If music is indeed the food of love, then the 19th Annual Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival will offer music aficionados a moveable feast of jazz, R&B, blues, Latin, swing and more as it sweeps into town from August 8-10. San Jose Jazz’s hallmark annual event, which is also sponsored by Southwest Airlines, boasts a mind-boggling 1,000 musicians on 10 stages in downtown San Jose, near Plaza de Cesar Chavez, making it one of the most anticipated festivals in the area.
The lineup includes a smorgasbord of American legends like alto saxophonist David Sanborn (top left), who leads his band in a tribute to Ray Charles and Hank Crawford; neo-swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (below); Dr. Lonnie Smith (top right), sharing the stage with Javon Jackson (top center) and Les McCann; and Bill Holman, renowned tenor sax player and arranger.
The festival also has a distinctly 
international flavor. Other headliners include famed Indian tabla master Zakir Hussain performing with the global fusion ensemble, George Brooks’ Summit; Cuban saxophonist Yosvany Terry, whose Afro-Cuban music has been making its mark on the New York jazz scene; guitarist Chico Pinheiro, a rising star on the Brazilian jazz scene; and Claudia Villela, the Brazilian singer with a five-octave voice. While there are too many artists to mention, you can count on a vibrant showcase of musical talents from many corners of the globe. A special emphasis on Latin music will spice things up, starting with a pre-event “Havana Nights” gala fundraiser (Sat, Aug 2, 5:30pm) at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose; a dance party (Friday, Aug 8, 5pm), featuring The Joe Ferrari Big Band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Orquesta d’Soul, which is renowned for its funky, Caribbean rhythms; and an outdoor screening of “Buena Vista Social Club,” the well-loved documentary on Cuban music (Sat, Aug 9, 8:45pm) in St. James Park.
Other festival events include a jazz mass at St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica (Sat, 4pm); a “club crawl” featuring jazz shows and great food in nine downtown bars, lounges and restaurants (Fri, 6pm-12:30am); and a “CEO Jam Session,” where Silicon Valley execs share the stage with festival artists (Fri, 9pm). –Stephanie Soong
When:
August 8-10: Fri, 5pm-12:30am; Sat, 11am-1am; Sun, 12-11pm.
Where:
Fri, August 8: Plaza de Cesar Chavez; Sat-Sun: Various locations.
Info/Tickets:
(408) 288-7557; www.sanjosejazz.org
