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AT A GLANCE Grand opening events abound this week. . . . . . . . . Student writers to be celebrated at fair . . . . . . . . . . Western Street Rod Nationals roll into town. . . . . . Big cats will be showcased at Twilight Tour. . . . . . .
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Bike Month rolls in with multiple events. . . . . . . . . . . 21 Stefani Dias on the arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Mavis Staples to appear at World Records. . . . . . . . 25 Go & Do calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27
Improvisation key to Jazz Festival lineup
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BY CESAREO GARASA AND MATT MUNOZ
32ND ANNUAL BAKERSFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL
For The Californian
or Bakersfield Jazz Festival director Jim Scully, last year’s event — the first without festival founder Doug Davis — provided a glimpse into what works, what needs work, and what has to work in regard to this venerable musical institution. “I’m not sure there’s enough column inches to get into it all,” Scully said. “Primarily, I’ve learned about the myriad moving parts that it takes to make this work, and really the all-encompassing task the festival has to be for it to be as successful as it should be.” “I think we’ve done a pretty good job in these two years, but there’s definitely room for improvement. And that something I’m always thinking about.” This year’s festival, the 32nd, sees a return to more audience-friendly acts such as Saturday’s headliner Poncho Sanchez among the esoteric, the enigmatic, the emotive, the energetic and the explosive. “I also think that the lineup, while exciting in its own right, is different than they’ve been in the past,” Scully said. “There’s still elements of pop and more contemporary jazz music while still maintaining a little more focus on improvisation. I also think the artists I’m trying to bring in tend to appeal to a younger demographic. I’m hoping that continues as the years go on.” As with every year prior, the festival helps raise money for music scholarships at CSUB; more than $20,000 every year for a variety of courses offered at the university. In going on, Scully sees a need to scout for more volunteer work to help not only the festival but, ultimately, the city around it. “Fundraising alone could be a full-time job,” Scully said. “Coordinating the volunteers could be a full-time job for three months. The team I have is amazing, but we could stand to have a few more bodies, a few more minds, and more helping hands throughout the year to potentially grow the event in the community.”
FRIDAY The main stage on Friday kicks off at 7 p.m. with the local Latin alternative rock and dance group Velorio, who are promoting their impressive 2017 single “Tus La-
COURTESY OF LAO TIZER BAND
The Lao Tizer Band, featuring saxophonist Eric Marienthal, headlines the Bakersfield Jazz Festival on Friday.
PHOTO BY MAGDALENA CRUZ
PHOTO BY SKIP BOLEN
Latin jazz legend Poncho Sanchez headlines Saturday’s lineup.
bios.” Consistently solid, they’re a good choice and a nice book-end to the festival in its entirety, allowing for a bit of musical symmetry between them and Saturday’s headliner Poncho Sanchez. Next up will be drummer and bandleader Carl Allen whose impressive resume includes an eight-year stint as Freddie Hubbard’s drummer — and later, his music director — as well as being the former artistic director of jazz studies at Julliard. The Milwaukee-born/New York-based musi-
cian will be bringing a bit of fiery East Coast cool to the festival as well as a bit of darkness straight from jazz’s heart. A ferocious performer, Allen swings from the soul, hits you in the gut and lingers in the mind. Closing out the night will be the Lao Tizer Band featuring saxophonist Eric Marienthal (formerly of Chick Corea’s highly influential Elektric Band) playing the kind of jazz fusion that festival audiences might be familiar with a bit of a twist. The band’s 2018 CD/
Bakersfield trumpet player Jorge Santos will perform Friday with the Viento Jazz Orchestra.
DVD combo, “Songs From the Swinghouse,” recorded live in a three-day session at Conway Studios in Hollywood, includes three rather inspired covers of classic rock songs — their version of Led’s Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” is a standout — as well as some solid originals. Expect their set to run the gamut from the fleet-fingered (“16th Heaven) to the pensive (the darkly shimmering “A Prayer for Unity”) to the funky (“Pride (In the Name of Love)”), to the lovely (“To Touch the Sky”) with your toe tapping throughout. They’re
When: Gates open at 6 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday Where: Cal State Bakersfield, 9001 Stockdale Highway Friday lineup: The Lao Tizer Band with Eric Marienthal, Carl Allen and the Art of Elvin, Velorio and Viento Jazz Orchestra Saturday lineup: Poncho Sanchez, Dave Stryker Quartet, Amina Figarova, Marlon Mackey, CSUB Jazz Collective, Kern County Honor Jazz Band and The Akoustics Admission: $64.50 for both days, $24.50 for students; $34.50-$44.50 for Friday only, $21.50 students; $39.50$54.50 for Saturday, $23.50 students; 50 percent off for CSUB alumni with alumni ID; free for children under 12 and current CSUB faculty, staff and students with valid school ID. Tickets available at vallitix. com. Information: Bakersfieldjazzfest.com
the missing link between The Dave Matthews Band and Snarky Puppy we never knew existed. Performing on the side stage will be the Viento Jazz Orchestra led by trumpeter Jorge Luis Santos and featuring some outstanding local talent that includes singer Juan Gonzales, backup singer Katyushka Sanchez, pianist Tony Rinaldi, bassist Jay Jay Hicks, trumpeter Brent Williams, trombonists Anthony Aguilar and Omar Murrillo, saxophonist John Calo, timbalero Jonathan Ulises Lujano and conguero Louie Pola. — Cesareo Garasa
SATURDAY Kicking off at 1 p.m., Saturday’s lineup promises an all-day jazzy spicy affair with everything from funk and fusion to traditional and hot Latin rhythms, sure to please jazz fans of every taste.
PONCHO SANCHEZ Ask any percussionist about their introduction to Latin jazz and the genre’s associated musical techniques and styles and most will point to the music of Poncho Sanchez as a gateway. Still active as one of Latin music’s Please see JAZZ | 24