This spring, three benefits for the Healdsburg Jazz Festival are being hosted and co-presented by the Healdsburg Center for the Arts, the non-profit community art center which hosts art exhibits, art classes, and supports art education in area schools. The “Jazz in the Gallery” series begins next week with an usual and highly-acclaimed group.

Last show April 30: “Mali Meets Jazz” when Khalil Shaheed and Mansa Musa comes to the Healdsburg Center for the Arts on the penultimate day of April. Mansa Musa is a new project presented by trumpeter Shaheed, another cornerstone member of HJF’s Jazz Education programs. Blending the traditional music of the influential West African nation of Mali with that of African-American jazz musicians, this band is a tribute to one of the greatest leaders in African history, Mansa Musa. More information will be available soon.

February 23: First up was the Guarneri Double Quartet, an unusual assemblage of five musicians who configure themselves into two distinct quartets.  Group leader Mario Guarneri is a highly-trained and talented musician recently profiled in an online article from San Francisco Classical Voice. Other members of the group include Randy Vincent on guitar, John Witalla on bass, Akira Tana on drums, and second trumpeter Erik Jekabsen (who replaces Vincent in the second quartet).

HAC Stage

April 1:  Babatunde Lea Quartet with special guest Azar Lawrence  brought these two Healdsburg favorites back to town for a rhythm-driven concert at HCA just as spring is in full flower. Babatunde, a co-founder of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival’s Operation Jazz Band, is a popular local performer, his charasmatic style breaking the boundaries of percussion with every performance. Azar Lawrence is a saxophonist who has played several times in Healdsburg, and brings his association with bands fronted by Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard and McCoy Tyner. Also on stage were Angela Wellman, vocalist Rhonda Benin and others.

More details on these concerts will be forthcoming on this page and other posts as the dates near. The Healdsburg Center for the Arts is located half block east of the Healdsburg Plaza at 130 Plaza St. It is Healdsburg’s non-profit community art center which hosts art exhibits, art classes, and supports art education in area schools.