Jazz Appreciation Month, opens a new window (JAM) is a music festival held every April in recognition of the significant contribution that jazz music has made to society. At San Mateo County Libraries, we celebrate with Jazz in the Library, a series of free jazz events you are invited to come enjoy!
The aim of this annual event is to pay tribute to jazz for its historic and cultural significance by encouraging schools, governments and organizations to participate in various events such as free jazz concerts and educational events.
JAM was first established in 2001 by John Edward Hasse, a curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, opens a new window. It was initially funded by the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, opens a new window, whose archives are currently housed at the Smithsonian. Through jazz-focused events, JAM works to support today’s jazz scene and encourage an appreciation of jazz music in people of all ages. Throughout the month of April, people will be encouraged to participate in jazz activities such as studying jazz music, attending jazz concerts, reading books, or just simply listening to good jazz music.
This year we're presenting local jazz musicians who embrace the spirit, insight and beauty of jazz.
Featured Jazz Musicians
Charged Particles Trio
Charged Particles Trio's repertoire blends jazz with elements of Latin music, funk, classical music and other genres. The group's original compositions are mixtures of complex orchestration and elaborate improvised solos. The band brings a similar approach to playing arrangements of tunes by other jazz artists and traditional jazz standards by the composers of America's most popular songs from decades ago, each played with a new twist.
Ryan Trujillo Jazz
Ryan Trujillo is a full-time musician and music educator. He combines his jazz training with his love for the musical traditions of Latin America. His first jazz group received unanimous superior ratings at the 2015 Cabrillo Jazz Festival. Ryan studied under bassists John Shifflett and Dan Robbins in SJSU. Accomplishments include accompanying guest artist Dee Dee Bridgewater with the SJSU Jazz Orchestra, studying abroad in Havana, Cuba with the SJSU Latin Jazz Ensemble, performing Claude Bolling’s Concerto for Jazz Piano Trio and Orchestra with the SJSU Symphony Orchestra, as well as directing the SJSU Jazz Ensemble.
Paul VornHagen Jazz
Paul VornHagen presents the American Songbook, featuring composers such as Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Thelonius Monk and others. Paul's Trio is the winner of numerous Detroit Music Awards for Best Jazz Reed, Best Instrumentalist and Best Jazz recording.
Satellite Jazz
Satellite Jazz is a wonderful quartet of accomplished Bay Area musicians. They delight audiences with their own unique spin on jazz standards and entertain with a few anecdotes about women in jazz. Come hear for yourself and get that sense of how jazz is about the best in all of us: True listening and conversation.
Five Ten Jazz
Five Ten Jazz is a San Francisco Bay Area World Jazz group consisting of five longtime friends and international players that includes Master Keyboardist Composer Steve Carter, Bass Guitarist/Composer Dennis Smith, Multi-Percussionist/Composer Marghinho Brasil, Grammy-nominated Jeff Narell on Steel Pans, together with Santana and Frankie Beverly and Maze Alumnus, Billy “Shoes” Johnson on drums. Five Ten are seasoned, internationally renowned musicians each with his own impressive legacy of performances and shared stages.
Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco
The Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco (LJYE) is a performing group of talented musicians ages 10 to 18. They play Latin jazz classics and original compositions at a level that has landed them gigs at the San Jose Jazz Festival, the KCSM Jazz Festival, KGO Radio, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, SF Museum of Modern Art, Paramount's Great America and the world-renowned jazz club, Yoshi’s.
Diamond Head Jazz
Diamond Head Jazz is a local jazz band with dynamic sounds. Diamond Head Jazz has been captivating audiences with their engaging performances since 2013. They are known for their various jazz styles. Whether performing in intimate jazz clubs or on big stages, Diamond Head Jazz never fails to impress and entertain their audiences.
Steve Carter Trio
The Steve Carter Trio is a jazz band led by pianist Steve Carter, known for their dynamic performances. The trio consists of Steve Carter on piano, along with a bassist and a drummer, and they have been playing together for many years and have decades of experience playing, recording, and touring all over the world.
Dave Rocha Jazz
Dave Rocha is a professional jazz trumpet player who has performed coast to coast, including NYC, LA, Seattle and the SF Bay Area. His band plays an eclectic mix of jazz standards (by Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, etc.) “pop” tunes (Cole Porter, Gershwin and Jobim) and original compositions. This covers a wide variety of styles from up-tempo bebop, “modal” tunes, swing and blues, to Latin jazz, ballads and jazz waltz.
Michelle Pollace Trio
Michelle Pollace is a performing musician, composer, and music-book author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Whether performing her own compositions or her arrangements of standards, Michelle honors the roots of jazz, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban music while adding a new voice.
Pamela Rose
Pamela Rose is a San Francisco jazz and blues vocalist who thrills audiences locally and internationally with her swinging, soulful style. Rose is that rare breed of entertainer who connects solidly with her audience by always delivering a personal and unforgettable musical experience.
Take a look at our full list of events for Jazz in the Library and come enjoy the music. Don't want to wait? Start listening to jazz right now! Hoopla has lots of great jazz albums you can stream from your smartphone, tablet or computer!
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