Silicon Valley's premier annual music event, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2022 announces today two Saturday, August 13 headliners on The Sobrato Organization Main Stage including Gap Band front-man and R&B icon Charlie Wilson and Soul Train Music Awards/NAACP Image Awards winner R&B/soul vocalist Leela James. One of today's most highly sought-after entertainers, Charlie Wilson brings his sold-out coast-to-coast arena tour show "In It To Win It" to SJZ Summer Fest 2022. "Uncle Charlie" (a nickname bestowed by the one-and-only Snoop Dogg) carries a lauded career reigning supreme at the top of the Adult R&B and Hot Gospel charts with ten #1 singles, 13 GRAMMY Award nominations, and a New York Times bestselling memoir.
"Uncle Charlie" pulls out all the stops on his latest album, In It To Win It, with special guests Pitbull, Wiz Khalifa, Robin Thicke, Lalah Hathaway, and rapper T.I. The album has two #1 singles including "Chills" (#1 - Billboard's Adult R&B Chart) and "I'm Blessed" featuring T.I. which sat in the Top 5 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart for 65 weeks. Wilson lays down a duet with powerhouse vocalist Lalah Hathaway on the song "Made for Love," which garnered a 2019 GRAMMY nomination for "Best Traditional R&B Performance." In It To Win It also features a reunion with Snoop Dogg for the sexy romp "Gold Rush." Wilson's decades of success throughout the '70s & '80s with the Gap Band have led to a standout solo career as one of today's "must-see" acts.
The undeniable star Leela James has stunned audiences ever since the release of her debut album, A Change Is Gonna Come, and her follow-up releases My Soul (#7 - Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart/#37 - Billboard 200 Chart) and Fall For You (Top 15 - Urban AC Charts). Fans easily identify with the American soul singer with her raw talent on full display while tackling topics ranging from self-doubt to self-confidence. James has collaborated with and/or toured alongside Raphael Saadiq, Kanye West, Wyclef Jean, The Roots, Jamie Foxx, Robert Randolph and Moby, among others.
Renowned as one of North America's foremost music events, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest presents a riveting artist lineup with 100+ acts across 12 stages for one of the summer's major SF Bay Area outdoor music festivals. Three days of dynamic programming bring live music roaring back to downtown San Jose from Friday, August 12 through Sunday, August 14 in and around Plaza de César Chavez Park. Acclaimed headliners Charlie Wilson and Leela James join an illustrious lineup that includes Ledisi; Lee Fields; Durand Jones & The Indications; Stanley Clarke; Ladysmith Black Mambazo; Raul Midón and Alex Cuba; Telmary & Friends; Judith Hill; Javon Jackson's "Charlie Parker at 100," Ft. Gary Bartz, Charles McPherson & Donald Harrison; The Brubeck Brothers; Bobby Watson & Curtis Lundy Quartet, with Cyrus Chestnut and Victor Jones; Keyon Harrold; Cameron Graves; Omar Sosa Quarteto Americanos; Isaiah Sharkey; Nellie McKay; New Orleans Suspects with Tribal Gold & Erica Falls; Jazz Organ Fellowship Tribute to Tony Monaco; Jazz Organ Foundation Celebrates Dr. Lonnie Smith; and so many others!
12 Stages of Live Music @ San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2022
San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2022 honors the vibrancy of the jazz art form with marquee performances by lauded artists as well as influential trendsetters pushing the genre into new territories within today's popular music. An array of new stages are announced today with the much-anticipated return of the wildly popular Latin Tropical Stage, Jazz Beyond Stage, Silicon Valley Stage, Tech Interactive Stage, Next Gen Stage, and Swing Stage.
Latin jazz remains a pillar of San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2022 with Latin and salsa music lovers traveling to downtown San Jose from the far stretches of the West Coast for a chance to dance to many of today's most distinguished acts. From artists such as Telmary & Friends, Silvana Estrada, Omar Sosa and his Quarteto Americanos project, and Alex Cuba, San Jose Jazz is proud to present seven additional Latin and salsa acts set to appear on the free community Latin Tropical Stage. San Jose Jazz Latin Music Coordinator and Latin Tropical Stage curator Betto Arcos is an expert on Latin American and global music renowned for his reporting on NPR, PRI "The World," and the BBC. For San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2022, Arcos has selected the finest Latin artists: Son Habana, Clave Dura, Sabor de mi Cuba, Orquesta Taino, Mario y su Timbeko, Orquesta Latin Heat, and Orquesta Borinquen. Artist bios are listed below.
The Swing Stage kicks off with Lemon Bucket Orkestra, an act composed of many Ukrainian artists whose work draws emotional weight from the bands personal experiences with the Russian invasion of Ukraine set within the context of the dozen-strong ensemble's party-punk roots and attitude in a wristband-only set open to those with All Stages tickets and above. On Saturday and Sunday, the Swing Stage is a free, community stage featuring Silicon Valley's most active big bands including SOJ Band, The Serenaders, Synchronicity, Top Shelf, Footnotes Big Band, Navy Band Southwest, Full Spectrum Jazz Band, Los Gatos-Saratoga Band, Swing Solution, and the Ames Jazz Band.
The SJMA Next Gen Stage showcases the top youth ensembles across California at the San Jose Museum of Art. Acts include Michael Webster Quartet, Monterey Jazz Festival Regional All-Star Vocal Ensemble, Monterey Jazz Festival Regional All-Star Band, Latin Youth Jazz Ensemble of San Francisco, SJZ High School All Stars, and The Flannels.
Additional stages, with artists to be announced are the Jazz Beyond Stage, co-curated by longtime Fest collaborator Universal Grammar and featuring artists pushing the boundaries of jazz, soul and hip-hop on the former Gordon Biersch Restaurant Patio; the Tech Interactive Stage on Saturday only, with educational activities focused on music and tech; and the Silicon Valley Stage, which returns to its old "Club Regent" space in the newly-opened Signia by Hilton San Jose, Summer Fest 2022's Official Hotel Partner.
In the mood for a Staycation? Signia by Hilton San Jose (LINK) has a front-row view of the festival located on Plaza de César Chavez Park. Signia by Hilton is a new brand offering a premier full-service hotel option to travelers at the heart of all the action. Come for the richness of jazz music and stay for standout culinary experiences and its outdoor rooftop pool. San Jose Jazz partners with Signia by Hilton San Jose, as well as Team San Jose and hotels adjacent to the festival grounds to feature sets by live jazz bands in lobbies across downtown from August 12 - 14.
"We are thrilled to once again welcome San Jose Jazz Summer Fest just steps from our front door. For three decades this property has brought together locals and visitors alike through its support of the community's cultural events and offering a respite to gather and celebrate," said Jimmy Sarfraz, general manager of Signia by Hilton San Jose. "Our partnership with San Jose Jazz is a great kickoff to reestablishing our commitment to the local arts community and we look forward to welcoming attendees during Summer Fest for an intermission to enjoy our completely reimagined lobby area and new AJI Bar & Robata."
For exclusive hotel deals close to the festival grounds, please check out these great rates at Signia by Hilton San Jose, AC Hotel by Marriott, DoubleTree by Hilton, Four Points by Sheraton, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Hotel Clariana, Hotel De Anza, Hyatt Place, San Jose Marriott, and Westin. Book your reservations now at this LINK.
Inflation Beating Ticket Prices!
San Jose Jazz offers one of the most affordable ticket prices out of the major SF Bay Area music festivals. For a $30 ticket for Friday night, audiences can see all the Fest’s biggest acts. For an extra $15, they have access to the Montgomery Theater Stage, SJZ Break Room, Swing Stage at Tabard Theatre, and Silicon Valley Stage at the Club Regent at Signia by Hilton San Jose. For $85, fans can see an incredible lineup of all Main Stage artists across all three days of the Fest, as well as artists performing on Blues/Big Easy Stage at the South end of Plaza de César Chavez Park. Beer & wine are competitively priced, and for an overnight stay, the Marriot Hotel has rooms for just $143/night.
Three-day advance festival passes and single tickets are now on sale at summerfest.sanjosejazz.org. Prices rise on August 1.
