… A Pan-American Journey
Sunday, June 5
Jackson Theater, SCDS | 1 – 6 pm
4400 Day School Ln, Santa Rosa
- John Santos Sextet with Pete Escovedo and Arturo Sandoval
- Brazilian Jazz with Romero Lubambo, Claudia Villela, Harvey Wainapel, Ricardo Peixoto and more
- Roni Ben-Hur & the Nilson Matta Trio
with Billy Hart
Tickets: Gold Circle:
$45 | Seniors 65+ $35
General Seating:
$25 Students w/ID | Seniors 65+ $15
Children 10 and under: FREE
With an international cast of jazz masters from across the Americas and beyond, this not-to-be-missed program brings an irresistible tropical vibe to the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. These illustrious artists are generously donating their talents to ensure the festival’s future.
NOTE: The location for this concert has been changed. Please see this page for details.
The mini-festival opens with guitarist Roni Ben-Hur and bassist Nilson Matta in trio with Billy Hart, one of jazz’s most respected and recorded drummers. The Israeli-born Ben-Hur made his mark in the late ‘80s, landing regular work with veteran masters like Barry Harris, Charles McPherson, and Cecil Payne. In partnership with Matta, he will release a new album on Motéma in early June.
An iconic Brazilian instrumentalist, Matta played an essential role in the Brazilian scene of the ‘70s and ‘80s through his work with Hermeto Pascoal, Joao Gilberto, and Joao Bosco, among numerous others. Many American jazz fans became aware of his commanding sound and propulsive groove through his work with Don Pullen’s sensational Afro- Brazilian Connection.
The Brazilian Jazz All-Stars bring together a disparate cast of amazing players. Guitarist Romero Lubambo and bassist Nilson Matta are among the busiest Brazilian musicians in New York City, recording on hundreds of sessions and in their celebrated band Trio Da Paz. Lubambo is particularly respected for his startlingly beautiful work with vocalists such as Pamela Driggs on the acclaimed Braslia recording “River Wide” (Kokopeli). She returns to the HJF with Brasilia partner, drummer/composer Ted Moore.
The program also includes Rio-raised vocalist Claudia Villela, who has forged a stunning body of original tunes with guitarist and fellow Carioca Ricardo Peixoto, also on the bill. Guitarist Brian Moran and percussionist Ami Molinelli have collaborated extensively in the acclaimed Bay Area Brazilian ensembles Grupo Falso Baiano and Samba de Raiz. Reed master Harvey Wainapel, a gifted jazz player who has spent the past decade forging deep ties with leading Brazilian musicians, rounds out the cast.
The John Santos Sextet with special guests Pete Escovedo and Cuban trumpet star Arturo Sandoval bring the program to a blazing finale. Far more than a percussion master, Santos is an invaluable educator and activist, a keeper of the Caribbean flame steeped in Cuban and Puerto Rican roots music as well as salsa and Latin jazz. The Sextet includes John Santos (percussion), Saul Sierra (bass), Marco Diaz (keyboards), David Flores (drums), John Calloway (flute) and Melecio Magdaluto (saxophone).
Adding to his stellar working sextet is percussionist Pete Escovedo, a major force in the West Coast Latin music scene for more than 50 years, and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. An unsurpassed powerhouse who made his mark in the early ‘70s as a founding member of the hugely influential Cuban band Irakere, Sandoval balances stratospheric pyrotechnics with a caressing love of lilting melodies.
Since defecting from Cuba in 1990, Sandoval has become a towering figure in the U.S. jazz scene, recognized as a true heir to the glorious legacy of Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, and Dizzy Gillespie (who befriended Sandoval on a pioneering trip to Cuba in 1977 and became one of his biggest supporters).
This set is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done a formidable task and our entire community
might be grateful to you.
It was nice that the event was moved indoors, that was not the problem. The problem with this event, FOOD (the lack of) I mean. I was disappointed after having the pasta plate (this was good however), I found myself hungry again with only chips and peanuts to choice from, NOT GOOD. To top that off, it ran out early on. It would have been nice to have some cookies; cupcakes; cheese and crackers; you know fingerfoods, anything to nibble on during the event after all it was 7 hours long. You don’t promote ALCOHOL and not have decent food available. The music was GREAT but I may not want to come again if it gets rained out.
Looks like sun won’t be an issue this weekend! There’s plenty of shade inside the Jackson Theater, down the street from the Airport Cinemas in Windsor. Hope to see you there!
We had purchased tickets earlier as it said toddlers were allowed with no additional charge. Is that still the case with the new venue?
Yes, Jack, ticket terms remain the same at the new venue. -HJF
I, too do not want to sound like a crab but it seems the weather may be a bit of any issue at this venue… Umbrellas are not allowed so finding shade was going to be a problem. But now I hear that RAIN may actually be more of the problem. With no umbrella and no protection from the elements, will there be a chance of the festival being canceled and will there be refunds for those who have already purchased tickets – cancellation or not?
Dear Jazz Fan, rain umbrellas are allowed and should we need to cancel due to rain refunds will be available. -HJF
Not to sound like a crab, but I just checked out the Rec Park and am not happy that there is NO shade for general seating. We are 5 “young” seniors from Santa Rosa who love jazz, but not sunshine…all day! Please advise other than upgrading our tickets (it is a recession!). thank you.
Mary Baum