The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce continues the Friday Night Music Series beginning at 6 p.m.
By Mark Fenichel
I am pleased to announce that Silicon Valley’s premier annual music event is back with more than 45 acts across seven stages. After it was cancelled last year due to the global pandemic, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2021 returns for its 31st festival season from Friday, Aug. 13 through Sunday, Aug. 15 in and around Plaza de César Chavez Park in downtown San Jose.
San Jose Jazz presents a Summer Fest lineup featuring an array of artists including the headliner Common (Saturday, Aug. 14 on The Sobrato Organization Main Stage). Some new acts are: Goapele, James Francies, Kandace Springs, Christian Sands, Helen Sung Quartet, Jamie Baum Septet+, Sarah McKenzie, Jazz Organ Fellowship Tribute to Doug Carn, New West Guitar Trio with Leah Zeger, Mimi Fox B3 Trio, SJZ Collective, Tony Lindsay and the Ray Charles Project, Claudia Villela and Roberto Lumbambo, The Futurelics, and Idiot Fish. These acts join the previously announced artists including Morris Day and The Time, Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra, Superblue: Kurt Elling Featuring Charlie Hunter, Judith Hill, Ozomatli, The Motet, Butcher Brown, Shamarr Allen, 7th Street Big Band, and Bloco do Sol.
For the first time, the Fountain Blues Foundation, in collaboration with Jay Meduri owner of the South Bay venue Poor House Bistro, will host a dedicated stage featuring blues and New Orleans acts on the new Adobe Fountain Blues Stage located in the south portion of Plaza de César Chavez Park. Acts include Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs, Sons of the Soul Revivers, The Chris Cain Band, Junior Watson Band, Sonny Green & Tia Carroll w/ The Greaseland Allstars, Gary Smith & The House Rockers, and The Delgado Brothers.
San Jose Jazz steps forward to help bring the city of San Jose back to life and rebuild its inclusive community through cultural collaborations with many long-standing partners. Founded in 1986, San Jose Jazz is a public benefit organization celebrating jazz as a dynamic, evolving art form.
General Admission, Priority Access, and VIP tickets range from $35 to $190/Day; and $105 to $470/3-Day Passes. To purchase tickets, please visit: summerfest.sanjosejazz.org.
In other news, the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce continues the Friday Night Music Series beginning at 6 p.m. It will run every Friday through Oct. 8. Many favorites will return including Shane Dwight, Superbad, Faithfully Live (the Journey tribute band), and this year’s closer, The Houserockers Oct. 8. Check www.morganhillchamber.org for a complete schedule. Hope to see you out there. It’s going to be great getting back out and enjoying live music again.
On another note, I’d like to send my best wishes to the 400,000-plus people that I shared the weekend of Aug. 15-17, 1969 with at the Woodstock Music & Art Fair. It was certainly an unforgettable weekend still burned into my brain 52 years later. I had explained to my parents that I was just going camping with some friends to a music event in upstate New York. When they saw the news coverage on TV they got really worried and sent my older brother there to “make sure I was OK.” It was a miracle that he even found me. And yes, I was OK!
If you have a music tip contact me at [email protected].
