Another Reason to Attend the Jazz Festival
Less than two weeks left before the Festival! As what the San Francisco Chronicle calls “probably the best small jazz festival in the country” nears, we continue in our series of Ten Reasons why you will want to attend events in this year’s lineup, along with updates and offers to get you as excited as the 12th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival as we are.
Reason No. 6: Historic Venues
The Raven Theater is Healdsburg’s own cinema palace, a 443-seat theater just a block from the Plaza, which opened for business in 1949 — 61 years ago. At first it was known as the Aven, the original owner’s wife’s name spelled backwards; the “R” was later added to the front of the name in the early 1990s when the theater was remodeled by new ownership. Under the direction of Don Hyde the Raven became a community center offering first-run and art house films, concerts, and a venue for local performance groups.
Since 2001, it’s been known as the Raven Performing Arts Theater, presenting over 80 performances annual of locally-produced plays, school performances, national and local musical acts, and the yearly Mr. Healdsburg Pageant. And of course, it’s been the stage for some of our biggest and best jazz talent over the years, and this year is no exception.
Friday, June 6 is Opening Night of the Festival, your first chance to get that jazzy feeling going. You’ll meet old friends, see familiar faces, and best of all enjoy a glimpse back into another era — the Jazz Era, through the magic of motion pictures, with Jazz Night at the Movies. Archivist Mark Cantor digs through his reels and tapes and throws the best stuff in a box, bringing it all up to Healdsburg’s Raven Theater to share with an always-appreciative audience. (What can you expect to see? Check out the video on this page for a tease of the sort of film Cantor likes to bring!)
Wednesday, June 9 the Raven again hosts live music for the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, featuring the George Cables Trio, with guest vocalist Shea Breaux Wells. Festival favorite Cables’ distinctive, classy touch should being out the best in Wells’ bright sound, and should make for a classic Raven concert. Opening will be local guitarist Christian Foley-Beining leading a quartet, featuring world jazz reedman Paul McCandless (of the band Oregon), with Chris Amberger on bass and Lorca Hart on drums.
Friday, June 11 we welcome back Esperanza Spalding, a big hit at last year’s Festival whose star has risen even higher in the jazz firmament — not only was she a hit on David Letterman’s show, she’s played the Village Vanguard, the White House and at the Nobel Peace Prize concert last year, at Pres. Obama’s invitation. A bassist and singer, she brings a breath of fresh air and a sexy flair to the stage, and tickets for this event are going fast. Tacuma King and the Children’s Percussion Workshop opens the show, demonstrating once again that youth thrives on music, just as the music itself needs youth for its future — pretty much the mission of our Jazz Education Programs.
Saturday, June 12 will find influential bassist Charlie Haden with pianist Geri Allen and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, a world-class trio of jazz royalty. Haden’s record of outstanding performances and collaborations goes back Ornette Coleman, Keith Jarrett and work with the late Hank Jones, and he’s still producing some of the most challenging and rewarding jazz of the day. He discovered Detroit’s Geri Allen some 20 years ago, and by adding Trane’s son Ravi to this bill he’s encapsulated trends and traditions of modern jazz as only he can. The Healdsburg High School Jazz Band opens, again bringing the next generation of talent to the Raven stage.
The Raven Theater remains one of our favorite jazz venues, with its classy interior, comfortable seats and crystal-clear acoustics. If you can, don’t miss any of these memorable evenings at the Raven, key dates with the Healdsburg Jazz Festival 2010.
More information about the Festival:
Auction Ends Tomorrow! Going on right now is the special benefit auction of a 17-inch Ribbecke Halfling Archtop, with a retail value of $7500. Now ongoing at eBay, the auction ends Thursday, May 27, at 11:45 am, with the tax-deductible proceeds going to the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.
Bidding started at $2000, and it’s only $3,022 now – still a great deal on an amazing instrument, and a significant contribution to our efforts.
» Follow this link to learn more, bid or buy from eBay.
Free tickets for new members
Become a New Member at the $100 level and above, and receive 1 free ticket to either the June 6 Stars of Brazil concert at Rec Park, or the June 13 Keepers of the Flame finale at Rodney Strong. Become a $250 member and receive 2 free tickets for either event or one for each. Join today and get the most out of your love for this great music.