San Jose Jazz

A fresh sound is heading to the SJZ Break Room Stage. Olas Perdidas fuses the vibrant, rhythmic traditions of Son Jarocho from Veracruz, Mexico, with the cinematic, evocative sounds of spaghetti Western music. Catch their set Saturday, August 8 at 10 pm. An All Stages gets you there. Get your tickets now at summerfest.sanjosejazz.org.

Big band brilliance is coming to the Signia Club Regent Stage. Top Shelf Big Band, a 17-piece South Bay ensemble, presents an exciting set of contemporary big band music with Grammy Award-nominated trumpet legend Wayne Bergeron. Catch them Sunday, August 9 at 3 pm. Enjoy indoor shows? Grab Priority Access tickets for first-in access at summerfest.sanjosejazz.org.

Last call for Summer Fest hotel deals. Rates at all hotels, including Official Hotel Partner San Jose Marriott just across from the Main Entrance, expire tomorrow.

Once the deadline passes, these rates are gone. Don't wait until it's too late to lock in your home base for the weekend.

Book your hotel before deals expire tomorrow: book.passkey.com/event/51222911/owner/4304/landing

Christian Vela's first booking for this year's fest tells you everything about his approach. He tracked down Joe Bataan, the King of Latin Soul, by cold-calling a phone number and getting the man himself on the line. That kind of initiative is just one tool in the new artistic director's toolbox, and he's bringing all of them into his new role leading San Jose Jazz's Summer Fest.

Vela's philosophy is about keeping jazz's musical language evolving, pairing legends like Patti LaBelle with rising acts like Instant Alter, the future fusion quartet he's spotlighting at the Break Room. He sees that stage as an incubator, a playground for artists ready to take the music somewhere new.

Read the full story on Vela's path from East San Jose touring musician to Summer Fest's next artistic director, link in bio.

The kings of Cuban mambo return with America!, a bold new album bursting with vintage Havana swagger, powerhouse horns, and the electrifying energy that defines Orquesta Akokán. Experience their new music live when this unstoppable ensemble lights up the PG&E Latin Tropical Stage at Summer Fest. Bring your dancing shoes.
Tickets available at https://summerfest.sanjosejazz.org
Stream America! here: https://daptone.ffm.to/akokan.OIS?utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv6_a1dennhayp09ve

Lakecia Benjamin is a five‑time GRAMMY nominee whose sound moves with warmth, urgency and fearless imagination. From her Coltrane tributes to the triumphant spirit of Phoenix and Phoenix Reimagined, she’s become one of the most electrifying voices in modern jazz, blending tradition, activism and raw emotional power. Catch her lighting up the Jay Paul Main Stage with a set that’s as bold and uplifting as her journey.
Tickets at summerfest.sanjosejazz.org

Joe Bataan — the King of Latin Soul — brings six decades of genre‑shaping brilliance to Summer Fest. From street‑corner doo‑wop to early rap, his sound defined New York Latin soul, anticipated disco and sparked a national dance‑music explosion. Hits like “Gypsy Woman,” “Subway Joe,” and his landmark Salsoul album cemented his legacy, while his much‑anthologized take on “The Bottle” and the pioneering “Rap‑O, Clap‑O” show a visionary always ahead of the curve. Still everyone’s "Ordinary Guy" with a lot of sweet soul, Bataan remains a living force in American music.

Tickets at summerfest.sanjosejazz.org.