Festival highlights include Abbey Lincoln, Etta James, Lalah Hathaway, Poncho Sanchez, Toots Theilemans, Eldar Djangirov, Paquito D’Rivera, and distinctive ancillary programming designed to complement and enhance the Festival experience. This fall audiences can partake in a 5-part jazz education course, any of the six pre-concert talks or a listening party about the history of jazz in San Francisco.
SFJAZZ Executive Director Randall Kline commented, “Each year the Festival is a little different. Although we often build on familiar themes, the Festival is always a unique production. This year the international theme is dominant once again, but the line-up of artists is possibly one of the most culturally rich and diverse celebrations of jazz in San Francisco history. I couldn’t be more enthusiastic.” SFJAZZ does have a reputation for building its programming around themes. This year the Festival’s strengths are in world jazz, vocals and jazz piano.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Well over a third of the artists in the Festival this year are from other countries and represents the impact that America’s “classical music” has had around the globe. There are a number of Cuban artists playing the Festival this year. Early in the line-up Omar Sosa — known locally for his close collaborations with Bay Area musician John Santos—is double-billed with percussionist and composer Dafnis Prieto (10/21), followed by six-time Grammy-winner Paquito D’Rivera (10/23), who is a master stylist from an older generation of Cuban musician/composers. Coming to the Festival for the first time is the seven-piece band from Chile, Inti-Illimani (11/3). With a sound rooted in the indigenous cultures of Latin America, Inti-Illimani has enjoyed international fame for over 35 years despite exile and political turmoil in their country of origin.
Other artists coming from South America include superstar Eva Ayllón (11/4) and Virginia Rodrigues (11/5). Ayllón is one of the preeminent interpreters of Peruvian music and is a leading exponent of música criolla - a broad genre with both African and Spanish origins. Rodrigues, who is from Brazil and was discovered in the 90’s by Caetano Veloso, is known for her original interpretations of Brazilian music and her enchanting ethereal voice.
In addition to the artists above, the following internationally recognized musicians will be attending the Festival: Eldar Djangirov (Kyrgyzstan), Paris Combo (France), Gangbé Brass Band (Benin), Bobo Stenson (Sweden), Toots Thielmans (Belgium), Oscar Castro-Neves (Brazil) and Konono No. 1 (Congo).
VOCALS AND PIANO
Next to the global influence on this year’s Festival, the prominence of jazz vocalists and pianists is particularly significant. There are a total of fourteen vocalists this season offering an array of styles and content. Chanteuse de jour Madeleine Peyroux (9/16) kicks it off when she returns to San Francisco for a pre-Festival concert in the wake of a runaway hit CD, Careless Love, which features her own compositions and works by songwriters as varied as Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, and Elliott Smith. The legendary Abbey Lincoln — who is well regarded for her poetic affinity as well as her political activism — will officially open the Festival with a SFJAZZ members-only concert at Herbst Theatre on October 19. Then it’s on to R&B singer Lalah Hathaway (10/21) with Marcus Miller, the eternal Etta James (10/22), Tierney Sutton (10/23) and a double-bill of note due to their distinct styles and storytelling abilities, Mose Allison and Patricia Barber (10/27). However, there are many more vocals on the line-up including: Keren Ann (10/29), Barbara Cook (11/4), Eva Ayllón (11/4), Virginia Rodrigues (11/5) and Bay Area native Jacqui Naylor.
In jazz piano the range of styles in this year’s Festival is vast. It begins with the explosive Latin rhythms of Omar Sosa (10/21) and then continues with the quicksilver, techniquely advanced improvisations of Eldar Djangivov’s (10/22) and the blues and jazz fusion of Mose Allison (10/27). This year’s SFJAZZ Beacon Award recipient is pianist Bill Bell (10/27) or “The Jazz Professor.” Bell has had a prodigious career as an educator in the Bay Area for over twenty-five years, but before he was teaching at the College of Alameda, University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University, he was developing his talents as a classical and jazz pianist by touring with Benny Carter and Carmen McRae. In addition to the above mentioned artists, pianists George Cables (10/28), Bill Charlap and the Denny Zeitlin Trio (11/2) and Bobo Stenson (11/5) will appear.
SFJAZZ TRIBUTES
Jimi Hendrix might not be considered a jazz musician, but when his music is played by World Saxophone Quartet it becomes a part of the San Francisco Jazz Festival. This fall there are three tributes of note. First, the World Saxophone Quartet (10/20) plays rock guitar legend Jimi Hendrix. Featuring founding quartet members David Murray, Oliver Lake, and Hamiet Bluiett with new saxman Bruce Williams and a red-hot rhythm section, WSQ will play “Foxy Lady,” “Hey, Joe,” and other Hendrix classics with a unique jazz disposition.
Next, jazz guitarist and jam-band hero John Scofield pays tribute to one of his early musical inspirations, Ray Charles. And finally, musical theater veteran Barbara Cook (11/4) pays tribute to cabaret legend Bobby Short with songs from the Harold Arlen songbook ("Over the Rainbow," “Stormy Weather," “Get Happy," “That Old Black Magic") in celebration of Arlen’s centennial. Cook’s silky soprano and her 50 plus years on Broadway make her the perfect artist to celebrate this evening of American popular song.
SAN FRANCISO JAZZ FESTIVAL ARTIST LINE-UP
Friday, September 16
Madeleine Peyroux
Masonic Center, 8pm Tickets: $25 - $60
Thursday, October 6 – Listening Party/Lecture
OUT OF THE FOG: San Francisco's Secret Jazz History
Bill Bell and Eddie Marshall in conversation with Dmitri Matheny
Jewish Community Center of SF, 6pm Tickets: $10 non-members, free for members
Tuesday, October 18
SFJAZZ All-Star High School Ensemble, with Youth Speaks Poets
Union Square, noon Tickets: Free
Wednesday, October 19 – Opening Night SFJAZZ Members only
Abbey Lincoln
Herbst Theatre, 7:30 pm Tickets: $26 - $52
Thursday, October 20
World Saxophone Quartet Plays Jimi Hendrix David Murray, Oliver Lake, Hamiet Bluiett, Bruce Williams with Craig Harris, Matthew Garrison & Lee Pearson
Great American Music Hall, 7:30pm & 10pm Tickets: $28 GA - $38 VIP GA
*INSIDE JAZZ: Why Jazz Musicians Love Hendrix
Friday, October 21
Omar Sosa Quartet; Dafnis Prieto Quintet
Great American Music Hall, 8pm Tickets: $24 GA - $36 VIP GA
Lalah Hathaway; Marcus Miller
Masonic Center, 8pm Tickets: $25 - $60
Saturday, October 22
Eldar Djangirov Trio (Eldar)
Florence Gould Theatre, 2pm Tickets: $25 GA
Etta James
Masonic Center, 8pm Tickets: $25 - $62
Sunday, October 23
Paquito D’Rivera
Herbst Theatre, 7pm Tickets: $24 - $44
Tierney Sutton
Great American Music Hall, 7pm Tickets: $24 GA - $36 VIP GA
Wednesday, October 26
Dave Douglas & Keystone “The Silent Films of ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle + Live Jazz”
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 7:30pm Tickets: $22 - $32
*INSIDE JAZZ: Silent Film & Jazz: An Introduction
Thursday, October 27
2005 SFJAZZ Beacon Award Concert: Bill Bell and Friends
Jazz at Pearl’s, 7pm & 9pm Tickets: $15 GA
*INSIDE JAZZ: Bill Bell, Beacon of Bay Area jazz
Mose Allison; Patricia Barber
Herbst Theatre, 7:30pm Tickets: $24 - $44
Friday, October 28
George Cables Project with Gary Bartz, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Eric Revis and Bobby Hutcherson
Herbst Theatre, 8pm Tickets: $24 - $38
John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 8pm Tickets: $24 - $44
*INSIDE JAZZ: Brother Ray: An Appreciation
Saturday, October 29
Keren Ann
Florence Gould Theatre, 2pm Tickets: $25 GA
Yusef Lateef with Sylvie Courvoisier, Joseph Bowie, Adam Rudolph
Herbst Theatre, 8pm Tickets: $26 - $52
*INSIDE JAZZ: Yusef Lateef, World Music Pioneer
Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 8pm Tickets: $24- $42
Sunday, October 30
Paris Combo; Le Jazz Hot
Herbst Theatre, 7pm Tickets: $20- $38
Klezmer Clarinet: Don Byron Plays Sam Musiker & Dave Tarras – Family Matinee
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3pm & 7pm Tickets for 3pm: $5 child, $10 adult w/child; $15 adult w/out child
Tickets for 7pm: $24 - $38
Wednesday, November 2
Bill Charlap Trio; Denny Zeitlin Trio
Herbst Theatre, 7:30pm Tickets: $24 - $38
Gangbé Brass Band
Great American Music Hall, 8pm Tickets: $25 GA, $15 GA for members
Thursday, November 3
Inti-Illimani
Herbst Theatre, 7:30pm Tickets: $24 - $44
Friday, November 4
Eva Ayllón
Herbst, 7:30pm Tickets: $24 - $44
Barbara Cook: Tribute to American Popular Song dedicated to Bobby Short in celebration of the Harold Arlen Centennial
Davies Symphony Hall, 8pm Tickets: $25 - $65
*INSIDE JAZZ: Pennies from Heaven: A Century of Gems from Harold Arlen
Saturday, November 5
Bobo Stenson
Florence Gould Theatre, 2pm Tickets: $25 GA
Virginia Rodrigues
Herbst, 8pm Tickets: $24 - $44
Ornette Coleman Quartet
Masonic Center, 8pm Tickets: $25 - $60
Sunday, November 6
Jacqui Naylor
Florence Gould Theatre, 2pm Tickets: $25 GA
Toots Thielemans with Oscar Castro-Neves, Airto, Kenny Werner
Herbst Theatre, 7pm Tickets: $24 - $47
Konono No. 1
Palace of Fine Arts, 7pm Tickets: $24 - $38
Saturday, November 26 & Sunday, November 27 – Family Matinee
Dan Zanes & Friends
Herbst Theatre, 11am & 2pm Tickets: $10 child, $20 adult main floor; $8 child, $15 adult balcony
Presented in association with San Francisco Performances.
Saturday, December 10
Blind Boys of Alabama with Special Guests The Fairfield Four
Masonic Center, 8pm Tickets: $25 - $62
SFJAZZ EDUCATION
SFJAZZ, in addition to being the largest non-profit jazz presenter on the West Coast, is also a year-round education organization that offers a dynamic and innovative array of artistic and educational programs in the concert hall, classroom and community. This fall, SFJAZZ offers the following education programs in connection with the San Francisco Jazz Festival.
· Inside Jazz Talks are pre-concert talks led by Dmitri Matheny, SFJAZZ Director of Education (unless otherwise noted). They take place one hour before curtain with jazz artists, scholars and industry professionals. They are free to ticket holders for the event to follow and offer insight and appreciation of selected concerts and films.
· SFJAZZ Family Matinees are specially priced afternoon performances featuring artists in shorter programs that give families with children a chance to experience world-class music first-hand. See ticket order form for pricing.
· SFJAZZ Listening Parties feature guided listening to classic recordings, screening of historic film clips, and relaxed discussion with musicians. NOTE: Members must reserve their free tickets; non-members: $10 in advance or at door.
· SFJAZZ Discover Jazz: History & Appreciation Course is a weekly evening music appreciation course for adults offering entertaining, informative insights into jazz music, history and culture.
TICKETS AND INFORMATION
Tickets go on sale to the public July 24. Schedule and artists are subject to change.
There are three ways to purchase tickets:
· Visit SFJAZZ web site, www.sfjazz.org, service charge applied
· Go to SFJAZZ Store, 3 Embarcadero Center, Lobby Level, no service charge
· Call SFJAZZ at 415.776.1999 or outside CA 800.225.2277, service charge applied
ABOUT SFJAZZ
SFJAZZ, now in its 23rd year, is the largest non-profit presenter of jazz in the western United States. SFJAZZ presents over 100 concerts a year to over 100,000 fans and is dedicated to advancing the art form of jazz and cultivating new jazz audiences through artistic and education programming, including: The San Francisco Jazz Festival, SFJAZZ Spring Season, SFJAZZ Collective, SFJAZZ Summerfest, SFJAZZ Education and SFJAZZ Membership.
The 2005 San Francisco Jazz Festival is a project of SFJAZZ, a non-profit presenter of jazz music and education programs. Brought to you by: American Airlines and See’s Candies. Major Sponsors: Fidelity Investments, KPIX, San Francisco Chronicle. Official Sponsors: 7x7 Magazine, California Home + Design Magazine, CityPark, Foxxdance Productions, Hilton San Francisco, Hotel Carlton, Hotel Triton, JAZZTIMES MAGAZINE, JC Decaux, KBLX, KCSM, KPFA, Kendall – Jackson, Maxwell Hotel, Pan Pacific Hotel, Queen Anne Hotel, Stanford Shopping Center, The Argent Hotel, Tickets.com, Yamaha Pianos.
SFJAZZ receives funding from the following corporations, foundations and government agencies: American Express Company, Amgen Foundation, Bank of America Foundation, Cisco Systems Foundation, Chamber Music America, Confidence Foundation BMI Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, David B. Gold Foundation, Bill Graham Civic Foundation, Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, Walter and Elise Haas Fund, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Koret Foundation, Stanley S. Langendorf Foundation, Louis R. Lurie Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Nonprofit Finance Fund, Potrero Nuevo Fund, Louise and Claude Rosenberg Family Foundation, Surdna Foundation, Inc., The San Francisco Foundation.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
