# Live Review: 2018 San Jose Jazz Summer Fest: Photos, Video – JazzTimes

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2018/09/01/live-review-2018-san-jose-jazz-summer-fest/
- Published: 2018-09-01T12:00:12+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**The California bash featured Marcus Roberts, Vincent Herring, Jane Monheit, and
Eddie Gale, among many others.**

[https://jazztimes.com](https://jazztimes.com) Now in its 29th year of operation,
geographically and artistically positioned between the SFJAZZ season and the Monterey
Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest (which ran from Aug. 10-12 in downtown 
San Jose, Calif.) presented a balanced roster of jazz, blues/New Orleans, and Latin-
oriented artists on 12 outdoor and indoor stages.

![SJZSF29_Marcus Roberts_The Modern Jazz Generation & Marcus Roberts Trio_(C)Walter
Wagner-1350262](https://i0.wp.com/cdn2.jazztimes.com/2018/08/SJZSF29_Marcus-Roberts_The-
Modern-Jazz-Generation-Marcus-Roberts-Trio_CWalter-Wagner-1350262-550x298.jpg?resize
=550%2C298&ssl=1)

**Marcus Roberts (at piano) with the Modern Jazz Generation at the 2018 San Jose
Jazz Summer Fest (photo: Walter Wagner)**

For the most part, its program was palatable and wide-ranging, never extreme or 
driven by big names. The prevailing atmosphere was a mixture of discovery for newbies
and reaffirmation for longtime fans. Concurrently, popular soul and funk performers
such as Johnny Gill, Confunkshun, Kool & the Gang, Booker T.’s Stax Revue, the Soul
Rebels, Lalah Hathaway, and local favorites Lydia Pense & Cold Blood with Fred Ross
were included for uninitiated attendees and/or those disinterested in jazz who just
wanted to party.

Unquestionably, the most vibrant and daring segment of SJJS was its last, featuring
Marcus Roberts and the Modern Jazz Generation, which the blind virtuoso pianist,
currently on faculty at Florida State University, founded in 2012. The tentet was
anchored by longtime Roberts associates, drummer Jason Marsalis and bassist Rodney
Jordan; the remaining members, all brass players, are either alumni or current students
in FSU’s music program. Under Roberts, Marsalis, and Jordan’s guidance, the ensemble
played an ambitious, nearly two-hour suite (and that was its length _after _dropping
a movement) that profoundly showcased all the players. Similar to Wynton Marsalis’
Lincoln Center Orchestra but in a more modern context, they swung hard through complex
arrangements and entertained the audience by focusing on romantic themes. The suite
was based on an imaginary couple going through the four stages of love: attraction,
projection, conflict, and resolution, beginning with the dramatic “The Mystery of
Romance.”

Alto saxophonist Vincent Herring’s Story of Jazz: 100 Years program was similarly
powerful, spanning the eras from ragtime to contemporary jazz with high-caliber 
sidemen such as saxophonists James Carter and Eric Alexander, trumpeters Jon Faddis
and Brian Lynch, trombonist Steve Turre, pianist Mike LeDonne, drummer Carl Allen,
bassist Kenny Davis, and Nicolas Bearde handling vocals and narration. Due to time
constraints, the group’s 65-minute set didn’t touch on any current subgenres. Nonetheless,
the musicians impressed during stretches of Dixieland (“St. Louis Blues,” “When 
You’re Smiling”), blues (“Summertime”), Ellington big-band, stride (“Ain’t Misbehavin’”),
and Chick Corea’s “Spain,” which represented an international influence on jazz.
Closing out the set were contemporary grooves “Mr. Magic,” “Birdland,” and “Street
Life,” featuring Bearde’s soulful singing. Herring admitted that they owed the audience
another 20 years of music.⌊James Carter performs with Vincent Herring's Story of
Jazz: 100 Years at the San Jose Jazz Summerfest⌉

**James Carter (center) performs with Vincent Herring’s Story of Jazz: 100 Years
at the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest (photo: Tom Ehrlich)**

The 10th installment of SJJSF’s Jazz Organ Fellowship featured 17-year-old wunderkind
Matthew Whitaker and veteran Brian Charette. Whitaker, currently enrolled at Filomen
M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School of the Lighthouse Guild for the visually impaired,
and also a student in the Manhattan School of Music’s Precollege Jazz Program, was
a force to be reckoned with. Supported by bassist/guitarist Edward (Ted) Morcaldi
III and drummer Sipho Kunene, the fast-emerging organist was funky straight out 
the gate, adroitly mixing jazz standards and R&B tunes such as “Play It Back,” “
More Than Yesterday,” “I’ll Be Around,” an homage to Jimmy Smith (“I Remember Jimmy”),
and a medley of Earth, Wind & Fire songs to garner an enthusiastic standing ovation.
Charette also grooved mightily with his trio and showcased tunes from his latest
CD, _Groovin’ with Big G _(“Big G” being tenor saxophonist George Coleman). The 
organist was especially hard-bumping on Jimmy Smith’s classic “The Champ.”

![Lani Hall (with husband Herb Alpert looking on) performs at the 2018 San Jose 
Jazz Summerfest ](https://i0.wp.com/cdn2.jazztimes.com/2018/08/SJZ_Summer_Fest_2018_Herb_Alpert_LANI-
HALL_PhotoCredit_Ken_Hunt-550x364.jpg?resize=550%2C364&ssl=1)

**Lani Hall (with husband Herb Alpert looking on) performs at the 2018 San Jose 
Jazz Summer Fest (photo: Ken Hunt)**

Married multi-Grammy-winners trumpeter Herb Alpert and vocalist Lani Hall provided
a lighter, cheery, and relaxed funk alternative to driving jazz sets. Backed by 
Bill Cantus on keyboards, Hussain Jiffry on bass, and Michael Shapiro on drums, 
they chronicled their 50+-year careers. Intermingled with solo material and tunes
by Alpert’s legendary Tijuana Brass—including “A Taste of Honey” and the “Casino
Royale Theme”—and Sergio Mendes’ Brasil ’66 (in which Hall sang) were videos, some
from the mid-’60s. Latin and jazz standards “Besame Mucho” and “Body and Soul” were
adeptly handled with Hall singing sweetly, along with Alpert’s light funk grooves
on “Rise” and “Human Nature.” Displaying male vulnerability long before it was a
trend was “This Guy’s in Love With You,” which had the audience singing along.

Among the other Los Angeles-based artists at SJJSF were newly migrated singer Jane
Monheit, Barbara Morrison’s quintet, and Katie Thiroux’s trio. Monheit was regal
while concentrating mostly on songs from her latest CD, _The Songbook Sessions: 
Ella Fitzgerald_. Supple players Andy Langham on piano, Dave Robaire on bass, and
Ricky Montalbano on drums supported the Long Island native for standouts “All Too
Soon” and “Something’s Gotta Give,” along with “Quiet Nights” (sung in Portuguese
and English) and “It’s the Wrong Time,” which aren’t on the album. Veteran Morrison
charmed the attendees with personal stories and standards such as “On the Street
Where You Live,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Lullaby of Birdland,” and “We’re in
This Love Together,” dedicated to Al Jarreau. Thiroux sang melodiously and scatted
while playing bass on “Together,” “Willow Weep for Me,” and “Let’s Fall in Love”
with blind pianist/Clark Terry protégé Justin Kauflin and drummer Matt Witek.

![Eddie Gale at the 2018 San Jose Jazz Summerfest ](https://i0.wp.com/cdn2.jazztimes.
com/2018/08/SJZ_SummerFest_EddieGale_DDD_0459_PhotoCredit_Ronald_Davis-550x367.jpg?
resize=550%2C367&ssl=1)

**Eddie Gale at the 2018 San Jose Jazz Summer Fest (photo: Ronald Davis)**

SJJSF also showcased some homegrown talent. Trumpeter Eddie Gale, who was proclaimed
the City of San Jose’s Official Ambassador of Jazz in 1974, took command of the 
stage with his American Spiritual Jazz Unit tentet. They provided a mixture of Alice
Coltrane, Sun Ra, and Ali Farka Touré on numbers like “African Sunshine,” “Meditation
on World Peace,” and “The Jazz Rapp.” The latter tune turned into a lengthy jam,
with the crowd playing percussion instruments that had been passed around at the
start of the set. San Francisco String Trio member Jeff Denson displayed his bass
and vocal prowess with a quartet featuring Paul Hanson on bassoon/electronics, Dahveed
Behroozi on piano and Fender Rhodes, and Alan Hall on drums. Denson’s elastic vocals
enlivened “When I Get It Right,” Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes,” and Abbey Lincoln’s
poetic ballad “Bird Alone.” Singer Paula West teamed up with pianist Adam Shulman’s
trio, including bassist John Wiitala and drummer Greg Wyser-Pratte, to offer superb
versions of American Songbook staples such as Leonard Feather’s “Man Wanted,” “I’m
Glad There Is You,” and a samba-flavored “I Love Paris.” She additionally inserted
a few departures via Jobim’s “Waters of March,” Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone,” 
and Randy Newman’s “Short People.”

![Doug Beavers at the 2018 San Jose Jazz Summerfest](https://i0.wp.com/cdn2.jazztimes.
com/2018/08/SJZ_Summer_Fest_2018_Doug_Beavers_PhotoCredit_Tom_Ehrlich_B52A7443-550x486.
jpg?resize=550%2C486&ssl=1)

**Doug Beavers at the 2018 San Jose Jazz Summer Fest (photo: Tom Ehrlich)**

Latin jazz and salsa are always top attractions at SJJS. Grammy winner (2006) and
nominee (2018) Doug Beavers’ nonet Titanes del Trombón: Tribute to Cheo Feliciano
was a major force, as Beavers and fellow trombonists Mike Rinta and Greg Saul soloed
intensely over riveting salsa classics and new pieces, which—along with Carlos Rosario’s
vocals—set a large crowd dancing in front of the stage. L.A.’s Orquesta Son Mayor,
an 11-person band heavily influenced by Pérez Prado, Orquesta Aragón, and Oscar 
de León, was more diversified with two trumpets, baritone sax, trombone, and four
vocalists, a couple of whom doubled on percussion. Also from the Afro-Caribbean 
perspective, John Santos Quartet + Orestes Vilató, Bobi Céspedes, and Jose Roberto
Hernandez were scintillating. Céspedes and Hernandez sang passionately, while Santos’
percussion playing and septet arrangements boasted barely believable rhythms and
sophisticated interactions.

Also integrated into the SJJSF’s program were some related Brazilian stylings from
Bay Area singer/percussionist Sandy Cressman and Homenagem Brasileira. Her supporting
band included husband/trombonist Jeff Cressman, keyboardist Murray Low, bassist 
David Belove, and drummer Phil Hawkins, showcasing breezy selections from their 
new CD _Entre Amigos _along with works by Oscar Castro-Neves, Hermeto Pascoal, and
Antonio Carlos Jobim.

New to the festival this year was the British Airways Music Lounge, an exclusive
and intimate venue (capacity: 60) that featured special two-hour sets from drummer
Makaya McCraven’s quartet, pianist/vocalist Aaron Abernathy’s trio, singer Tiffany
Austin’s trio and singer/pianist Sarah McKenzie’s quartet. The lounge also spotlighted
guitarist Yoshiaki Miyanoue’s trio, trumpeter Theo Croker’s quartet, pianist Emmet
Cohen (solo), and Vincent Herring and Mike LeDonne** **(duo) for fast-paced 30-minute
showcases. Overall, this new concept is reflective of San Jose Jazz Summer Fest’s
spirit; it’s an event that’s willing to experiment and not afraid to pioneer.

### _Related_