Jazz at the San Ramon Library
Chevron Presents
Jazz at the San Ramon Library
It's here! The Jazz Lineup for 2008.
2008 Jazz Concerts:
Jazz Programs made possible by Chevron, Contra Costa County Library and San Ramon Library Foundation.
All concerts begin at 8pm.
Tickets will go on sale in September.
For further information call the San Ramon Library: 925-973-2850.
Jonathan Poretz & The MoodSwing Orchestra – October 3 - Blackhawk Museum
Backed by the live, 12-piece Mood Swing Orchestra Band, Jonathan Poretz performs swing and dance band music of the 1930s and ‘40s, covering hits made famous by leaders such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Benny Goodman. The Orchestra's fresh approach to classic big band music has attracted an enthusiastic following among Bay Area music fans.
Pete Yellin All Stars - October 10 - San Ramon Library
Alto saxophonist Pete Yellin has toured and recorded with many of the seminal names in jazz, among them Joe Henderson, Tito Puente, Buddy Rich, and Lionel Hampton. The Pete Yellin All Stars group performs unique arrangements of classic jazz standards from Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Miles Davis, and Herbie Hancock, along with original compositions.
The Nerio DeGracia Mambo Jazztet - October 17 - San Ramon Library
Nerio DeGracia has played for years with a “who’s who” of Bay Area latin and jazz talent, and has developed close ties with some of the Bay Areas finest musicians. Described as “West Coast Mambo Cool Jazz,” with its own interpretation of Mambo Jazz improvisation, the Nerio DeGracia Mambo Jazztet will mesmerize audiences.
Octobop: West Coast Jazz - November 14 - Front Row Theater
Recreating and updating the experience of the early days of “cool jazz” on the West Coast, when new ideas, harmonies, ensemble playing and great improvisation were all happening, is the mission of the Octobop. Performing and promoting the music that began with The Birth of the Cool -- and the innovations of Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Shorty Rogers, and Howard Rumsey among others -- Octobop makes cool jazz hot again.
John Worley and Worlview 7.0 - November 21 - Front Row Theater
Trumpet/Flugelhorn artist and leader of WorlView, John Worley has been a member in many of the San Francisco Bay Area’s creative music ensembles for the last 20+ years. Combining a hard-hitting approach with potent lyricism, Worley has created a unique sound. His WorlView ensemble touches on all corners of the Americas, riding a world chart of bop, straight ahead jazz, tango, Afro Cuban and “all ports in between.”
San Ramon Jazz – A History
It all started when Branch Librarian Joyce Gunn successfully competed for the only California appearance of the Smithsonian Institute's first traveling jazz exhibit, "Beyond Category: The Musical Genius of Duke Ellington." The exhibit was on display at San Ramon Library October 17 - November 28, 1996. During those six weeks, the Library and the San Ramon Library Foundation presented 31 public jazz programs and provided educational assemblies in each of the local schools. Featured were such Ellington alumni as Kenny Burrell and Bill Berry, and scholars and writers including Philip Elwood of the San Francisco Chronicle and John Hasse of the Smithsonian. An initial collection of over 300 CDs was donated by performing artists and recording companies. A record turnout provided funds for acquisition of additional CDs, videos, books and sheet music for the Jazz Collection.
Fall, 1997, the Library presented another successful series of jazz concerts-- "More Jazz at the Library"--with performances by Donald "Tee" Carson, Weslia Whitfield, Red Holloway with Gail Dobson and the Smith Dobson Trio.
"More Jazz at the Library 1998" featured performances by Weslia Whitfield, Jim Rothermel's Neoclassic Swing Quintet, Smith and Gail Dobson and a special performance by Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers for dancing and listening at the Blackhawk Automotive Museum.
Meanwhile, our collection of jazz materials keeps growing. There are over 1200 CDs, 125 videos and 220 books available for checkout and subscriptions to 10 jazz magazines and newsletters. Recent donations include a vintage Wurlitzer jukebox, a collection of 800 CDs (the entire catalog of Concord Records), and a personal library of 150 books about jazz.
Jazz at the Library Performers - San Ramon Library 1996-2003
1996-Beyond Category
Bill Bell Trio
Louie Bellson Big Band
Bill Berry Big Band
Kenny Burrell, Rudy Salvini
Kenny Burrell
California HS Jazz Ensemble
Spencer Chan & Guido Fazio
Willie & Lizette LeFalle-Collins
DVC Evening Jazz Ensemble
Different Drums
Smith & Gail Dobson, John Handy
Art Dougherty Group
Philip Elwood
David Hardiman's Big Band
Harmony in Motion
John Hasse (2)
Monte Vista HS Jazz Ensemble
Plank 'n' Stein, Jessica Williams
Rudy Salvini's Big Band
Rudy Salvini Octet with Denise Perrier
San Ramon Jazz Ensemble
San Ramon Symphonic Band
San Ramon Valley HS Jazz Ensemble
John Santos-Latin Percussion
ruth weiss
ruth weiss with Larry Vukovich Trio
Fred Zimmerman
1997- More Jazz
Smith Dobson Trio with Gail Dobson & Red Holloway
Tee Carson All-Star Quintet
Weslia Whitfield-Great American Song Book
1998 - More Jazz
Smith & Gail Dobson Quintet Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
Jim Rothermel's Neoclassic Swing Quintet
Weslia Whitfield, Mike Greensill Duo-Life Upon the Wicked Stage
1999- More Jazz
Bill Bell Quartet, guest--Mike Ramos
Pete Escovedo's Latin Jazz Dance Band
Noel Jewkes Quintet
Scott Kirby-Century of Ragtime
Mary Stallings
2000- Jazz Age in Paris
Berkeley Jazzschool Students
Devil Mountain Jazz Band
Different Drums
Gail Dobson Band
Art Dougherty Group
Philip Elwood
Lois Flood
Dmitri Matheny
Moonglowers Orchestra
Chris Nelson
Denise Perrier
Quintet of the Hot Club of San Francisco
Grover Sales
San Ramon Jazz Ensemble
San Ramon Valley Dance Academy
San Ramon Valley HS Jazz Ensemble
Alan Schroeder, Guido Fazio
Tyler Stovall
Tichenor Trio-Ragtime
Vise Grip & The Ambassadors of Swing
Pat Yankee in To Bessie, With Love
2001 - More Jazz
Brenda Boykin, Eric Swinderman
Clairdee
Cotton Candy Express
Darrell Grant
Dmitri Matheny
Rudy Salvini Big Band with Jackie Ryan
Bill Travis Swing Quartet
2002 - More Jazz
Larry Vukovich Quartet
Junius Courtney Big Band
Jackie Ryan
Holly Hoffman
Dmitri Matheny Group
2003 - More Jazz
Bill Cunliffe
Lynne Arriale Trio
Jeremy Cohen
Mary Fettig
Dmitri Matheny
