SJZ’s first-ever New Works Fest kicks off in an evening hosted by KCSM Jazz 91 Radio personality Greg Bridges. The Fest is an outgrowth of our Jazz Aid Fund initiative, which provided grants to 33 SF Bay Area artists, each to produce a new work. Tonight’s selection of artists features two of the Bay’s greatest treasures and an exciting young artist on the way up.
Segment start times are approximate, due to variations in set lengths—plan on arriving a little early to make sure you see the entire performance by your favorite artist. If you miss the premiere stream, you’ll have the chance to watch the archived concert until May 31. Once you begin watching, you have 48 hours to finish playback.
7:30pm
Hayward multi-instrumentalist Ian Santillano taught himself how to play the guitar after years of playing Guitar Hero. Since then, he’s forged a melodic, soulful sound from influences including John Mayer’s Continuum, D'Angelo’s Voodoo and Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly. While at Santa Clara University, Ian sharpened his music skills, learning jazz and music theory while getting degree in Computer Engineering. Now 24, he writes, produces and records his original music. Lush pads, funky drums, dreamy vocals and aggressive guitar solos support lyrics of honesty and self-experience. Ian has a sound all his own: “Greasy Mayer;” melodic funky soul with a touch of jazz vocabulary.
Ian Santillano - vocals, guitarPablo Lopez - drums, background vocalsAngelo "Lasi" Macaraeg - bassJoy Hackett - synth, background vocalsJustin Firmeza - piano, lap steel guitar
iansantillano.comiansantillanostore.cominstagram.com/ian_santillano
Ian Santillano“Hard to Breathe” (Commission Excerpt)
Ian Santillano & the Housewarmers"I Wanna Go Outside Again"
7:55pm
Tammy Lynne Hall began playing the piano at age four, urged on by her two grandmothers who pooled their resources to fund her private lessons. Since then she has become one of the most respected and beloved performers and music directors in the SF Bay Area. Tammy has worked with acclaimed vocalists like Etta Jones, Kim Nalley, Nicolas Bearde, Ernestine Anderson, Melba Moore, and Queen Esther Marrow; and instrumentalists such as Regina Carter and Terrence Brewer. In 2017 she was awarded Best Musical Direction from the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle for her work in Pamela Rose's Blues Is A Woman.
Tammy Hall - pianoKristen Strom - saxophoneDeszon Claiborne - drumsGary Brown - bass
tammyhall.comfacebook.com/hallhawkinsinstagram.com/tammylynnehall
Tammy Hall“Hallelujah Samba” (Commissioned Work Excerpt)
Tammy HallBlue Soul (EPK)
Claudia Villela’s glorious five-octave voice is lithe and startlingly beautiful in every register. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, she writes and sings mostly in Portuguese, interpreting lyrics with keen emotional insight and supple rhythmic command. Already performing professionally in Brazil in her teens, Claudia later attended the Manhattan School of Music evolving into an inventive scat singer and an ingenious songwriter with an astonishing body of original material. The latest of her seven albums is 2019’s Encantada (Live), a collection of performances that DownBeat lauded as exhibiting “an unwavering commitment to the highest level of improvisation.”
Claudia Villela - vocalsRicardo Peixoto - guitarsMarcos Silva - piano
claudiavillela.comfacebook.com/claudiavillelamusicainstagram.com/claudiavillelamusic
Claudia Villela"Cartas Ao Vento" (Commission excerpt)
Claudia Villela“Amor até o Fim”
Performances will stream on the San Jose Jazz website. Your ticket and emailed confirmation will include a “Watch” button that allows you to access the stream.
Brazilian, Gospel, R&B, Soul, Straight Ahead
New Works Fest 2023, April 14–29, features performances by some of the most exciting artists in jazz, blues, R&B, soul and electronic music in the SF Bay Area. The festival is an outgrowth of SJZ’s Jazz Aid Fund initiative, which provided crucial funds to 33 artists, each to produce a new work.
Online only
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