San Jose Jazz

SAN JOSE JAZZ ENRICHES OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH JAZZ EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE.

SAN JOSE JAZZ EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROGRESSIONS IS SAN JOSE JAZZ'S YEAR-ROUND IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT USES MUSIC TO CONNECT WITH LOW-INCOME, AT-RISK STUDENTS, CHALLENGES THEM WITH A RIGOROUS MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND HELPS THEM TO BUILD A PRO-SOCIAL COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON HELPING TO KEEP PARTICIPANTS IN SCHOOL, OUT OF GANGS, AND ON THE ROAD TO BECOMING BETTER STUDENTS AND CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS. PROGRESSIONS IS TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS/EDUCATORS/MENTORS WHO TEACH STUDENTS TO READ MUSIC, MASTER INSTRUMENTS, AND COLLABORATE IN ENSEMBLES, BANDS, AND CHOIRS WHICH HELP THEM: DEVELOP AS INDIVIDUALS, LEARN TO SET AND ACHIEVE GOALS, AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED IN LIFE AND IN THE CLASSROOM. IN ADDITION TO MUSIC INSTRUCTION THE PROGRAM PROVIDES HOMEWORK SUPPORT, NUTRITION (A SUPPER MEAL), MENTORSHIP, AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES.

THE SJZ NEW WORKS FESTIVAL, APRIL - MAY, FEATURE NINE NIGHTS OF LIVE AND STREAMED PERFORMANCES BY SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING ARTISTS IN JAZZ, BLUES, R&B, SOUL AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC IN THE SF BAY AREA AND NEW YORK. THE FESTIVAL IS AN OUTGROWTH OF SJZ'S JAZZ AID FUND INITIATIVE, WHICH PROVIDED GRANTS INDIVIDUALLY TO 33 ARTISTS, EACH TO PRODUCE A NEW WORK. A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, THESE GRANTS PROVIDED IMMEDIATE FUNDS TO THESE MUSICIANS, WHO HAD BEEN LARGELY EXCLUDED FROM REGIONAL AND NATIONAL AID EFFORTS. THE WORKS SUBMITTED HAVE PROVEN TO BE EXTRAORDINARY, AND WE'VE CHOSEN 10 ARTISTS TO PRESENT 45-MINUTE SEGMENTS AVAILABLE TO CREATE GREAT EVENINGS OF MUSIC . THE FEST ALSO INCLUDES A FREE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY LIVE STREAM ON APRIL 30. THESE CONCERTS WILL BE CAPTURED IN THE SJZ BREAK ROOM, A POPUP VIDEO RECORDING STUDIO AND VENUE THAT SJZ HAS DEVELOPED IN ITS GROUND FLOOR OFFICES AT FIRST AND SAN CARLOS IN SAN JOSE'S SOFA DISTRICT. THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE SPACE IS FIRST-CLASS WITH MARVELOUS SOUND, LIGHTING AND VIDEO, AND ALL THE ACTION IS PROJECTION-MAPPED TO A 35' X 14' BANK OF WINDOWS, PROVIDING THE SHOW FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND ENLIVENING DOWNTOWN STREET LIFE. SAN JOSE JAZZ (SJZ) WINTER FEST IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY EACH YEAR. WINTER FEST WILL BE CENTERED IN DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE, WITH CONTINUED EXPANSION INTO VENUES SUCH AS THE MEXICAN HERITAGE PLAZA IN EAST SAN JOSE. WINTER FEST FEATURES CONCERTS, DANCE PARTIES AND MORE BRINGING VIBRANCY OVER THREE WEEKS IN WINTER WHEN DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE IS SEASONALLY LESS ACTIVE. THE PURPOSE OF WINTER FEST IS TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH DIVERSE, LIVE MUSIC OFFERINGS THAT CELEBRATE VARIOUS ART FORMS IMPORTANT TO OUR MULTICULTURAL CITY. OUR GOAL IS TO INSTILL A SENSE OF PRIDE AND PURPOSE AROUND THE CITY'S IMAGE AS A THRIVING MUSIC DESTINATION, AND TO INCREASE RETENTION AND PARTICIPATION OF THE REGION'S DIVERSE RESIDENTS. THROUGH WINTER FEST, WE AT SJZ CONTINUE OUR STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO PRESENT NEW ARTISTS PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF JAZZ, BLUES, R&B AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC AND BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THESE NEW VOICES AND THOSE OF IMPORTANT JAZZ LEGENDS.

SAN JOSE JAZZ SUMMER FEST THE SAN JOSE JAZZ SUMMER FEST IS ONE OF THE LEADING URBAN MUSIC FESTIVALS IN THE NATION. IT DRAWS IN EXCESS OF 40,000 DIVERSE ATTENDEES ANNUALLY AND FEATURES LEGENDARY JAZZ, BLUES, AND SALSA, LATIN JAZZ ARTISTS WHILE PROVIDING PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING AND LOCAL MUSICIANS.WITH OVER 90 PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS OVER 3 DAYS, SUMMER FEST CELEBRATES THE DIVERSITY OF JAZZ, AMERICA'S GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL CULTURE, WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS DISCIPLINES, ALL WITH AN INTERNATIONAL FLAIR REFLECTIVE OF THE SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY. ATTRACTING VISITORS FROM ALL OVER CALIFORNIA, THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONALLY, THE FESTIVAL PROMOTES SAN JOSE AS AN ESSENTIAL ARTS, CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION IN SILICON VALLEY.SUMMER FEST'S PRIMARY GOALS ARE:1. TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH MUSIC, ARTS AND CULTURE IN AN AFFORDABLE FORMAT THAT ISACCESSIBLE FOR ALL.2. TO PROVIDE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING AND LOCAL MUSICIANS (ENABLING ARTISTS TO BE EXPOSED TO AUDIENCES WHO ENJOY DISCOVERING NEW MUSICIANS AND GREAT MUSIC.)3. TO CONTINUE BEING WIDELY KNOWN AS ONE OF THE LEADING JAZZ/LIVE MUSIC FESTIVALS IN THE UNITED STATES.MISSION: SUMMER FEST EXEMPLIFIES SJZ'S MISSION AS IT PROMOTES JAZZ THROUGH PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATION. SUMMER FEST EXPLORES AND CELEBRATES THE MUSICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF SAN JOSE'S RICH DIVERSE COMMUNITY. MODEST ADMISSION PRICES AND FREE PERFORMANCES ENSURES ACCESSIBILITY FOR EVERYONE TO ATTEND THE FESTIVAL.