2008 marks a very special year and Festival for us, as we celebrate our 10th Anniversary with the 10th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival. We thought that it would interesting for all of us to look back over the great musicians that have come to our tiny town here in the heart of wine country. We hope you enjoy the look back even as we get ready for the best Festival ever.

Year 1: June 3 - 5, 1999

The first Healdsburg Jazz Festival seems small in retrospect, but it was a big event in this then-sleepy town. Big stars -- Bobby Hutcherson, Cedar Walton, Billy Higgins -- headlined, with Higgins performing a solo concert as well as backing the other performers, and film historian Marc Cantor made his initial apearance. The first Sunday finale was held in the Healdsburg Plaza. And it was free.

Thursday, June 3. Small Raven Theater Jazz Night at the Movies with Marc Cantor Friday, June 4 Small Raven Theater Bobby Hutcherson Quartet With Cedar Walton, Tony Dumas and Billy Higgins Saturday afternoon, June 5 Small Raven Theater An Afternoon with Billy Higgins – solo concert Saturday, June 5 Small Raven Theater Cedar Walton Quartet with Tony Dumas, Billy Higgins and Ralph Moore Sunday, June 6 Free concert in the Plaza Cannonball Sextet Tacuma King with the Children’s World Music Workshop Sunday, June 6 Belvedere Tasting Room Jazz in Your glass wine reception with Greg Hester

Our second year opened was again just one weekend long, opening with a gala dinner at Villa Chanticleer. For the first time we put on a concert at Rodney Strong Vineyards, featuring the legendary Pharoah Sanders and George Coleman. Many of the names and faces that have become familiar to Healdsburgundians showed up, including Billy Higgins, George Cables, Fred Hersch and Charles Lloyd, with the first appearance of local guitar prodigy Julian Lage.

Wednesday, May 31 Villa Chanticleer Pre Festival Gala Dinner and Concert Fred Hersch solo piano Thursday, June 1 Raven Film Center Jazz Night at the Movies with Marc Cantor Friday, June 2 Small Raven Theater Fred Hersch and Jane Ira Bloom Duo Saturday Afternoon, June 3 Rodney Strong Vineyards George Coleman Quartet with Harold Mabern, Jeffrey Littleton and Victor Lewis Pharoah Sanders Ensemble with William Henderson, Jeffrey Littleton and Billy Higgins Saturday Evening Raven Theater (large) Von and Chico Freeman Quintet with George Cables and Victor Lewis. Sunday, June 4 Hot Jazz Brunch with Greg Hester Quartet at Belvedere Winery; Geyser Peak Winery Picnic Area Tacuma King and the Children’s World Music Workshop Charles Lloyd Quartet featuring John Abercrombie and Billy Higgins with special guest Julian Lage

Year 3: May 30 – June 3, 2001

This year's Festival was to honor Billy Higgins but he unfortunately passed away in May. We redirected the festival as a tribute, but felt his engaging spirit with us the entire time. It was a long weekend full of highlights, including the Gala dinner at Trentadue Winery in Geyserville, our first Latin Jazz concert at Rodney Strong with Jerry Gonzales and Pete Escovedo, a special tribute to Lester Bowie in film and music, and a rare appearance by all three Heath Brothers, as well as a full set of drummers in honor and celebration of Billy.

Wednesday, May 30 Trentadue Gala dinner and concert with Don Moye, Craig Handy and Ray Drummond Thursday, May 31 Raven Film Center Jazz Night at the Movies With Mark Cantor Friday, June 1 Renee Rosness Trio with Billy Drummond and Peter Washington Saturday, June 2, afternoon Rodney Strong Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band Pete Escovedo Orchestra Saturday, June 2 Raven Theater Ray Drummond Quartet with Craig Handy, Rob Schneiderman and Billy Hart Tribute to Lester Bowie in Film and Music With Don Moye, Amina Claudine Myers and Arthur Blythe Special Film about Lester Bowie created for this event Sunday, June 3 The Heath Brothers, Jimmy, Tootie and Percy with Jeb Patton Billy Higgins Sextet (lead by Harold Land with Chuck McPherson Jr. replacing Billy) Harold Land, Oscar Brashear and George Bohanon and Jeffery Littleton. Festival Finale – Full set of drummers honoring Billy Higgins. Don Moye, Tootie Heath, Billy Drummond, Steve Barrios, Jerry Gonzalez, Myron Cohen

By the fourth year, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival was well integrated to the summer schedule of the wine country. The new Hotel Healdsburg became part of our festival by hosting several events, and we roped Felix & Louie's on the Plaza into a couple shows as well. Once again the finale was held in the Healdsburg Plaza, with a well-received concert with Babatunde Lea and other Bay Area favorites.

Pre Festival Event May 27 Jazz Cinema Under the Stars with Mark Cantor May 31 Randy Weston African Rhythms – Solo Piano Recital Raven Film Center Friday, May 31 Hotel Healdsburg Lobby Jeff Pittson Trio with John Wittala and Deson Claiborne Saturday afternoon, June 1 Rodney Strong Vineyards, Triple Bill: Julian Lage Group with Art Hirahara, Todd Sickafoose and Alan U’Ren Curtis Fuller Super Band with Louis Hayes, James Williams Jackie McLean with Cedar Walton Trio with David Williams and Albert “Tootie” Heath Saturday, June 1 Felix and Louie’s Eddie Marshall Quartet with Ron Stallings, Jeff Chambers and Leonard Thompson Sunday, June 2 Jazz Brunch at Felix and Louie’s Mark Levine Trio with Peter Barshay and Alan U’ren Sunday, June 2 Plaza concert Babatunde Lea Quintet with Richard Howell, Angela Wellman

For the first time the Festival ran a full week, with diva Abbey Lincoln headlining along with a top flight of "stars" of the art form. James Newton brought a quartet, Bobby Hutcherson hung with George Cables and Ray "Bulldog" Drummond, Joe Lovano played with his lady Judi Silvano and the Mary Stallings Quartet reigned at Quivira. Our Sunday finale moved to Rodney Strong this time, and a memorable concert was the result. Julian Lage, John Heard, Khalil Shaheed, Angela Wellman and Billy Hart were some of the other performers at the Fifth Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival.

Driven by legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes, then 79 years young, the Festival roared into the summer with saxmen Kenny Garret and Frank Morgan, piano virtuosos Geri Allen and Fred Hersch, vocalists Carmen Lundy and Kim Parker (daughter-in-law of Charlie), and the always-welcome return of Charles Lloyd, playing a sold-out Raven Theater appearance with percussionist Zakir Hassain. Regulars John Heard and Billy Hart were on hand as well, and the usual appreciative wine country audience.

The Seventh Annual festival added a new venue, the back garden of Barndiva, for a kickoff weekend of great new jazz from saxophonist Virginia Mayhew and, the next night, Marc Cary leading a trio from the piano. Then it was off to the races with Mimi Fox at Hotel Healdsburg, and Mark Cantor returning with his jazz shorts at the Raven before the first weekend was over. John Santos and the Machete Ensemble headlined a Tuesday in the Plaza show, and other artists included Jessica Williams, Mary Stallings, Brazilian jazz artists Claudia Villela and Ricardo Peixoto as the week progressed. Saturday night found legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton at the Raven, with his new band including local boy Julian Lage on guitar. It all concluded with another Sunday afternoon finale with Kenny Barron, Regina Carter, Babatunda Lea, Richard Howell, and many other local and global stars in a jazz bash to remember.

Once again the Healdsburg Jazz Festival reached into the upper reaches of jazz's legendary talent and pulled in McCoy Tyner, pianist par excellence, whose career with Miles, Coltrane and more needs no elaboratrion. Other stars included West Coat bassist Charlie Haden and his quartet, the return of the Heath Brothers in tribute to the recently passed Percy Heath, and veteran jazz vocalist Mark Murphy. Barndiva again hosted the opening weekend with Marc Cary, Bruce Foreman, Rebecca Mauleon and Shea Breaux Wells appearing in various venues. Billy Hart led a trio with Julian Lage and Santi Debriano, and many other artists appeared throughout the week.

Year 9: June 1 - June 10, 2007

It was just last year, but the ninth year in a long and successful decade for the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. The 10-day festival featured a tribute to piano virtuoso George Cables, in a rare headlining act at the Sunday afternoon finale with long-time saxophonist Gary Bartz and drummer Tain Watts; trumpeter Roy Hargrove opened the strong show at Rodney Strong. But a week earlier, the action was at Healdsburg's Rec Park for an all-afternoon open air festival in celebation of New Orleans and her musicians. Delfeayo Marsalis brought a quintet, the Rebirth Brass Band showed up, and other acts gave a festive atmosphere to the park.

The Rebirth of the Cookers was another highlight in a concert at the Raven Theater, featuring Eddie Henderson, Billy Harper, Craig Handy and more, and the youthful duo of Taylor Eigsti and Julian Lage won over new fans. But for many the highlight came early in the week when Brazil's legendary Leny Andrade, backed by Sonoma's own Stephanie Ozur, blew away the Barndiva crowd. Chicago's Patricia Barber, Rhiannon, the John Heard Trio and other great stars set the stage for another decade of memorable music from the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.

What's ahead? Check out this year's Festival Lineup, and be sure to Buy Tickets so you don't miss a single show at the 10th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival!

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