Yet Another Reason to Attend the Jazz Festival

Just a week to go before the Festival begins! And already we’re halfway through our series of Ten Reasons to attend events in this year’s 12th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival.

Reason No. 5: Intimate Settings

Number 5One of the core tenets of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival is personal contact – that jazz artists and their audience need to meet each other, to know each other, in order to understand one another – and the music that results. Sure, we have concerts in the 500-seat Raven Theater, and “on the green” at  Rec Park and Rodney Strong, but it’s in the small restaurants, hotel lobbies and tasting rooms that the spirit of jazz really comes into its own.

Saturday, June 5: The second day of the festival finds live music within a few steps of the downtown plaza at two non-traditional but very intimate venues – a winery tasting room and an espresso café. Hardly the sort of places you’d expect to find a festival!

Herb GibsonSaturday afternoon, 3 – 5 pm: The first of three Jazz & Wine Pairings at local tasting rooms finds vocalist and vibraphonist Herb Gibson (right) playing at Murphy-Goode, 20 Matheson St. (just half a block west of the Plaza). Murphy-Goode moved into town a couple years ago from their original Alexander Valley location, and have become a mainstay of the weekend downtown scene with their commitment to “the tradition of all things Goode — friendship, hard work, a wicked sense of humor, a great bottle of wine.” And of course, jazz. See this page for all our Jazz & Wine Pairings.

Saturday evening, 7 pm and 9 pm: Flying Goat Coffee is where we go for that morning lift – espresso and a muffin – and we’re not alone. The place is hoppin’ for half the day, but that’s nothing like how it will be boppin’ when the Bennett Friedman Quartet plays two shows here the first Saturday of the festival. Saxophonist Friedman has been a mentor to local jazz students for over 30 years, and he hews true to the hard bop tradition. He’ll be joined by a rhythm section featuring drummer Lorca Hart and ace bassist Chris Amberger, with guitarist Randy Vincent adding his fluid licks to the saxophone-led quartet. You’ll find the close proximity to this great music will open your eyes and ears to things you never heard before!

Kai Devitt-LeeMonday, June 7: If wine and coffee only whet your appetites, how about a Michelin-rated sit-down dinner at one of Healdsburg’s signature restaurants, the Dry Creek Kitchen? Celebrity chef Charlie Palmer was early in the rush to “discover” Healdsburg, opening his restaurant in the Hotel Healdsburg almost ten years ago. “I was drawn here by Sonoma’s pioneering food and wine spirit,” Palmer said then, and we’re sure he’s added jazz to that short list.

Though DCK usually hosts “Jazz and Wine Dinners” December through March only, they revive the event for the Jazz Festival, and this year local guitar talent Kai Devitt-Lee (left) will bring his trio to play for diners. Make your reservation early (now is a good time —  call 707 431-0330) and enjoy a special three-course menu with accompanying wine for a fan-friendly price. Yes, the music is free – and it’s close enough to see the peach fuzz on the ruddy cheeks of our 16-year old guitarist!

Friday and Saturday, June 11 – 12: Yes, it’s Jazz Festival weekend – but there’s live jazz almost every Friday and Saturday of the year at the Hotel Healdsburg Lobby. Lounge by the fireplace, share a table with friends, keep an eye on the crowd and tune in to the finest jazz in town, week after week.

Craig HandyFor the Festival it’s a double-bill of jazz raw talent, drummer Lorca Hart bringing a tight quartet to deck on Friday, featuring Bay Area sax titan Craig Handy (right). And on Saturday night Handy takes the helm and leads an ensemble of surprise guests and in a Mingus-infused, Afro-Cuban jam. The music runs from 9 to midnight, but show up early if you can – there are shows at the Raven both nights, and when the curtain goes down the chairs become scarce.

Remember, again on Saturday, June 12 there will be Jazz & Wine Pairings at two local tasting rooms. From 3 to 5 pm look for Topel, at 125 Matheson just around the corner from the lingerie shop (eyes front, gentlemen) and across from the Oakville Grocery. You’ll find the Gary Johnson Trio playing real live jazz for free, with appetizers and wines by the glass. The Hopland-based winery is gaining gold for their Meritage, known as “Le Mariage,” and we can think of no better marriage than wine and jazz.

mad and eddie At almost the same time, from 4 to 6 pm, check out  Seasons of the Vineyard (113 Plaza St.) — it’s that red awning on the north side of the square. They promise delectable bites to go with their Ferarri-Carano wines, and home décor gifts to browse while the music plays. But do listen to the music: it’s Mad and Eddie Duran (left), that rare jazz couple who still make beautiful music together through marriage. Saxophone and guitar music, of course, that’s what we’re talking about.

If all that’s not enough, on Sunday mornings you can have a jazz brunch at Affronti, a wine and dining bar just south of the plaza, behind the tasting room at 235 Healdsburg Ave.  It’s usually a duo or solo artist, with an emphasis on Brazilian flavors. They do this all year around, not just on Festival weekends.

So you see there are plenty of chances to rub shoulders with fellow jazz fans, with some of the artists you see on stage, with newfound neighbors who love the music too. If that’s not a good Reason to come to Healdsburg, you’ll just have to see them all to choose your favorite.

Welcome to Healdsburg, the small town capital of big time jazz!


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