Mike Johnson was enjoying the vibe from the moment he arrived at the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest.
“You can feel the love as you walk in,” said the Sacramento resident, who was enjoying the first of three days, Aug. 12-14, of live music in and around Cesar Chavez Plaza in downtown San Jose. . “It’s just fun. It’s a party.”
Thousands of people seemed to completely agree with Johnson’s assessment of the festival’s opening night. Music lovers filled the square to dance, sway or simply enjoy tunes from the top performers on the Friday stage, including soul great Lee Fields, as well as more than a dozen other acts on the stages of the festival. Featured acts included R&B-soul band Durand Jones & the Indications and local blues great Chris Cain.
The event will continue on August 13 at 11 am with funk-soul star Charlie Wilson, vocalist/guitarist Raúl Midón, Afro-Cuban ensemble Sabor de Mi Cuba, versatile vocalist Kim Nalley, R&B singer Leela James and the famous Brubeck Brothers of jazz music. between the acts scheduled to appear.
The 2022 festival is scheduled to conclude beginning Sunday the 11th with performances by Grammy-winning Oakland R&B vocalist Ledisi, jazz bassist extraordinaire Stanley Clarke, San Jose bluesman Aki Kumar, the Latin Heat Orchestra and many other artists. remarkable.
Durand Jones and The Indications perform at San Jose Jazz’s Summer Fest 2022 in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (Josie Lepe for Bay Area News Group)
It is the first large-scale Summer Fest since 2019. The festival was canceled in 2020 due to COVID, but was held last year with limited capacity.
Long-time attendees seemed absolutely thrilled to have Summer Fest back, and operating in a way that is close to what they remember from the years before COVID.
San Jose resident Rudy Rodriguez was hanging out on the Blues/Big Easy Stage, enjoying another high-energy performance from one of the Bay Area’s best blues acts: the JC Smith Band. Attending Summer Fest is an annual tradition for Rodriguez and his wife, one he says he looks forward to all year long.
“We’ve been coming since day one,” he said between Smith’s guitar solos. “We loved it when it was free, but we don’t mind paying.”
Rodríguez and his wife were listening to the music with several friends, including two who had traveled considerable distances to attend the festival.
“One came from Arizona and the other came from Los Angeles, just to be here,” he explained.
JC Smith Band performs at San Jose Jazz’s Summer Fest 2022 in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (Josie Lepe for Bay Area News Group)
The party was in full swing on the Blues/Big Easy Stage, which hosted an opening night lineup of 408, with Smith and Chris Cain hailing from San Jose. Smith was the first and, as usual, wowed fans with his excellent vocal and guitar work, as well as his top-notch band with mighty saxophonist Noel Catura.
“(Smith) is a great showman,” said East Palo Alto resident Sherri Jones. “He really engages the audience.”
This stage should continue to be one of the festival’s hottest venues throughout the weekend, with performances scheduled from acts like Aki Kumar, Memphissippi Sounds and the Marina Crouse Band.
For tickets ($35-$190 per day), a full schedule and more information, visit summerfest.sanjosejazz.org.
Famed soul singer Lee Fields performs at San Jose Jazz’s Summer Fest 2022 on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (Josie Lepe for Bay Area News Group)
Marcia Quiñones dances during the JC Smith Band’s performance at San Jose Jazz’s Summer Fest 2022 in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (Josie Lepe for Bay Area News Group)
The crowd watches Durand Jones and The Indications perform at San Jose Jazz’s Summer Fest 2022 in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (Josie Lepe for Bay Area News Group)
The crowd watches Durand Jones and The Indications perform at San Jose Jazz’s Summer Fest 2022 in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (Josie Lepe for Bay Area News Group)
Source: www.mercurynews.com