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 a yearly music event. It takes place outdoors at the Hearst Greek Theatre on the University of California, Berkeley campus. This theater looks out over the beautiful San Francisco Bay. The festival first started in 1967. It was created by Darlene Chan.
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Festival Highlights
The Berkeley Jazz Festival has featured many famous musicians over the years. It brings together different styles of music like jazz, blues, rock, and R&B.
Early Festivals: 1960s
First Festival: 1967
The very first festival was planned for April 7–8, 1967. It was supposed to be at the Greek Theater. But because of heavy rain, it had to be moved inside to Harmon Gym. On Friday evening, famous artists like Miles Davis, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and the Gerald Wilson Big Band performed.
On Saturday, the Bill Evans Trio, the Horace Silver Quintet, the John Handy Concert Ensemble, and Big Mama Thornton played. Darlene Chan was the founder and first director of this exciting new festival.
Second Festival: 1968
The second festival happened in April–May 1968. Again, Miles Davis performed. This time, he played with the Gil Evans Orchestra. It was the first time they had played together since 1961. Other great musicians included Carmen McRae, Bobby Hutcherson, Harold Land Quartet, Billy Taylor, and Thelonious Monk. The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band also performed with Joe Williams.
Third Festival: 1969
The 1969 festival was held in April–May. It featured the Cannonball Adderley Quintet, Sonny Rollins, Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, and the Herbie Hancock Sextet. Other performers included drummers Tony Williams, Zutty Singleton, and Roy Haynes. Blues legend Albert King and jazz artist Archie Shepp also played. The Ed Hawkins Singers performed after Martha and the Vandellas had to cancel.
Festival in the 1970s
1974 Performances
In 1974, saxophonist Prince Lasha led an eight-piece group. This group included well-known musicians like pianist Herbie Hancock and bassist Ron Carter. They played a set of three songs that were later released on a record label.
Ninth Annual Festival: 1975
The ninth festival in 1975 featured many popular artists. These included Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington, Jr., Donald Byrd and the Blackbyrds, Taj Mahal (musician), Joe Bataan, Freddie Hubbard, Gil Scott-Heron, Les McCann, Eddie Harris, and both Cannonball Adderley and Nat Adderley.
Tenth Annual Festival: 1976
The tenth festival in 1976 had a great lineup over three days.
- Friday, May 28: The Charles Mingus Quintet with Nat Adderley, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and the Vibration Society, and George Benson.
- Saturday, May 29: Weather Report, Hubert Laws featuring Patrice Rushen, and Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes.
- Sunday, May 30: McCoy Tyner, Ramsey Lewis, Betty Carter, and Ronnie Laws and Pressure.
Eleventh Annual Festival: 1977
The eleventh festival in 1977 also took place over three days.
- Friday, May 27: McCoy Tyner/Tony Williams/Ron Carter, Elvin Jones with Ryo Kawasaki, Jean Carn, and Bill Summers & Julian Priestley Summers Heat.
- Saturday, May 28: Grover Washington, Jr., Dexter Gordon with Woody Shaw & Louis Hayes, Al Jarreau, and Pyramids.
- Sunday, May 29: The legendary Ella Fitzgerald, the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band, Billy Harper, Bishop Norman Williams, and Elements Precise. George Duke also performed.
Twelfth Annual Festival: 1978
The twelfth festival in 1978 was dedicated to Rahsaan Roland Kirk, a musician who had passed away.
- Saturday, May 20 (Bay Area Jazz Band Day): Ridd'm, Sadaka, Gregory James Quartet, and Listen with Mel Martin.
- Saturday, May 27: Airto Moreira & Flora Purim, Ramsey Lewis, Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, and Michael Franks.
- Sunday, May 28: Night Flyte, Noel Pointer, Oscar Peterson/Ray Brown/Louis Bellson, Herbie Hancock/Ron Carter/Tony Williams, and Eddie Jefferson featuring George Cables & Richie Cole.
Thirteenth Annual Festival: 1979
The thirteenth festival in 1979 also had a strong lineup.
- Friday, May 25: Al Jarreau, John Klemmer, Betty Carter, and the Tony Williams Band.
- Saturday, May 26: Weather Report, Sonny Rollins, Pat Metheny, and Art Lande & Rubisa Patrol.
- Sunday, May 27: A special tribute to Charles Mingus featuring Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorius, Don Alias, Herbie Hancock, and Tony Williams. Also, Dizzy Gillespie and Eddie Jefferson with Richie Cole.
Festival in the 1980s
Fourteenth Annual Festival: 1980
The 14th festival in 1980 featured artists like John McLaughlin, Sheila Escovedo, Tom Browne, The Manhattan Transfer, and Christian Escoudé.
Fifteenth Annual Festival: 1981
Sixteenth Annual Festival: 1982
The 16th festival in 1982 was a big event.
- Friday, May 28: Elvin Jones & the Jazz Machine, Benny Carter Jazz All Stars (with George Bohanon, Snooky Young, Llew Matthews, Richard Reid, Paul Humphrey), and Mark Murphy.
- Saturday, May 29: McCoy Tyner and Friends with guest singer Phyllis Hyman, Freddie Hubbard All Stars featuring Bobby Hutcherson and Joe Henderson, Ray Barretto Orchestra with special guest Dizzy Gillespie, and Full Faith & Credit Big Band.
- Sunday, May 30: Jean-Luc Ponty, Max Roach Quartet, Flora Purim & Airto with Joe Farrell, and Free Flight.
1986 Festival
The festival in 1986 took place from August 29–31.
Recent Festivals: 2000s
2005 Performances
In 2005, the festival featured Rachelle Ferrell, Lalah Hathaway, Unwrapped All-Stars, Ray Obiedo & the Urban Latin Jazz Project, Mimi Fox, Bobby Caldwell, Boney James, and Kem.
2006 Performances
Performers in 2006 included Chaka Khan, Will Downing, George Duke & Stanley Clarke, Norman Brown, Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, and Pieces of a Dream.
2007 Performances
The 2007 lineup included Rachelle Ferrell, Arlington Houston, Joe Sample & Randy Crawford, Brian Culbertson, Najee, and the Superstars of Jazz Fusion. This special group starred Roy Ayers, Jean Carne, Lonnie Liston Smith, Jon Lucien, and Wayne Henderson.
2008 Performances
In 2008, the festival welcomed Kenny G, Will Downing, Brian Culbertson, and The Escovedo Family. This family group featured Pete Escovedo, Sheila E., plus Juan and Peter Michael Escovedo. Maysa Leak also performed.
See also
- List of San Francisco Bay Area festivals and fairs
