Healdsburg Jazz Festival announces star-studded lineup for 26th edition
Healdsburg, California (Release): Sonoma County's summer music event, Healdsburg Jazz Festival (HJF) returns to the heart of Northern California's wine country for its 26th annual festival from June 15-23, 2024 featuring many of today's top performing jazz legends and emerging artists shaping the future of the genre.
Once again, multi-Grammy Award-winning vocalist Samara Joy returns to Sonoma for a not-to-be-missed Father's Day celebration on Sunday, June 16. Opening weekend further includes for a third year-in-a-row a special Juneteenth in the Healdsburg Plaza jazz jubilee with trombonist Steve Turre Sextet (HJF 2024 'Master Artist-In-Residence'), saxophone legend Houston Person and NYC-based saxophonist Eric Person, pianist Darrell Grant and MJ NEW, HJF Poet Laureate Enid Pickett, KCSM's Greg Bridges, educational workshops with Andi Wong and Javier Navarrette, and vendors selling Afro-centric arts and crafts on Saturday, June 15. At Elephant in the Room in central Healdsburg, the great SF Bay Area saxophonist Howard Wiley continues the festivities into the evening on June 15 with his quartet performing an outdoor show beginning at 9pm.
Bacchus Landing concerts include headliners Artistic Director Marcus Shelby and his orchestra with vocalist Jazzmeia Horn (Thursday, June 20); a double bill with Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) and The Cookers with Cecil McBee, George Cables, Billy Hart, Craig Handy, Eddie Henderson, Donald Harrison Jr., and David Weiss (Friday, June 21); a double bill with Ambrose Akinmusire featuring Bill Frisell & Herlin Riley and the Brandee Younger Trio (Saturday, June 22); and famed SF Bay Area's Joshua Redman Quartet featuring Gabrielle Cavassa as they perform music from his critically-acclaimed Blue Note Records debut album, where are we (Sunday, June 23).
Festival highlights throughout the week includes a screening of Cuban piano maestro Omar Sosa's independent documentary, 'Omar Sosa's 88 Well-Tuned Drums', followed by a live concert with his ensemble Quarteto Americanos at Raven Performing Arts Theater on Monday, June 17; a concert in the Healdsburg Plaza with New Orleans-style jazz by Oakland's MJ's Brass Boppers, an intimate luncheon show with Bruce Forman "The Red Guitar" Musical Theater (Michel-Schlumberger Winery), and a free artist talk with guitarist/historian Nick Rossi on 'The Legacy of Duke Ellington: Early Years 1899-1939' to celebrate 125 years of the legendary composer and trumpeter all taking place on Tuesday, June 18; Jazz Mafia 'New Directions in Brass' led by Adam Theis at Spoonbar (Wednesday, June 19); HJF 2024 'Rising Artist-in-Residence' trombonist Natalie Cressman and guitarist Ian Faquini at Elephant In The Room (Thursday, June 20); a double bill with Amendola Vs. Blades featuring Raffi Garabedian and a Miles Davis-inspired closing set by trumpeter Bill Ortiz and his quintet at Elephant In The Room (Friday, June 21); Healdsburg Jazz Future All Stars at Healdsburg Farmers Market (Saturday, June 22); a double bill with the Healdsburg Freedom Jazz Choir with music director/vocalist Tiffany Austin for a 'Tribute to Duke Ellington' and saxophonist Kristen Strom Quartet at St. Paul's Church (Saturday, June 22); a late concert and jam with drummer Sylvia Cuenca Trio at Healdsburg Hotel Spirit Bar (Saturday, June 22); and vocalist Lisa Fischer and Grammy-winning pianist Taylor Eigsti with special guest dancers Adji Cissoko & Shuaib Elhassan of LINES Ballet at Raven Performing Arts Theater (Sunday, June 23).
"This year marks the 26th year anniversary of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival and will be my fourth year as artistic director," says Marcus Shelby, Artistic Director of Healdsburg Jazz Festival. "I am proud to say that we have again created a wonderful summer festival that is musically, artistically, and culturally diverse and takes place in Healdsburg's incredibly beautiful wineries, public spaces, clubs, and theaters. We will honor the African American holiday 'Juneteenth' with a powerful lineup of musical artists, celebrate Father's Day with the inimitable vocalist Samara Joy, and showcase industry masters and rising stars throughout the week."