San Jose Jazz Summer Fest returns for it’s 27th festival season

Get ready for another amazing jazz festival as San Jose Jazz Summerfest returns for it’s 27th festival season to San Jose, Ca. The date has been set for Friday, August 12 – Sunday, August 14 and to be held at Plaza de César Chavez Park, Downtown San Jose, Calif.  Check out the lineup and the news release:

San Jose, Calif. — Silicon Valley’s premier annual music event, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2016 returns for its 27th festival season from Friday, August 12 through Sunday, August 14 in and around Plaza de César Chavez Park in downtown San Jose, Calif. A showcase for jazz, blues, funk, R&B, salsa and related genres, SJZ Summer Fest is also nationally recognized as one of the biggest Latin festivals in the country. A standout summer destination for music lovers, concert-goers and families alike, the three-day event features 120+ performances on 12 stages, attracting tens of thousands of visitors to downtown throughout the weekend.

Three-day passes and single tickets are on sale at special advance prices now through July 31. Four distinct levels of access are offered to best experience SJZ Summer Fest. VIP, Priority and All Stages levels allow access to all outdoor stages plus four indoor venues: the beautiful California Theatre, intimate Cafe Stritch and Jade Leaf Lounge, plus iconic Club Regent at the Fairmont San Jose, offering 33 of the festival’s premier world-class jazz and global artists indoors in air-conditioned, acoustically-rich environments. General Admission (GA) gives basic access to all outdoor stages only. Three-day passes: GA: $60 advance, $70 gate; All Stages (includes all indoor venues): $90 advance, $100 gate; Priority Access (jump-the-line privileges and more): $160 advance, $170 gate; VIP (exclusive main stage seating, complimentary food and wine, garage parking): $325 advance, $345 gate. Single day tickets range from as low as $15 to $150 for a VIP experience; see website for benefits and pricing. All ticket prices will increase to Gate Price on August 1. SJZ members get free admission.

SJZ Summer Fest is way too much fun for only one day, with late night programming and a Club Crawl through the wee hours. For those traveling to San Jose, limited discounted rates for hotels on or near the festival site are offered exclusively through Team San Jose via the SJZ Summer Fest website (summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/festival-info/hotel-deals) or by contacting Karla Gutierrez at 408.792.4192 or email [email protected]. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable live music experience hitting the streets of San Jose.

For nearly three decades, San Jose Jazz has embraced its steadfast commitment to presenting today’s most distinguished acts from around the world and homegrown Bay Area talent at one of North America’s foremost festivals: GRAMMY® Award-winning artists, the hottest salsa and Latin bands, classic jazz pioneers, world music stars, top local emerging musicians, and genre-busting hip-hop, R&B, and soul artists. The 27th Annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2016 features an acclaimed lineup, and today San Jose Jazz announces its initial round of confirmed artists: Galactic, Bobby Caldwell, Funky Meters, Sérgio Mendes & Brasil 2016, Cécile McLorin Salvant & the Aaron Diehl Trio, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Miguel Zenón Quartet, Red Baraat, Chico Freeman Plus-tet, Wolff & Clark Expedition, Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, DakhaBrakha, Alfredo Rodríguez Trio with Ganavya Doraiswamy, Tony Lindsay Presents the Soul Soldiers, Kahulanui, Will Calhoun Celebrating Elvin Jones, La Máquina Insular, Denise Donatelli & Friends, Maségo, Bay Area Salsa All-Stars, Melissa Aldana, The Royal Bopsters, Karrin Allyson and additional artists to be announced!

Not only will SJZ Summer Fest 2016 transform downtown San Jose into an explosive hub of jazz, it’ll be the nation’s epicenter of Latin jazz, drawing on both a mix of internationally renowned Latin artists and top Bay Area salsa bands, co-curated by Mister Latin Jazz. San Jose Jazz’s Latin programming for SJZ Summer Fest 2016 highlights the music of Puerto Rico across venues including the ultra-hot Salsa Stage and Main Stage. An island with such rich cultural heritage that’s responsible for the origination of salsa, San Jose Jazz delves deep into the Afro-Puerto Rican roots music of Bomba and Plena, Pirulo, Cuban Son, and contemporary Puerto Rican salsa. Confirmed Puerto Rican artists appearing at Summer Fest 2016 include: Miguel Zenón Quartet, La Máquina Insular, Pirulo y La Tribu, Puerto Rico Jibaro All Stars and La Mixta Criolla.

Top New Orleans-based festival favorites will also be showcased, including Galactic, the Funky Meters, and Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers on the Main Stage and Big Easy Stage. The SJZ Jazz Beyond series will present a diverse range of emerging artists redefining jazz, soul and hip-hop, including Red Baraat and Maségo. Top student jazz ensembles from across the region will be featured as well.

Brendan Rawson, Executive Director of San Jose Jazz comments about this year’s Summer Fest: “Summer Fest 2016 is gearing up to be a great music week in downtown San Jose. We have a couple of new venues involved this year, including the Deluxe Bar and the Jade Leaf Lounge where we will feature a special Posi-Tone Records showcase. We will have new outdoor Jazz Beyond Stage programming on both Friday and Saturday nights. We’re also excited to welcome back the JazzWeek Summit conference (Aug 11-12) on the front end of Summer Fest that will bring broadcasters, artists, agents and label representatives together for two days of industry meetings before the Fest kicks off.”

Stage sponsorships are still available; for information contact Monique Perez, Director of Business Development at 408.288.7557, ext. 2307, or email [email protected]. Vendor applications are available on the SJZ Summer Fest website or email Shay Franco-Clausen at [email protected]. For those interested in volunteering, email [email protected].

Thanks to our many sponsors: City of San Jose, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, SV Creates, Castellano Family Foundation, Applied Materials and Gordon Biersch Brewing Company, among others.

Get ready for an electrifying lineup of acclaimed artists appearing at the 27th San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2016! Below is a list of featured artists performing by day at this year’s festival; additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

27th Annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2015
When: August 12 – 14, 2016
Where: Plaza de César Chavez Park, San Jose, CA
Admission: summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/buy-now
More info: summerfest.sanjosejazz.org; 408.288.7557

Summer Fest 2016 Artist Lineup

Friday, August 12
Galactic, Funky Meters, Red Baraat, Tony Lindsay Presents the Soul Soldiers, Soltrón, Posi-Tone Showcase: Michael Dease & the Posi-Tone All Stars, Will Bernard & Brian Charette, and Joe Magnarelli & Doug Webb; Sons of Jubal, Ernie Hames Quintet, Doug Ellington’s New Urban Groove, Jessica Johnson, Synchronicity, La Máquina Insular.

Saturday, August 13
Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Bobby Caldwell, Chico Freeman Plus+tet, Wolff & Clark Expedition, Melissa Aldana, Bay Area Salsa All-Stars, Denise Donatelli & Friends, Little Village Foundation Showcase with Aki Kumar, Aireene Espiritu and John “Blues” Boyd; Vaud & the Villains, Tiffany Austin Quintet, Will Calhoun Celebrating Elvin Jones, Maségo, Karrin Allyson, Michael O’Neill & Kenny Washington Sextet, Pirulo y La Tribu, Johnny Boyd’s Cocktails with the Crooner, Pepe y Su Orchesta, La Bruja Blues Band, Dave Haskell, Danilo y Su Orquesta Universal, Times Four, Egils Straume, Tessa Souter Quartet, Urban Renewal Project, Millenium Sounds Orchestra, RJ Mischo & His Red Hot Blues Band, Octobop, Legally Blue, Ron Gariffo Big Band, Los Gatos-Saratoga Big Band, Pamela Rose & Wayne De La Cruz Hammond Organ Party, Aaron Lington Quintet, Wil Blades Trio, Puerto Rico Jibaro All Stars, Peter Horvath Group, Jackie Gage, Monterey Jazz Festival Vocal Jazz, San Jose Jazz High School All Stars, Monterey Jazz Festival All Stars, Latin Youth Ensemble of San Francisco, East Bay High School, San Jose Jazz U19s.

Sunday, August 14
Sérgio Mendes & Brasil 2016, Cécile McLorin Salvant & the Aaron Diehl Trio, Miguel Zenón Quartet, Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, Alfredo Rodríguez Trio with Ganavya Doraiswamy, DakhaBrakha, Kahulanui, The Royal Bopsters, Tootie Heath Trio featuring Richard Sears & Martin Nevin, Harold López-Nussa Trio, Greg Lamy Band, Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Jazz Organ Fellowship Tribute Honoring Ronnie Foster, Terrie Odabi, Pirulo y La Tribu, Top Shelf Big Band, Vission Latina, Footnotes Big Band, Amy Dabalos, Full Spectrum Swing Band, The Lyratones, Wally Schnalle, South Bay Big Band Jazz, Avance, Rebirth of the Cool featuring Wayne Wallace & John Worley, Greg Johnson, La Mixta Criolla, Michael Henning Collective, San Jose Jazz U19s, Valley Christian Combo, Stanford Jazz Workshop, San Jose Jazz Summer Jazz Camp Combo.

Artist interviews are available upon request, and please download hi-res JPGs at https://goo.gl/GIFfpg.

Ticket Information
3-Day Pass Adult VIP ($325 advance, $345 gate)
Includes Reserved Main Stage Seating Sat & Sun, Free Food & Beverages in Exclusive VIP Pavilion, Priority Access to All Indoor Fest Venues, Access to KCSM Jazz91 FM Artist Performance Lounge, Complimentary Garage Parking During Festival Hours

3-Day Pass Adult PRIORITY ACCESS ($160 advance, $170 gate)
Jump the Line at All Indoor Fest Venues, Access to KCSM Jazz91 FM Artist Performance Lounge, $20 Beverage Tickets, Commemorative Fest Badge

3-Day Pass Adult ALL STAGES ($90 advance, $100 gate)
Access to ALL Indoor & Outdoor Fest Venues

3-Day Pass Adult GENERAL ADMISSION (GA) ($60 advance; $70 gate)

3-Day Pass Child ($15)
Admission for one child aged 5-12, with access to stages and hospitality areas at SJZ Summer Fest according to the access level of an accompanying adult. This low-priced ticket is designed to allow families to affordably enjoy the Fest and is not discounted from the Gate Price.

Single Tickets ($15 – $140 advance; $20 – $150 gate)
Friday, August 12: VIP $55 advance, $65 gate; GA $15 advance, $20 gate.
Saturday & Sunday, August 13-14: VIP $140 advance, $150 gate; Priority Access $65 advance, $75 gate; All Stages $35 advance, $40 gate; GA $20 advance, $25 gate.