The annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest is back for 3 days from Aug 9 through Aug 11, 2019. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the festival and is studded with a wonderful line-up of music. The festival will be held in downtown San Jose spread across different stages and venues like the Main Stage, Salsa Stage, Hammer Theatre Stage, Blues/Big Easy Stage, Adobe Silicon Valley Stage, Heritage Bank Cafe Stritch and more.

Some of the musicians featured at this year’s San Jose Jazz Summer Fest are  Pink Martini, Dianne Reeves, En Vogue, China Moses to local Bay Area musicians like Kim Nalley, Aaron Lington, The Alaya Project, Aki Kumar and more. Besides music, there are swing lessons, a jazz mass and food.

Given this interesting mix of jazz, blues, salsa, big band, gospel and different genres of music it is going to be a real challenge to attend all the events. I will be obsessively looking though this printable list and be reduced to making some hard choices for this 3-day event filled with music, music and more music. Or, I can just take it easy and soak in the music and not fret about making hard choices.  Am reminded of a quote by a local Bay Area musician Michael Franti, who reportedly said, “Like sunshine, music is a powerful force that can instantly and almost chemically change your entire mood.”  Music is a mood changer, a force multiplier and creates memorable memories and that is what I need to remember.

For tickets and information of the 30th San San Jose Jazz Summer Fest visit their website.