Berkeley Jazz Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Berkeley Jazz Festival |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Jazz, blues, rock, R&B |
| Dates | July |
| Location(s) | Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| Years active | 1967–present |
The Berkeley Jazz Festival is an exciting music event held every year. It takes place at the Hearst Greek Theatre, an outdoor venue on the University of California, Berkeley campus. This theater has amazing views of the San Francisco Bay. The festival started in 1967, thanks to Darlene Chan.
Contents
- Cool Performers at the Festival
- The First Festivals
- 1967: The Start
- 1968: More Stars
- 1969: New Sounds
- 1974: Jazz Legends
- 1975: Ninth Annual Festival
- 1976: Tenth Annual Festival
- 1977: Eleventh Annual Festival
- 1978: Twelfth Annual Festival
- 1979: Thirteenth Annual Festival
- 1980: Fourteenth Annual Festival
- 1981: Fifteenth Annual Festival
- 1982: Sixteenth Annual Festival
- Recent Festivals (Another Planet Entertainment)
- The First Festivals
- See also
Cool Performers at the Festival
The Berkeley Jazz Festival has hosted many famous musicians over the years. Here are some highlights from its history.
The First Festivals
1967: The Start
The very first festival was planned for April 7–8. It was supposed to be at the Greek Theater. But heavy rain moved it indoors to Harmon Gym. On Friday, amazing artists like Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Quartet performed. Saturday featured the Bill Evans Trio, the Horace Silver Quintet, and Big Mama Thornton. Darlene Chan was the founder and first director of this historic event.
1968: More Stars
The second festival happened in April–May. It brought back Miles Davis, who played with the Gil Evans Orchestra. This was a special reunion for them! Other big names included Carmen McRae, Thelonious Monk, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band. Guitarist Wes Montgomery also performed with his brothers. Thelonious Monk even gave a workshop, performing with gloves because his hands were cold!
1969: New Sounds
In April–May 1969, the festival continued to grow. Performers included the Cannonball Adderley Quintet, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, and Herbie Hancock Sextet. Albert King also brought his blues music to the stage.
1974: Jazz Legends
In 1974, saxophonist Prince Lasha led a group with famous musicians like pianist Herbie Hancock and bassist Ron Carter. They played a set that was later released as an album.
1975: Ninth Annual Festival
The ninth festival featured many popular jazz and R&B artists. Some of them were Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington, Jr., Donald Byrd and the Blackbyrds, and Taj Mahal (musician). Freddie Hubbard and Gil Scott-Heron also performed.
1976: Tenth Annual Festival
The tenth festival was a big celebration of jazz.
- Friday, May 28: The Charles Mingus Quintet, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and George Benson played.
- Saturday, May 29: Weather Report, Hubert Laws, and Lonnie Liston Smith performed.
- Sunday, May 30: The festival closed with McCoy Tyner, Ramsey Lewis, and Betty Carter.
1977: Eleventh Annual Festival
This year featured many legendary artists.
- Friday, May 27: A powerful trio of McCoy Tyner, Tony Williams, and Ron Carter performed. Elvin Jones and Jean Carn also played.
- Saturday, May 28: Grover Washington, Jr., Dexter Gordon, and Al Jarreau entertained the crowd.
- Sunday, May 29: The legendary Ella Fitzgerald graced the stage. The Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band also performed.
1978: Twelfth Annual Festival
This festival was dedicated to the late musician Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
- Saturday, May 20: This day celebrated local Bay Area jazz bands.
- Saturday, May 27: Airto Moreira & Flora Purim, Ramsey Lewis, and Freddie Hubbard were among the stars.
- Sunday, May 28: Oscar Peterson with Ray Brown and Louis Bellson gave a fantastic performance. Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams also played together.
1979: Thirteenth Annual Festival
Another year, another amazing lineup!
- Friday, May 25: Al Jarreau, John Klemmer, and Betty Carter performed.
- Saturday, May 26: Weather Report, Sonny Rollins, and Pat Metheny played.
- Sunday, May 27: A special tribute to Charles Mingus featured Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorius, and Herbie Hancock. The great Dizzy Gillespie also performed.
1980: Fourteenth Annual Festival
This year brought John McLaughlin, Sheila Escovedo, and The Manhattan Transfer to the stage.
1981: Fifteenth Annual Festival
1982: Sixteenth Annual Festival
This festival was a big production by the university's student associations.
- Friday, May 28: Elvin Jones & the Jazz Machine and Benny Carter Jazz All Stars performed.
- Saturday, May 29: McCoy Tyner and Friends, Freddie Hubbard All Stars, and the Ray Barretto Orchestra with Dizzy Gillespie were featured.
- Sunday, May 30: Jean-Luc Ponty, Max Roach Quartet, and Flora Purim & Airto closed the festival.
Recent Festivals (Another Planet Entertainment)
2005
In 2005, the festival featured artists like Rachelle Ferrell, Lalah Hathaway, Bobby Caldwell, and Boney James.
2006
Performers included the legendary Chaka Khan, Will Downing, George Duke & Stanley Clarke, and the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band.
2007
The lineup in 2007 included Rachelle Ferrell again, Joe Sample & Randy Crawford, and Brian Culbertson. There was also a special "Superstars of Jazz Fusion" group.
2008
In 2008, the festival welcomed Kenny G, Will Downing, Brian Culbertson, and the talented Escovedo Family, including Pete Escovedo and Sheila E..
See also
- List of San Francisco Bay Area festivals and fairs
