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2011 Healdsburg Jazz Festival

The 2011 Healdsburg Jazz Festival ran from June 3-12, an unprecedented 10-day celebration and expression of jazz from many of the style’s most committed professionals.

It was a dream lineup, and we’re honored that so many of these musicians offered their talents in benefit for the HJF to help assure its survival, build for its future — and bring a great show to you!

» For details see the 2011 Festival Schedule

» Download the complete 2011 Festival Brochure (PDF, 2.4 Mb)

Highlights of 2011 Festival:

June 3 – Opening Night at the Raven Theater

The astonishing piano talent Fred Hersch and the still-evolving young jazz guitarist Julian Lage have agreed to be on our opening night bill, to help kick off the festival. This will be a memorable event, with Hersch certain to provide a powerful performance based on his newest post-traumatic work.

June 4 – One Voice: An Afternoon of Vocal Jazz

Featuring performances by Madeline Eastman, Bobbe Norris, Linda Tillery, Rhonda Benin (right), Kenny Washington, Jackie Ryan, Ed Reed, Nicolas Bearde and more. Musicians include George Cables, Billy Hart, Larry Dunlap, Tammy Hall and others. Now at the Jackson Theater, Santa Rosa.

June 5 –  Latin Jazz “In Concert”

John Santos Sextet plus Pete Escovedo and special guest Arturo Sandoval line this afternoon concert, now rescheduled to the Jackson Theater, Santa Rosa. The show features several Brazilian-oriented groups including Nilson Matta with Roni Ben Hur and Billy Hart, Romero Lubambo, Harvey Weinapel, Ricardo Peixoto, Ted Moore, Ami Mollineri and more.

June 8 – Cookin’ at the Bakery

We return to Costeaux French Bakery and Cafe for this mid-week performance in the Latin vein, featuring Bay Area vocalist Sandy Cressman, her trombone-slinging 19-year old daughter Natalie Cressman, and a top-flight session band of musicans in love with the samba, the bamba, and the bossa nova.

June 9 – Motéma Music Night

The jazz label Motema has some stellar names in its catalog, and they’ve assembled a line-up for this night’s Raven concert that’s nothing less than the “real thing.” Babatunde Lea leads a tribute to vocalist Leon Thomas, Marc Cary takes his trio out for a spin, and pianist Geri Allen shows us why she’s a legend in her time.

June 10 – Sangam at the Raven

The incredible confluence of musicians that is Sangam — saxophonist Charles Lloyd, tabla master Zakir Hussain, and drummer Eric Harland — bring their spiritual and dynamic talents to the Raven stage for what is sure to be a remarkable experience. The group released a live CD on EMC in 2006 that captures their charged communion, and in the ensuing years the trio has attained luminous new heights whenever the opportunity arises.

June 11 – Healdsburg All-Stars

Our final Jazz at the Raven concert this year features a Healdsburg All-Stars night with piano master Denny Zeitlin playing solo, the straight-ahead John Heard Trio, plus our friends George Cables, Bobby Hutcherson, Bobby Watson, Craig Handy and other soloists and ensemble all-stars who have made the Healdsburg Jazz Festival the “best small jazz festival in the country, if not the world.”

June 12 – An Evening with Charlie Haden

Featuring a rare screening of Reto Caduff’s acclaimed feature-length Haden documentary “Rambling Boy.” It offers fascinating insight and vintage, never-before-seen footage detailing his unlikely, world-shaking journey. Then we’ll have an informal and intimate conversation with the premiere jazz bassist, and enjoy a wide-ranging selection of music with Haden and pianist Alan Broadbent.

Of course we’ll have our Tuesday in the Plaza event, a Jazz & Wine Dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen, special sets at Wine Tasting Rooms, and another memorable Sunday Morning Spirituals concert. Be sure to see the 2011 Festival Schedule for all events, or check the list in the right sidebar of each page on this website.

The reason these musicians are coming is due to mutual respect for one another, their love for the Healdsburg Jazz Festival and a belief in the future of one of the last music festivals to stay true to the jazz art form. We thank them, and promise the musicians and the audience a “lucky 13th” jazz festival to remember.