazz Summer Fest Stage from 12:00PM to 7:00PM
12:00PM to 1:00PM  Charnett Moffett with Jana Herzen
1:30PM to 2:30PM  Marc Carey Focus Trio
3:00PM to 3:45PM  Charnett Moffett with Jana Herzen
4:15PM to 5:00PM  Marc Carey Focus Trio
5:30PM to 6:30PM  Pedrito Martinez

RAHSAANATHON from 8:30PM to 12:30AM
The Eulipion Jazz Jam Session with Peppe Merolla, featuring Jeremy Pelt

Tickets for all events are available at www.brownpapertickets.com

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest!!! Aug 8-10th, Downtown San Jose

One of the largest Jazz festivals in the US is happening in Downtown San Jose this weekend. You will have world-class traditional jazz, Latin jazz, salsa, R&B, funk, smooth jazz, fusion, world music, and I'm sure a few surprises. The featured artists this year are 2014 Grammy winners Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Bootsy Collins, Snarky Puppy, The Poncho Sanchez Band, Ledisi, David Sanborn, Joey DeFrancesco, Warren Wolf & Byron Landham, Kris Bowers, Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express and many more.

This year's San Jose Jazz Summer Fest will have music on 12 (!!!) different stages. Between the main festival and the side-events, you will be able to listen to live Jazz 24x7 throughout the course of the 3-day event. For more information, check out the links and the video below (which includes tons of great shots from across Downtown). This is an event you won't want to miss!

Event Link:
http://summerfest.sanjosejazz.org

Full Musical Lineup:
http://summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/2014-lineup

Ticket Link:
http://summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/tickets/buy-now

Prices
General Admission:
Weekend Pass: $55 through 6/8: Thereafter and at gate: $70
Fri: $15 through 8/6; Thereafter and at gate: $20
Sat or Sun: $20 through 8/6; Thereafter and at gate: $25

GA All Stages:
Weekend Pass: $65 through 6/8: Thereafter and at gate: $90
Sat or Sun: $30 through 8/6; Thereafter and at gate: $35

Priority Access:
Weekend Pass: $150 through 6/8: Thereafter and at gate: $170
Sat or Sun: $70 through 8/6; Thereafter and at gate: $75

VIP:
Weekend Pass: $285 through 6/8: Thereafter and at gate: $320
Sat or Sun: $140 through 8/6; Thereafter and at gate: $150

Children (Ages 5-12):
$5 daily

2013 San Jose Jazz Summer Fest Lineup

One of the largest Jazz festivals in the world is returning to San Jose this weekend (Aug 9-11). It's going to feature over 1,000 artists across 11 different stages, including Pink Martini, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Cameo! Music genres include all sorts of Jazz, Blues, Salsa, Latin, New Orleans, and R&B.

To see the lineup in an awesome promo video highlighting Downtown San Jose, click here.  For more info, schedules, and tickets, click here.

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest is Expanding to The San Pedro Square Market This Year!

from http://www.sanpedrosquaremarket.com/the-san-pedro-square-market-blog/bid/58659/San-Jose-Jazz-Summer-Fest-at-SPSM-This-Weekend

The Market will be home to two stages for the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest! In order to enjoy the music, you will need to purchase a Jazz Festival wristband. They will be available at the door, on the festival grounds, and various locations throughout downtown. Please see the map below for more information.

METRO MARKET STAGE (SPSM, Perazzo Building)
Friday 8/10/12 $15
6pm De Jazz Vu

8pm Poblano Project

10pm Yesberger Band

12am Marcus L. Miller with Freedom Jazz Movement

Saturday 8/11/12 $20
10am Harold Fethe Quartet

12pm Just-AZz

2pm “Taking Flight” Female Songwriters
4pm Fatum Brothers’ Peacetet

6pm Yoshiaki Miyanoue Tokyo Quartet

8pm Grooveyard Shift

10pm Ben Flocks / B-Flo & the Love Machine
12am Synchronicity
Sunday 8/12/12 $20
10am Dixie Six

12pm Kevin Coelho

2pm Jackie Gage and the JurassiC
4pm TBA

6pm Monica Marquis

JC Smith’s Blues Club (SPSM, Lusardi Building) 

Fri, Aug 10 @ 9pm–1am

Sat, Aug 11 @ 9pm–1am

$10 with festival admission / $15 without; at the door only

JC Smith’s Blues Club, located inside San Pedro Square Market’s Lusardi Building, will salute the original living legends of South Bay Blues Friday, Aug 10 with performances by JC Smith Band, Chris Cain, Andy Just, Gary Smith and Sammy Varela. Legally Blue will open the club’s Summer Fest after party Saturday, set to include Chicago artists Toranzo Cannon, Sharon Lewis and Dave Specter in addition to Wendy Dewitt, La Tenaza, Livia Slingerland, Lady Chico and more! 

The San Jose Jazz Summer Fest is Coming!

Mark your calendars, the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2012 is set for August 10-12th! Check out the latest promo courtesy of WMS Media below:

Help Support San Jose Jazz!

San Jose Jazz SummerFest Encore Video!

San Jose Jazz Festival 2011: Sunday Schedule

10am JustAzz 11am Full Spectrum 12pm John Santos Sextet Pacific Mambo Orchestra Grupo Samba Rio with Jorge Alabe Alessandro Penezzi Duo Juan Prada Trio Harold Fethe Trio Archbishop Mitty High School Jazz Band 1pm Ron Hacker and the Hacksaws Valley Christian Combo 1:30pm Swing Dance Lesson 2pm Arturo Sandoval Jesus Diaz y su QBA Hector Lugo y La Mixta Criolla Michael O'Neill Quartet with Kenny Washinton Drei im roten Kreis Stompin' at the Savoy DeJazz Vu TBA 3pm Grady Champion Introduction to jazz for kids (ages 8-12) by Alfredo Rodriguez 3:30pm Swing Dance Lesson 4pm Ramsey Lewis and His Electric Band - The Sun Goddess Tour Pellejo Seco Ray Obiedo & The Urban Latin Jazz Project Miguel Zenón Quartet Octobop A Touch of Brass Round Midnight Introduction to jazz for kids (ages 4-7) 5pm Blues Caravan 2011 - Girls with Guitars San Jose Jazz Summer Combo 6pm DMS featuring George Duke, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn Fito Reinoso y Su Ritmo y Armonia Claudia Villela Alfredo Rodriguez Trio Mads Tolling Quartet Drei im roten Kreis 7pm Mark Hummel's Harmonica Blues Blowout