San Jose Jazz Community

David Sanborn will be playing at the 19th Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival, this Saturday, August 9, at 6pm at the Main Stage. He was interviewed on NPR last Saturday. Learn more about this distinctive saxophonist.

Click here to listen to the interview.

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Aart de Geus, Chairman and CEO of Synopsis, Inc.

As the honorary chair of the 19th Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival, Aart de Geus speaks about Music and Technology in Silicon Valley at the festival gala, on August 2, 2008. Will you be able to identify all of the music references? Take the quizz!

 

"I have had the privilege of being at the heart of technology, business and, yes, a bit of very amateur musicianship as well. So let me "Take Five" minutes to share how in Silicon Valley "Basin Street", "Route 66", and Sand Hill Road are the "Body and Soul" of passion and creativity.

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Lost in the line-up? In the maze of stellar artists featured at the festival, here are 10 picks from the festival director, Bruce Labadie.

David Sanborn in a tribute to Ray Charles and Hank Crawford
In his long career we've seen many projects. We think this is one of the best.
(Main stage/ Saturday 6:00pm)

 

James Hunter
British rockabilly blues player will be touring with Chris Isaac this summer. We caught him on an off-night.
(Blues stage/ Sunday 5:00pm)

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Aart de Geus is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Synopsys, Inc.
He is also the Honorary Chair of this year's festival. His welcome note emphasizes the links between arts and technology.

"Welcome to the 19th Annual Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival. As an amateur musician and the CEO of a locally-based, global technology company, I couldn't be more excited to be chosen as the honorary chair this year. Music, and jazz in particular, transcends borders. Each culture adds its special sound, rhythm, riff, but all can touch our hearts even across time and geographical barriers. You might say that jazz is a global conversation. And this year's San Jose Jazz Festival lineup reflects that wonderfully.

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Andrew Gilbert from the Mercury News comments on the freshly released festival's line-up.

"19TH ANNUAL DOWNTOWN FESTIVAL FEATURES ARTISTS AND STYLES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Think global and dance local could be the motto of the 19th Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival, which runs Aug. 8-10 in and around Plaza de Cesar Chavez.
Produced by San Jose Jazz, which also presents the free Jazz at Santana Row summer concerts and winter Sunday Jazz Series at the Improv, the festival features a wealth of talent from around the globe, with a particular emphasis on the African-derived rhythms of Latin America and the Caribbean.

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The Kristen Strom Quintet will be the next performers in our Jazz Showcase Series, a co-production of S.J. Jazz and City Lights Theater Company. Strom has been a mainstay on the Bay Area music scene for nearly two decades, acclaimed for beautifully rendered melodies, exceptional tonality, and accomplished musicianship.

We spoke with Kristen recently about her musical career, her influences as an artist, and her thoughts on the local jazz scene. Here's what she had to say:

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