A Press Democrat Blog

Arts

Dan Taylor on the fine arts scene.

New Freedom Jazz Choir performs in Santa Rosa

Tuesday, at 7:00 by

The new HJF (Healdsburg Jazz Festival) Freedom Jazz Choir, a chorus of more than 100 voices, led by jazz bassist Marcus Shelby and accompanied by his 17-piece orchestra, will perform Saturday, May 18, in Santa Rosa. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Ave. Admission: $20. The program will include “Soul of the Movement: Meditations on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” a jazz suite written by Shelby. Performers will include Faye Carol, and Adam Ivey’s… Read More »

Healdsburg Jazz Festival announces summer lineup

Wednesday, at 4:17 by

The 15th annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival will feature the vocal ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock, a two-day tribute to bassist Charlie Haden and the premiere of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival Freedom Jazz Choir. The festival, scheduled to run May 31 through June 9 at various venues in the Healdsburg area, also includes an exclusive appearance by the duo of saxophonist Charles Lloyd and pianist Jason Moran. Sweet Honey in the Rock, an a cappella group that combines African chanting,… Read More »

Healdsburg schedules ‘Jazz on the Menu’ for Feb. 7

Monday, at 2:34 by

Healdsburg mixes wine, food and music with the third annual Jazz on the Menu event, coming up Thursday, Feb. 7. Small jazz ensembles will entertain diners at a dozen different restaurants around town from 6 to 9 p.m. that evening. To participate in the event, a benefit for the Healdsburg Jazz Festival’s “Jazz in the Schools” program, just make dinner reservations at any of the participating eating places and then show up to eat and listen. Participating restaurants in Healdsburg… Read More »

Healdsburg Jazz Festival line-up announced

Friday, at 10:30 by

This summer’s Healdsburg Jazz Festival includes a two-day tribute to jazz bassist Charlie Haden and other headliner performances by Charles Lloyd with Jason Moran, and the Fred Hersch Trio. The 15th annual festival will run from May 31 through June 9 at various indoor and outdoor venues around Healdsburg. On the first weekend, a two-day tribute June 1-2 will honor Charlie Haden with the 12-piece Liberation Music Orchestra featuring Carla Bley, Quartet West with Ravi Coltrane, plus Bill Frisell, Geri… Read More »

Healdsburg Jazz Festival wins $20,000 grant

Tuesday, at 12:52 by

The National Endowment for the Arts announced today (Tuesday, Nov. 27) that it is awarding a $20,000 grant to next summer’s Healdsburg Jazz Festival. The grant will support a two-day tribute, June 1 and 2,  to Southern California bassist, composer and bandleader Charlie Haden. More than 20 performers representing the various phases of Haden’s musical career, including the 12-piece Liberation Music Orchestra, will perform, said Jessica Felix, the festival’s founder and artistic director. “This is the largest grant we’ve ever… Read More »

Healdsburg Jazz Fest sets next year’s dates for May 31-June 9

Wednesday, at 10:06 by

The Healdsburg Jazz Festival is gearing up for its 15th season and next summer’s festival with the election of a full board of directors and officers. “We are coming off another outstanding festival year and are just about at full-gear in putting our 2013 festival venues and musical lineups together,” said new chairman Rollie Atkinson in a statement released this week. The 2013 festival is scheduled for May 31 through June 9 at various venues in and around Healdsburg. At… Read More »

Dmitri Matheny Group plays jazz April 28 in Healdsburg

Tuesday, at 10:26 by

The Dmitri Matheny Group, featuring guest tenor saxophonist Dave Ellis, will perform Saturday, April 28, at a benefit concert for the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. The show will include two sets and starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts, 130 Plaza St., Healdsburg. Matheny has been lauded as “the first breakthrough flugelhornist since Chuck Mangione” by the San Jose Mercury News. His band also includes Matt Clark on piano; Seward McCain on bass; and Deszon Claiborne on… Read More »

Healdsburg Jazz Festival announces 2012 lineup

Wednesday, at 1:55 by

This summer’s Healdsburg Jazz Festival will open June 1 with the Calvin Keyes Organ Quartet and close June 10 with Roy Haynes, Sheila Jordan and Vijay Iyer. For 10 days, the 14th annual celebration of authentic jazz will present stars of national stature at venues scattered around the Healdsburg area. Other newly announced artists include Kenny Burrell, Mal Sharpe, Freddy Cole, Orestes Vilato and Maria Marquez, and Michele Rosewoman with Andy Mckee and Billy Hart, said festival founder Jessica Felix.… Read More »

Jazz on the Menu benefit Thursday in Healdsburg

Monday, at 11:00 by

If you value good taste, in both food and music, you won’t want to miss Jazz on the Menu, a benefit event for Healdsburg Jazz Festival’s music education programs, from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2. Dine out at one of a variety of participating restaurants and hear live jazz, then hit the “After Party and Dessert Bar,” from 7:30 to 10 p.m., with the Sonoma State University Faculty Jazz Ensemble, at the Costeaux Bakery and Café, 417 Healdsburg… Read More »

Oliver Lake Organ Quartet in Healdsburg

Thursday, at 10:00 by

The Healdsburg Jazz Festival Master Series will present the Oliver Lake Organ Quartet at 8 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Flying Goat Coffee Café, 324 Center St., Healdsubrg The quartet, led by veteran saxophonist Oliver Lake, features young talent from the New York area: organist Jared Gold, trumpeter Freddie Hendrix and drummer Chris Beck. The show will include two sets of live music. Tickets: $25. Information: www.healdsburgjazzfestival.org; (707) 433-4633.