Steppin’ OutFeature
San Jose Jazz celebrates all
things jazz with a special JAM
By NICOLE LIEURANCE
As a nation of immigrants, the
United States embraces music
from all over the world, but this
month it’s time to celebrate its
own creation: jazz. April is Jazz
Appreciation Month (JAM), and
San Jose Jazz has planned an
impressive lineup of events to
mark the occasion.
In an effort driven by the Smith-
sonian Institution, Congress in
In total,
San Jose Jazz
will present one
exhibit, five
lectures, three
concerts and a
youth workshop
in honor of JAM
2003 declared that “musicians,
schools,colleges,libraries,concert
halls, museums, radio and televi-
sion stations, and other organiza-
tions should develop programs to
explore, perpetuate, and honor
jazz as a national and world treas-
ure.”San Jose Jazz has taken these
words to heart and scheduled a
series of talks, exhibits, concerts
and classes.
In total, San Jose Jazz will pres-
ent one exhibit,five lectures,three
concerts and a youth workshop in
honor of JAM.Geoff Roach,exec-
utive director of San Jose Jazz,says
it’s important for people of all ages
to understand and appreciate jazz.
“Jazz is the basis of rock ’n’ roll
and rap—where a lot of modern
music comes from,” Roach says.
“If we didn't have musicians like
Louis Armstrong and Charlie
Parker,we may not have the forms
of music we have today.”
A photography exhibit showing
off the work of jazz photogra-
phers Tom Ehrlich,Peter Maiden,
Andy Nozaka and Walter Wagner
is open throughout the month of
April on the second floor of the
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Library, 150 E. San Fernando St.,
San Jose.The photos are meant to
offer insight into the music and
jazz musicians’ lives.
Also at the library, on every
Tuesday in April at 7 p.m.,speakers
will share their insights on jazz.On
April 15, radio personality Bob
Parlocha will speak about the
broadcast industry and how new
artists are breaking into it.He is the
former music director at KJAZZ,
and a jazz musician himself.
Perhaps the best known of the
speakers is John Santos. A four-
time Grammy nominee and Latin
jazz expert, Santos is a member of
the Latin Jazz Advisory Commit-
tee of the Smithsonian Institution.
Such has been Santos’ local
impact as a musician that San
Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
proclaimed Nov. 12, 2006 “John
Santos Day.”
“He's one of the top Latin jazz
musicians in the country,” Roach
says.In his talk on April 22,Santos
will explain the roots of jazz and
how to listen to it.To conclude the
series, on April 29 a group of
Photograph Tom Ehrlich
Legendary Latin jazz musician
young musicians, Dave Ellis,
Dayna Stephens,Terrence Brew- John Santos will discuss how to
listen to jazz as part of San Jose
er and Jonathan Portez,will speak
about the future of jazz. Jazz’s JAM events in April.
Also this month, San Jose Jazz
and City Lights Theater Company
that is native to American, born
present a Jazz Showcase,featuring
and bred,”Roach says.“It’s a great
several Bay Area jazz artists and
groups.First,on April 13 at 7 p.m., export to the rest of the world,and
it should be celebrated.”
West Coast jazz group Octobop
takes the stage. Its latest album, Now that’s something to get
jazzed up about.
Very Early, topped the charts last
year, finishing in the top 40 jazz For more information on Jazz
albums nationally in 2007. Appreciation Month and San Jose
Featured on April 26,8 p.m.,will Jazz, visit www.sanjosjazz.org.
be Full Spectrum Jazz Band, a full
18-piece big band that plays a
range of traditional and modern
STEPPIN’ OUT STAFF
jazz, and on April 27, 2 p.m., Latin
jazz group Azucar De Amor with Editor
vocalist Kat Parra will hold a CD Dale Bryant
release.All concerts take place at 408.200.1021
City Lights Theater,529 S.Second dbryant@community-
St., San Jose. newspapers.com
For all the young aspiring musi- Arts Coverage
cians out there, San Jose Jazz will Heather Zimmerman
hold a one-day master class for 408.200.1054
youth ages 12-18 on April 19, hzimmerman@community-
taught by saxophonist Kristen newspapers.com
Strom and jazz guitarist Scott Social Coverage
Sorkin.The workshop is part of an Mary Gottschalk
ongoing program by the Los 408.200.1035
Gatos “Jazz on the Plazz,”and will mgottschalk@community-
be held at the Los Gatos Art newspapers.com
Museum, 4 Tait Ave., Los Gatos, Advertising Information
from 9 a.m. to noon. 408.200.1002
“Jazz is one of the few art forms