San Jose Jazz has just announced yet another bevy of musicians slated to play this year’s 26th annual Summer Fest.
On Wednesday evening, Jun. 17, a meet-and-greet was hosted by Summer Fest venue and SoFA bohemian hangout Cafe Stritch. At the event, San Jose Jazz organizers announced a glut of new performers just added to the festival bill. Over quiet drinks, whispers were heard of a few exciting artists yet to be confirmed.
The third round artist lineup announcement should be exciting for fans of all kinds of jazz. Whether you’re into traditional or modern, Latin or gypsy—even if you’re an electronically inclined acid jazz futurist—there is something for you.
Topping our personal list of most anticipated artists named today is Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The DJ, rapper and producer is best known as a member of the highly influential hip-hop group, A Tribe Called Quest. Muhammad served the group primarily as a DJ and producer from 1985 to 1998 and then again from 2006 to 2013—crafting boom-bap beats assembled from dusty jazz, soul and R&B records.
Muhammad will be playing as part of the festival’s lineup of “Jazz Beyond” artists, who take jazz influences and serious musician ship, throw it in a blender along with synthesizers and turntables, add some hip-hop and electronica season and hit the “frappe” button.
SoFA venues will factor heavily into this year’s festival. Summer Fest happens to fall on the first Friday of the month this year. As such, the festival will be teaming with the South First Fridays Art Walk & STREET MKRT by setting up a free stage featuring Sonex and Jesus Diaz on Friday, Aug. 7. The location of that stage has yet to be announced. Doug Beavers’ Titánes del Trombón will play the same night in Club Miami.
The following two days, Saturday, Aug. 8 and 9, Summer Fest will host a Salsa Stage featuring:
Jesus Diaz presents “Rumba Cubana/ A Cuban Rumba”
Jamie Dubberly & Orquesta Dharma; Fito Reinoso y su Ritmo y Armonia
Christian Pepin y Su Orquesta Bembé; Louie Romero y Mazacote
Conjunto Karab
