“The blues are an integral part of jazz and all music today,” Over the past 20 years, San Jose Jazz has presented some of the greatest blues talent in the world and this year is no exception. This year’s line-up will please everyone from the casual listener to the most avid blues fan.” ~ Bruce Labadie, festival director
Blues Stage Showcases Rising Talent and Audience Favorites
I wanted to briefly mention to TheBluesBlogger readers that if you happen to live or be in the San Jose area this weekend Aug-7-9, 2009, then you don’t want to miss The 20th Annual San Jose Jazz Festival. The festival features world-class blues acts on the Main Stage in the Plaza de Cesar Chavez as well as an entire stage dedicated to blues located on San Fernando Street between Almaden Boulevard and Guadalupe Parkway.
The blues kick-start the festival Friday night with Leroy Bell and His Only Friends, and continue on the Main Stage Saturday with Black Joe Lewis, rising sensation from Austin, Texas… Bettye LaVette headlines the Blues Stage at 7 pm on Sunday, August 9th. An incredibly inspiring and soulful singer, LaVette brings her unique voice to the climax of the Blues Stage on Sunday night.
Saturday’s lineup is topped by Bay Area favorite Chris Cain. Black Joe Lewis makes a second appearance on the Blues Stage on Saturday as well. Inspired by the sounds of Otis Redding, Lightnin’ Hopkins and James Brown, his brash style will generate lots of energy and character to already colorful event… Lara Price and JC Smith will bring their powerful music to the festival over the weekend. Some of the best blues harmonica players in the Bay Area will also be featured in the Harmonica Blowout.
is sponsored by Budweiser, Stella Artois and KKUP-FM radio. The stage operates Saturday from 1 pm to 10 pm. And Sunday from 1 pm to 9 pm. Admission to the festival is only $15 a day.
Saturday August 8th
1pm: Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88’s
3pm: The Lara Price Blues Revue
5pm: JC Smith Allstars w/Fillmore Slim, John Broadway Tucker/Pat Wilder
7pm: Black Joe Lewis
9pm: Chris Cain
Sunday August 9th
1pm: Tip of the Top
3pm: Harmonica Revue featuring Gary Smith, Aki Kumar/David Barrett
5pm: Ron Thompson and the Resisters
7pm: Bettye LaVette
Summer is a memorable time of season for music. And my favorite part is the variety of festivals/events that take place. Events like The San Jose Jazz Fest help capture those special moments when you see a great band you’re familiar with, or the fantastic feeling of discovering a new talent you least expected… Will you get the opportunity to checkout the festival this year? Have you ever been to this event in the past? If not, now’s your chance… Please feel free to add your comments below.
TheBluesBlogger
About San Jose Jazz
San Jose Jazz, producer of the annual AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival, is a public benefit corporation dedicated to promoting jazz through performance and education to enrich the lives of people in Silicon Valley. Proceeds from the performances help to support San Jose Jazz’s education and outreach programs as well as other year-round performances throughout Silicon Valley. For more on San Jose Jazz, please visit their website: jazzfest.sanjosejazz.org
I was awakened by the soft clanking of the window blinds in the early morning breeze. Just as I opened my eyes, Lucille, my golden retriever, ran up on the bed and lay down beside me. Placing her head on my chest she began her steadfast stare. Did she really remember last night’s promise of an early morning jaunt? As the sun began to make its presence, I nodded in approval and Lucille jumped off the bed and waited patiently for me by the front door. This was a very methodical mission. There was music to be listened to and a little exercise to be had.
My introduction to Ana Popovic’s music began with her 2007 release Still Making History. I heard some of her tunes from that particular album, but like most things in life the timing didn’t quite happen and I lost track… Just before Christmas of last year I was reminded by a friend about Popovic. The re-familiarization generated a burst of enthusiasm that had me craving for more. As a result, I did some research about her life and read about the tense surroundings in her early years in Belgrade during the Milosevic reign.
Even though Popovic and myself are from very different backgrounds, I found some interesting similarities in how both our families were influenced by their love and appreciation of music; especially the blues. So impressed with her talent, I felt the need to write an article for TheBluesBlogger site… That blog post generated lots of viewers and also some interesting comments and questions. Many of which were addressed in Popovic’s latest release Blind For Love.You can find that piece on Ana by clicking here.
Now I skimmed through Blind For Love several times since receiving it earlier in the week. In my typical fashion, I tend to savor things I think I’m going to enjoy for the right moment. One thing I noticed right off the bat was her songwriting skills had further matured since I listened last. Blind For Love features plenty of great blues, rock, jazz, and funky grooves along with some terrific guitar work put together in a slick concise package.
I was anxious for my outing with Lucille as I felt Popovic’s album may just be one of those summer albums to talk about. And when I hear an album with as much vigor as Blind For Love I find it very hard to keep still, so I turn that energy into a productive workout… I grabbed a quick coffee, got dressed and grabbed Lucille’s leash. Heading out the door, I realized that the timing was perfect. The morning air was cool and comforting, but there was no doubt the day was about to get hotter… I pressed play on my MP3 player and our excursion began.
Now as I have said many times before, when it comes to reviews I’m not going to give a blow by blow account of each and every song and note. If the music moves me, makes me reflect back on a moment, or creates an energy that spurs some creative thought, then I’m happy.
The opening track “Nothing Personal” did indeed start me off on the right track with its infectious pop groove. And the tempo would continue with the heavy hitting second track “Wrong Woman” and the foot tapping soulful “Steal Me Away.” Things slow down for the title track “Blind For Love” and “More Real,” but I’m not complaining about that either, this is a well thought out album…
MUSICIANS:
Ana Popovic: vocals & guitars Ronald Jonker: bass
Andrew Thomas: drums
Mike Finnigan: keys
Tony Braunagel: drums, percussion, background vocals
Lenny Castro: percussion
Darrell Leonard: trumpet
Joe Sublett: sax
Julie Delgado, Kenna Ramsey, Billy Valentine: background vocals
Halfway Into the Album
Our morning run found us in our neighborhood park. I let Lucille off the leash and watched as she dash around the field with her golden smile. At this point I found myself repeating the next three songs “Putting Out the APB,” “Get Back Home to You” and “The Only Reason.” Extremely catchy songs with a great groove that picked up the pace again… Deciding to make our own way back home, I continued the rest of the album without repeating any more songs. “Part of Me” ( a lullaby written for her baby boy Luuk) and the closer “Blues for M” being the most noteworthy.
Popovic is currently one of Europe’s hottest blues-rock guitarists, and Blind For Love is further proof of a career that continues to blossom. Becoming the first European artist to be nominated for a W.C. Handy Award in Memphis for “Best New Artist Debut” in 2003, she has released a total of six albums with the last two on Eclecto Groove Productions. Popovic continues to mesmerize the audience and has a reputation for being very engaging.
Blind For Love was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Mark Dearnley (AC/DC, Tom Petty and Paul McCartney) and included many of the members of her touring band. Bassist Ron Jonker is a member of her band that in my previous article was questioned by his absence on the last album Still Making History. His presence is going to make not only listeners to Blind For Love very happy, but is going to also delight audiences on the road as the chemistry he has on stage with Popovic is hard to deny.
Later In The Day
With my faithful hound snoring at my feet, it was time to sit down and conclude this post… Obviously I really enjoyed this album. There’s no doubt blues purists may turn away from this release, but that’s always going to happen when you’re breaking new ground. Yes, I’ll admit Ana Popovic is very stunning, but you need to go beyond the looks and explore her talent. Whether you like it or not, she is a serious artist that continues to learn and will carve a path for a new generation of fans to follow. If you’re unfamiliar, then Blind For Love may be a good place to begin… Congratulations to everyone involved on this project, you have a real winner here!
And now its your turn. Are you familiar with her latest album or previous work? Have you seen her live before? Please add your comments below.
Cheers,
TheBluesBlogger
Summer Tour Dates
JULY
07/25 @ Trasimeno Blues Festival, Trasimeno Italy
07/26 @ Baia Domizia Blues Festival, Baia Domizia Italy
07/27 @ Fetes De Genève, Geneva Swiss
07/31 @ Prairie Dog Blues Festival, Prairie Du Chien WI
AUGUST
08/01 @ Mount Baker Blues Festival, Deming WA
08/15 @ Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, Salmon Arm BC, Canada
08/16 @ Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, Salmon Arm BC, Canada
08/18 @ BB’s Jazz, Blues, and Soups, St. Louis MI
08/19 @ Zoo Bar, Lincoln NE
08/21 @ Famous Dave’s, Minneapolis MN
08/22 @ Seven Clan Casino Blues Festival, Thief River Falls MN
08/30 @ Pordenone Festival, Pordenone (PN) Italy
September 2009
09/10 @TBA, TBA, Serbia
09/12 @Blues IM Herbst, Cloppenburg, Gernmany
09/13 @013, Tilburg, Netherlands
09/26 @Roots ‘n Blues Festival, Columbia, MO USA
09/27 @BB’s, St. Louis, MO USA
As many of you are already aware, I grew up listening to a lot of music. My earliest memories are of my father spinning his vast collection of jazz records. It was his appreciation of jazz that introduced me to the music of Duke Ellington and so many other jazz greats… My love of music carried over into my late teens and throughout high school. Most of my friends were musicians and I could always be found hanging out in the music room. Even though I’m not a musician, I still enjoyed the atmosphere in the room as the school band rehearsed for a concert. I found it cool to witness a group of musicians come together and capture a piece of music inspired through the minds of legends like Duke Ellington and others influenced by him…
Chops Just Released
This documentary directed by Bruce Broder made me think of those high school years and also some neat memories of my dad. For all jazz lovers, but especially the younger generation, the movie will be very inspiring indeed!
CHOPS tells the story of a group of kids with extraordinary musical ability who learn to make the most of their gifts in an acclaimed public school jazz program in Jacksonville, FL.
From their early, squeaky scales to soaring, improvisational solos, we have a front row seat for their fascinating transformation. We’re with them as they stick together and as they fall apart. And we see up close how the events of their daily lives are expressed in their music. We follow their musical journey from Florida to New York City, where they compete against the top high school jazz bands in the nation at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Festival.
Win or lose, the Essentially Ellington experience puts them at the threshold of their dream, and reveals the incredible growth they’ve experienced personally and musically
Are you familiar with the Essentially Ellington High School jazz competition? The passion and dedication of these young artists is hard to overlook. What do you think? Your comments are welcome below.
The music seen and heard on this site are meant to enhance the enjoyment of the articles and the reader's overall experience. My intention is to honor the artists that have inspired me by weaving my personal experiences together with my love of their music... If you like the music you hear, I urge you to support them by attending their performances and/or purchasing their music. If you hold the copyright and would like me to remove your song or picture then please contact me. I will do so immediately upon request.
