San Francisco Bay Area Jazz Scene #2

[Mike Schwartz]

The Zorn residency isn't until March 10-15, Steve. You've got time ...

...to get in a few naps between now & then

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

No, the crazy schedule starts next week and runs through late March -- a couple of multi-week school contracts. What's scary is that a third school may kick in before these others end, which would mean doing dances in the morning at one school, afternoons in another school, and my clubs at night. It takes about all I've got to physically stagger through that kind of schedule.

Serious nap time won't come again until June.

[BFrank]

WHEW!

That's intense.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

It's like agriculture -- the work load varies widely depending on the season. During the three-dance-a-day times, I answer two or three alarms clocks a day; and it always takes me a few moments to figure out what time of day it is and what's up next.

[Mike Schwartz]

Sign of the times.....

Heard earlier in the week that both Comcast and Southwast Airlines are stepping away from sponsorships for the San Jose Jazz Festival

What the future brings is uncertain, be it a scaled down version we'll see...scheduled to be the 20th festival August 7-9

San Jose Jazz Society has some pretty good performances ongoing for the Winter Series www.sanjosejazz.org

One of the highlights is Amina Figarova for the first time bringing an all Netherlands based band to the U.S. for the fisrt time 03/01....the next night at Yoshi's as well

[Mike Schwartz]

Organizers cancel 2009 San Francisco Blues Festival
By Jim Harrington
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 02/17/2009 04:25:40 PM PST

The San Francisco Blues Festival, long championed as the nation's oldest continuously run event of its kind, has been canceled for 2009. And organizers said Tuesday it might not return.

"We may well have seen the last San Francisco Blues Festival," according to founder Tom Mazzolini.

Mazzolini, who founded the annual event in 1973 and has been its sole producer since, points to rising production costs and declining sponsorship support as the main reasons behind the cancellation. Also factoring into the mix is that attendance for this event has been on a sharp decline for years.

"That's sad. That's very tragic," Mazzolini says of the decision to pull the plug on the festival in 2009. "An event like this, with so much history and so much legacy, needed to continue."

The festival, traditionally held in late September at Fort Mason's scenic Great Meadow, celebrated its 36th anniversary last year with a two-day lineup that included Allen Toussaint, Charlie Musselwhite and Tommy Castro.

Over the event's distinguished history, which stretches back more than a decade longer than the most famous of all blues events, the Chicago Blues Festival, San Francisco hosted such greats as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon and Albert King during its heydays, during which it drew crowds as big as 15,000-18,000 a day.

The festival's roster hasn't looked nearly as impressive in recent years. Mazzolini says the pool of potential headliners, the kind that can be counted on to draw festival-size audiences, seems to get smaller every year. Most of the big legends have died, leaving basically 83-year-old B.B. King to carry the mantle in front of capacity crowds.

"When B.B. is gone, who is going to replace him?" asks Mazzolini.

That's a question that the organizer has not been able to answer. He faults the blues industry for failing to nurture the next round of headliners, guys that could step up and take over for the old titans fell.

"The problem is not a lack of talent," Mazzolini says. "There are some very talented performers out there, but they are not getting the exposure."

Now, those artists, especially ones from the Bay Area, will receive even less.

"A lot of local blues musicians are going to be disillusioned at thought of this festival going away," Mazzolini says. "It provided a lot of exposure for local artists."

Another factor in the festival's downturn is increased competition. It seems like every week there's some type of music-related music festival going on in the Bay Area. Notably, the blues festival is sandwiched on the calendar between arguably the year's two biggest music events — Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, both of which draw hundreds of thousands to Golden Gate Park.

Plus, there is more to come. According to Mazzolini, some promoters are already planning to host a smooth jazz festival at Fort Mason during the dates once reserved for S.F. Blues.

Whether or not the blues festival returns, Mazzolini plans to stay committed to the genre. He'll continue to host his radio show (noon-2 p.m. Saturdays on KPFA-FM 94.1) and might consider promoting some smaller indoor events.

"I'm definitely not walking away from the blues," he says. "I love it.

[Mike Schwartz]

OTOH:
http://www.fountainbluesfestival.com/

[Peterdubya]

A selective list of upcoming Yoshi's shows:

First and most importantly, let's not forget the Zorn week www.yoshis.com/zorn
that's at SF, the rest of these are in Oakland:
David Sanchez 3/10, 11
Dred Scott Trio 3/18
Bela Fleck/Toumani Diabate (it's a duo show) 3/19 - 22
Eric Reed Trio 3/23
Myra Melford and Be Bread AND Alex Cline Continuation Quintet 3/25
Nels Cline Singers and Jeff Gauthier Goatette 3/26
Joshua Redman Trio 4/1-5
Mos Def 4/14 - 16
Campbell Bros 4/23
Charnett Moffett Trio with Stephen Scott and Will Calhoun 5/13, 14

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I'd still like to make one of the Zorn shows, but with early school dances Tuesdays through Fridays it may be tough.

My best shot might be Friday, which fortunately is Bar Kokhba and the one I most want to see. I'm working that morning in Petaluma and that night in Novato, where I get off at 9:30, so I could make the 10 pm show, maybe by even by starting time.

Anybody else going to be there?

[Mike Schwartz]

I'd still like to make one of the Zorn shows, but with early school dances Tuesdays through Fridays it may be tough.

My best shot might be Friday, which fortunately is Bar Kokhba and the one I most want to see. I'm working that morning in Petaluma and that night in Novato, where I get off at 9:30, so I could make the 10 pm show, maybe by even by starting time.

Anybody else going to be there?

Right now looks like late shows 11,12,13

I'm supposed to have my knee scoped for an ongoing problem, but unlikey to happen before this......

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

You, too, with the knee? Man, I blew mine out, haven't run for weeks. I did too much line dancing during a seven-hour school dance the last week in January, and instead of resting the knee I tried running through it, which completely screwed it up. ACL, I think, and with all the school dances I never get to completely rest it. But it is getting better.

[CRF Mark II]

I'm in the Bay Area (Palo Alto) the week of the 24th. Any locals want to meet up at one of the Yoshi's shows?

[Mike Schwartz]

I'm in the Bay Area (Palo Alto) the week of the 24th. Any locals want to meet up at one of the Yoshi's shows?

I'm game....so long as I'm still pre-knee surgury by that time.

Send a PM and we'll figure it out.....

[Peterdubya]

I'll hold seats for all Jazzcornerers.

[Gerardo A]

I'm also really wishing to go to at least one Zorn night, if my (recession-ridden) finances allow it. Friday or Saturday would be best for me. I'll keep you guys posted.

[Gerardo A]

Nah, I just checked the prices and definitely won't make it.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Sorry, they just moved the venue for next Friday's nighttime dance, and they've moved me out of the show. We usually dance at Hamilton School, in the old Air Force base, close to the freeway near the southeastern end of Novato -- I can make it to the San Rafael Bridge in 15 minutes from there.

But the school district moves the club around when it needs the space at Hamilton for other functions, and they've moved us to Pleasant Hill School, at the extreme northwest corner of the Novato city limits. It would be after 10 by the time I got to San Quentin.

I'm still unemployed for next Saturday, so that's a possibility, although I sure wanted to see Bar Kokhba more than The Dreamers.

°°°°°°

Cool gig later tonight for a remarkable San Francisco-based non-profit, Room To Read http://www.roomtoread.org/, which creates libraries in impoverished rural areas throughout the world. Great venue, too: http://www.mayacamasranch.com/

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Nah, I just checked the prices and definitely won't make it.

I see what you mean. OTOH, I haven't been to the San Francisco venue yet and I really want to see Ribot and Baptista and the rest of the crew, so I think I'm going to try to make Saturday's show. Early show's probably a little better for me since my book group is meeting the following morning, but I'm OK with either show if anybody else from here is going. Mike?

David -- I know we're kind of far north, but you're always welcome to crash here on one of your northern forays.


At last night's gig (high energy group) two Greek ladies did a phenomenally good dance to Zorba The Greek. ("Of course I have it!" I told her, "Zorba, teach me to dance!")

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Gerardo and others:

New Yoshi's promotion:

BUY TICKETS FOR ANY JOHN ZORN SHOW
USING THE PASSWORD: zorn
AND RECEIVE A GIFT CERTIFICATE OF EQUAL VALUE
GOOD FOR TICKETS AT EITHER YOSHI'S!

So if we get a $50 gift certificate, that should be worth 2 more regular shows -- and 3 shows for the price is damned good!


I'll book late tonight, after I see who's going to which shows.

My book group meets at 11 am on Sunday, followed by my regular 5+ hour Sunday club; so the early show would be a bit better, but I'm game for the late show, too. (No early bell on Monday.)

[clarke68]

I'm bringing 3 friends to the early show on Sunday...hopefully see some of you guys there!

[Mike Schwartz]

I see what you mean. OTOH, I haven't been to the San Francisco venue yet and I really want to see Ribot and Baptista and the rest of the crew, so I think I'm going to try to make Saturday's show. Early show's probably a little better for me since my book group is meeting the following morning, but I'm OK with either show if anybody else from here is going. Mike?

David -- I know we're kind of far north, but you're always welcome to crash here on one of your northern forays.


At last night's gig (high energy group) two Greek ladies did a phenomenally good dance to Zorba The Greek. ("Of course I have it!" I told her, "Zorba, teach me to dance!")

Saturday's are generally out for me......day gig in retail, and up at oh_dark_:30 for the weekly broadcast Sunday

Of those I'm interested in (besides Sat) Wed/Th/Fri late sets still may happen. It's a relative breeze getting to and in & out of SF on the later sets from here for me....20-30 min. less drive-time going up, at least 10 min. less on the way home.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Thanks, Steve, does that include Healdsburg Jazz Fest days? I've never been.

Definitely!

[Pete C]

Can we have a PJ party?

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Sure, if one of you sleeps in garage with the cat.

[Pete C]

Sure, if one of you sleeps in garage with the cat.

If I weren't allergic that would be the cat's pajamas!

[clarke68]

I couldn't pass up the "Zorn Promo"...got tickets for the late shows on Wednesday & Thursday. I may be a tad late, but I'll be there!

I'm very excited about these shows...I've only seen Zorn once before, around 18 years ago with Naked City at Slim's.

*stops and ponders*

Dang, I can't believe that was 18 years ago...

[Peterdubya]

Damn, I was there too.... it seems like only 17 years.....

[Pete C]

It seems like only yesterday, a small cafe, a crowded floor...

[BFrank]

I saw him about 20 years ago at the old Knitting Factory on Houston.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I'm going to Saturday's 8 pm show.

Almost lost it to a lady in Indian Valley who wants a dance (and called just before I ordered my tickets), but she likes next Wednesday even better than Saturday so I get to do them both.