Stanford Jazz Festival
Bing Concert Hall, Dinkelspiel Auditorium or Campbell Recital Hall, Stanford University campus.
This annual festival presented by the Stanford Jazz Workshop brings a whole summer’s worth of jazz artists to perform on the Peninsula. Kenny Barron and Sunny Buxton open the festival June 20 with a members-only listening party. Barron plays again the following day, joined by his trio and saxophonist Dayna Stephens.
Shows are scheduled almost every day. Among the many dates to catch: Arturo Sandoval (July 12); Yellowjackets (July 19); Larry Coryell and Bombay Jazz (July 26); Jack DeJohnette Trio with Ravi Coltrane & Matthew Garrison (July 27); Richard Sears Sextet featuring Tootie Heath (July 29) and the Aug 9 closing night with Chick Corea on solo piano.
The festival even offers something for younger listeners: two morning concerts titled “Early Bird Jazz for Kids,” June 28 and July 12. An all-stars concert with the Stanford Jazz Workshop faculty is offered free to listeners on June 19 at Stanford Shopping Center and audiences can listen in on a master class with pianist Fred Hersch on Aug 4.
San Jose Jazz Summer Fest
Downtown San Jose
This 25th anniversary event features headliners Bootsy Collins, Snarky Puppy and Pacific Mambo Orchestra. Aug 8-10
Mountain Winery
Saratoga
The hillside venue’s schedule is packed through early fall with summer regulars (such as Boz Scaggs, July 15; Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Aug 3) as well as We Love the ’80s—and now, also the ’90s—styled bills (including The Go Gos, Patty Smyth and Scandal, The Motels, Cutting Crew and Naked Eyes, July 20; Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo with Rick Springfield, July 25, and Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, Blues Traveler and Uncle Kracker, Aug 11).
In addition to such tours on the nostalgia circuit, the winery features some artists not yet strongly associated with a particular decade, including Italian operatic pop trio Il Volo (June 6), ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro (June 14); singer/songwriter Colbie Caillat (Jul 17); old-timey tunemakers Andrew Bird and the Hands of Glory (Aug 2) and soul act Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (Aug 22).
The venue also continues to mix in the occasional comedy show to its summer lineup. Comedians appearing this year include Joan Rivers (Aug 8), Chelsea Handler (Aug 15) and a triple bill of Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller and Kevin Nealon (Sep 27) while Larry the Cable Guy closes out the season Oct 3.
SAP Center
525 W. Santa Clara St, San Jose
Unless it’s too painful to revisit the scene, Sharks fans needn’t steer clear of the Shark Tank till fall—this summer, they can form other positive associations with the place, such as: Lady Gaga‘s “ArtPop Ball” tour (June 3); Adam Lambert and Queen (July 1) and on the aptly named “Dressed to Kill” tour, Cher (July 2), with Cyndi Lauper. Heading into town almost back to back are Justin Timberlake (Aug 11) and Bruno Mars (Aug 15). Latin star Juan Gabriel hits SAP’s stage Sep 12. Katy Perry with Tegan and Sara bring the summer to a close Sep 22. And then it’s Sharks season again.
Montalvo Arts Center
15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga
Concerts at this swanky outdoor venue often sell out, but among the shows this summer for which tickets were still available (at least at press time), were House himself, Hugh Laurie, with the Copper Bottom Band (May 27); reggae star Jimmy Cliff (July 18); and blues and roots rock night with Taj Mahal and John Hiatt (July 31) and versatile fusion artist Lila Downs (Aug 13).
